Welcome & Service Assistant

Join our fantastic team for 2023 season! Working within a bustling atmosphere as part of passionate team, this role as a Welcome & Service Assistant, plays a core part in providing fantastic customer service.

You'll be welcoming visitors to Wray Castle, although you may also be asked to work at our other properties (Hill Top and the Beatrix Potter Gallery) from time to time. All of our beautiful places are within around five miles of each other.

We have a vacancy of 5 days per week up to the end of October 2023, but if you want to work fewer days then we can be flexible for the right person. More details on what might work for you will be discussed at interview, and we plan all shifts in advance. It is likely that some weekend working will be required for this role.

If you would like to speak to someone about these roles, please contact Amy McGowan, Operations Manager: amy.mcgowan@nationaltrust.org.uk

Interviews will be held Thursday 9 th March but we may interview earlier so please apply as soon as you are able too.

The pay for this role will lift to a minimum of £10.42 on 1st April 2023 in line with the changes to the Government National Living Wage.

What it's like to work here:The South Lakes portfolio looks after all the National Trust land and property on the western shore of Windermere around Sawrey, Hawkshead, Coniston and Little Langdale. Your main places of work will be at the gothic revival Wray Castle in Low Wray, with occasional cover at Hill Top house and garden in Near Sawrey, and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.

Wray Castle is one of the most spectacular and ambitious villa estates in the Lake District. Created between 1840 and 1860 from open farmland, the estate includes a house in the Gothic form of a medieval castle, a church, a farm and boathouses set in rolling lakeshore parkland.

Hill Top draws visitors from around the world who are passionate about Beatrix Potter, and often have emotional and nostalgic associations with the author and her stories. Through the season the garden comes into bloom and the landscape changes – there is always something new to talk about with visitors.

The Beatrix Potter Gallery is housed in the building that was the office of William Heelis, the husband of Beatrix Potter. William was the senior partner at W.H. Heelis & Son solicitors. The firm advised Beatrix Potter on her purchases of land and farms, so she came here often to consult on the management of her estate. Here we display Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations.

What you'll be doing:As the largest conservation charity in Europe we work hard to raise funds, so that we can continue to care for all the heritage in our trust. Visitors are a vital part of what we do, so you’ll be responsible for ensuring that you provide an excellent service to all our visitors, every day. As a Welcome & Service Assistant, it’s your role to ensure that the welcome our visitors receive is perfect, setting them up for an amazing experience for the rest of the day.

You’ll be responsible for answering queries and making sure visitors can find everything they need for their visit. Understanding how and why we engage our supporters is key. Working with our spirit of place you’ll work with the visitor welcome team to link everything we do back to our cause and the on-going work we do.

You’ll deliver high standards of presentation at the property, and ensure all our communications with our visitors are clear and consistent, from the first click on the website, to the posters and signs around the property.

Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you, if this sounds like you:

• Ability to work in a team - flexible and adaptable
• Well organised and able to work with minimum supervision
• Helpful & friendly
• Customer focused with a positive attitude
• Enthusiastic with a willingness to learn
• An understanding of the importance of great service

The packageThe National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts i.e. gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most locations

• Independent financial advice