Collections Assistant

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Colwich; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension up to 10% salary

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Job summary

National Trust Shugborough Estate is seeking a Collections Assistant to care for the house’s precious collections and present them to visitors with warmth and professionalism.

You’ll join a supportive housekeeping team in a historic setting, ensuring daily care of objects, textiles and furniture while engaging with visitors and keeping records up to date. The role includes weekend work and an interview on 3 December 2026.

Qualifications

• Excellent hand-eye coordination and comfortable with ladders or scaffold towers.
• Flexible, adaptable and able to provide great visitor service.
• Team player who can also work on own initiative.
• Well-organised and willing to learn new skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with day-to-day cleaning and care of the collections (objects, textiles, furniture) in the house.
• Maintain accurate records of collections and environmental conditions.
• Provide information to visitors about the work and the collections on display.
• Support Collections and House volunteers as needed.
• Talk to visitors about the work and collections you help to look after.
• Refer to the full role profile for more details.

Skills

Hand-eye coordination

Flexibility

Customer service

Team player

Well-organised

Willing to learn

Job description

We’re looking for someone with a love of history and an eye for detail, who’s friendly and open with people. This role is about looking after a historic house and its collections of precious objects, furniture and works of art. And it’s about presenting all of this to people visiting, and helping to make every person’s day memorable and enjoyable.

Contract: Permanent

Hours/ working pattern:1170 hours per year. This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year.

Interview date: Thursday 3rd December 2026.

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role. The hours of the role include regular weekend working.

What it's like to work here

Home to the Anson family since 1624, the Shugborough Estate is the complete working estate. The estate includes a Georgian mansion house with magnificent views over the riverside garden terraces, Grade 1 listed parkland, walled garden and working farm. More recently, Shugborough was the home of Patrick Lichfield, photographer and cousin to the Queen, and features in much of his work.

As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working with a supportive housekeeping team in an inspiring historic setting. You’ll be helping with the day-to-day cleaning and care of the precious collections of objects, works of art, textiles and furniture that are part of the house’s history. You’ll be alert to details and changes, and will keep a keen eye on everything from the environmental conditions in a room to any signs of wear and tear. You’ll also be keeping accurate records. Providing support to our Collections and House volunteers when needed.

It's a role that’s all about people as well, so you’ll be talking to visitors about the work you’re doing and the collections you help to look after.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you're:

• good hand-to-eye skills, and happy to work from ladders or scaffold towers
• comfortable working in a flexible and adaptable way
• focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
• a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
• well-organised and versatile
• willing to learn new skills.

The package

The 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 places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as 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.

National Trust place

Shugborough Estate, Milford, Stafford, ST17 0XB

Documents

Collections Assistant - A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 22 November 2026

Interview date: Thursday 3rd December 2026.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.