Heritage Building Skills Programme Work Placement  

Description and Person Specification  

We are the public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places to help people understand, value and care for them. We have unrivalled opportunities for a variety of construction trainee and apprenticeship positions specialising in heritage skills. You’ll have the chance to be hosted by an amazingly committed, dedicated, and expert host construction organisation throughout your time with us. Your programme of learning will be generously grant funded by Historic England, however, you will be employed directly by Master Thatchers (North) Ltd.  Please note that the Historic England benefits package will not apply for this role.

Work Placement Description  

Master Thatchers (North) Ltd is a specialist and longstanding thatching company, expert in reed and straw thatch roofing. This placement provides the opportunity to learn rare trade skills from talented in-house craftspeople. The company works across England, Scotland, Wales and occasionally in the Isle of Man.   

As a trainee, you will work as part of a small specialist team of thatchers. The principal focus of the placement will be to assist skilled thatchers in their day-to-day work requiring support in all aspects of roofing projects from start to finish.     

Trainees will attend a 4-week residential Summer School (end July to August, 2024), hosted by Historic England, where they will have the opportunity to integrate with other trainees, and specialists at Historic England, to share knowledge and practice conservation as an interdisciplinary activity. 

Placement Title: Thatching Trainee     

Host Organisation: Master Thatchers (North) Ltd 

Placement Supervisor: Peter Brugge 

Location of placement: based in Altrincham, Cheshire. (Various site locations)  

Salary :                       £23,900 pro rata  

Period of Training:           6 Months 

Start date:            17th June 2024  

Completion date:           17th December 2024  

Attendance:         7:30 – 17:00 Monday – Friday including travel time.

Overall Purpose of the Placement: 

This is a fixed-term, 6-month trainee role with Master Thatchers (North) Ltd, funded by Historic England. As a trainee, you will be learning the endangered heritage craft skill of thatching from experienced thatchers directly through on the job learning. In addition to observation and participation, you will also benefit from the theoretical learning and wealth of experience that Peter Brugge will bring to the role, as supervisor.  

Main Areas of Work: 

The Trainee may be required to perform other duties or tasks as may be reasonably requested by Master Thatchers (North) Ltd and will be expected to work within the Trainee Agreement. We are an equal opportunity company, which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. 

Work will be outdoors in all weather conditions for the full duration, you must be confident working at height for this role. 

Person Specification  

The Placement Specification attached outlines the main areas of work incorporated in the Placement. To be successful, your application should clearly illustrate how you meet the following criteria. The selection process will assess your suitability further. 

Knowledge  

Essential: 

• Interest in traditional roofing techniques.  

• Demonstrable understanding of health and safety requirements.  

Skills  

Essential: 

• Demonstrable physical capability and dexterity to work with your hands. (Sometimes, in the course of a day’s work, you may cover 20,000 – 25,000 steps and be lifting and carrying 3  – 4 tonnes. Whilst great physical strength is not necessary, dogged determination is.)  

• Proven ability to work at height and in a variety of weather conditions such as rain, high winds and snow. (Not in thunderstorms). 

• Good communication skills, personable and able to build rapport with the team.  

• Adaptable and flexible, able to work closely with others, and the ability to work on one’s own initiative. 

Desirable: 

• Driving license and own transport. 

• Availability to work away on location.  

Experience  

Essential: 

• Proven ability to absorb and apply new learning. 

• Proven ability or enthusiasm to work in a physically demanding role, at height and in adverse weather conditions. 

• Proven experience of punctuality and presentability.    

• Proven ability to be self-motivated, able to take the initiative to support tasks without being prompted. 

Desirable: 

• Experience of working in the built environment or a desire to transfer skills into this area. 

Motivation  

Essential: 

• An eagerness, commitment and passion to move into a career within the built heritage sector. 

• Willingness to travel and work at various project sites.  

Application and Selection Procedure 

Please complete the required Application Form. 

The candidates whose applications demonstrate knowledge, skills, motivation, experience and abilities which best match those we are looking for, will be invited to an interview. It is therefore essential for your application to give a full and concise description of the nature, extent and level of your experience and responsibilities you have held. 

We will only be contacting applicants who are successful in being shortlisted for interview and would like to thank those who are unsuccessful for taking the time to apply for the Placement. 

The recruitment panel will select the candidate most suitable for appointment.  Their decision will be final. 

Historic England and Master Thatchers (North) Ltd reserves the right to change a Placement Specification description after consultation with the Trainee.  

Application Closing Date:    Sunday 14th April 2024  

Potential Interview Date: 7th and 8th May 2024