Collections Assistant

National Trust; Kendal; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

Flexibility where possible

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

Sizergh, Kendal, LA8 8AE, is seeking a Collections Assistant to help care for a historic house and its nationally significant collections, including furniture, objects and works of art. You’ll join a busy team, receive training in preventive conservation and help with front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house duties.

The role offers a 20‑hour week in a permanent position, with opportunities to work across properties in the portfolio and participate in seasonal deep cleaning and conservation projects.

Qualifications

• Good hand-to-eye skills and comfortable working from ladders or scaffold towers.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to varying tasks.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to providing great service to visitors and colleagues.
• Team player who can also use own initiative.
• Well-organised and versatile with the ability to manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Carry out daily conservation cleaning, housekeeping and collection care across showrooms.
• Receive training in preventive conservation, collection monitoring and care.
• Support conservation projects both in front of visitors and behind the scenes.
• Occasionally work at other properties in the South Cumbria & Lancashire portfolio during the winter season.

Skills

Hand-eye skills

Flexible

Service oriented

Team player

Well-organised

Willing to learn

Job description

Are you passionate about history, have a keen eye for detail, and enjoy engaging with people? If so, we're looking for a Collections Assistant to help care for a historic house and its remarkable collections, including precious objects, furniture, and works of art.

Salary: £13.25 per hour

Contract Duration: Permanent

Working Pattern: You will work 20 hours per week. For details of shift patterns, please see the 'Additional Information' document attached to this vacancy.

Interview Date: Monday 14th September

What It's Like To Work Here

Sizergh is an imposing medieval house situated at the gateway to the Lake District. The 1,600-acre estate includes our largest limestone rock garden and a national collection of ferns. Restoration projects within the house and garden have created opportunities in all areas, particularly within the extensive gardening operation and visitor experience. This is a lively property with a varied events programme and thriving café, and the property are looking for team members with energy and enthusiasm.

Click here for more information about this location

What you'll be doing

As a Collections Assistant at Sizergh, you'll play a key role in caring for our historic house and nationally significant collections. Working alongside our Collections & House Officers, you'll carry out daily conservation cleaning, housekeeping and collection care across our showrooms, while helping to maintain staff and volunteer areas. You'll receive training in preventive conservation, collection monitoring and care, and have opportunities to work on specialist conservation cleaning projects, both in front of visitors and behind the scenes. The role also includes occasional work at other properties within the South Cumbria & Lancashire portfolio. During the winter closed season, you'll join a dedicated team carrying out deep cleaning and conservation work throughout the historic house. One day you might be dusting Tudor panelling from a ladder, the next caring for Georgian furniture. This is a varied, hands-on role that's ideal for someone who enjoys learning new skills, tackling new projects and being part of a team dedicated to preserving heritage for future generations.

For more information about the role, including a detailed overview of duties and the working pattern, please see the 'Additional Information' document attached to this vacancy.

Who We're Looking For

• 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)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• 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.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

National Trust place

Sizergh, Sizergh, Kendal, LA8 8AE

Documents

• Additional Information.pdf
• Collections Assistant - Grade 10 - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance. Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date: 06 September 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.