Holidays Cottage Cleaner

National-Trust; Axminster; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is seeking a Holiday Cottage Cleaner at Shute Barton, near Axminster, Devon. You will prepare the cottage for guests on changeover days, ensuring it is clean, welcoming and well-presented.

Within the team of four Holidays staff, you will follow the role profile and complete the online assessment as part of our selection process. This is a part-time, permanent position offering 4.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Focused on giving great service to everyone you meet.
• A team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative.
• Well-organised and adaptable.
• Willing to learn new skills.

Responsibilities

• On changeover days, ensure the cottage is thoroughly cleaned and well-presented for guests.
• Keep an eye out for anything not as it should be and report repairs or odd jobs.
• Replace broken items from store supplies when needed.

Skills

Great service

Team player

Well-organised

Adaptable

Job description

We’re looking for a Holiday Cottage Cleaner to join our team at Shute Barton, near Axminster, to prepare our popular holiday cottage for the arriving guests. Shute Barton is one of Devon’s most important old manor houses. It dates back to 1380 and now, after a major restoration, it has been restored to it's original state featuring a 24ft medieval fireplace and a 14ft medieval hall.

Salary: £12.75 per hour

Contract: Permanent

Hours/ working pattern: Part-time, 4.5 hours per week

Internally within the National Trust, you will be known as a 'Holidays Operation Assistant'.

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.

What it's like to work here

The role includes working with 3 other staff members. To find out more about what it’s like to work within “Holidays” at the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

What you'll be doing

On changeover days, you’ll make sure that everything’s pristine and ready for the next guests to arrive. This will include making sure the cottage is thoroughly cleaned, well-presented and welcoming. We’d also like you to keep an eye out for anything that’s not as it should be, and report any repairs or odd jobs that need doing. If you need to, you’ll also replace any broken items from the store supplies.

Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided for all teams, and extra measures are in place to protect staff.

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:

• focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
• a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
• well-organised and adaptable
• 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

Shute Barton, Colyton Rd, Axminster, EX13 7PT

Documents

Holidays Operation Assistant - A1.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 15th November 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.