Visitor Services

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Under the direction of the First Gardener, to assist with conservation, maintenance and development of the garden, ensuring the garden is presented to a high standard in line with the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Undertaking practical maintenance of the garden to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors. Activities may include:

Turf care: Grass-cutting, strimming and edging.

Managing trees, shrubs and hedges: Pruning and hedge-cutting.

Managing herbaceous plants and bulbs: Hand-weeding of beds and borders and planting.

Weeding, watering and feeding vegetable beds and harvesting produce.

Plant propagation.

Pest & disease control.

Composting and soil improvement.

Maintenance of paths, paving and carpark.

Demonstrating self-motivation, organisation, planning, prioritisation, good time-management and attention to detail.

Undertaking other reasonable duties that may be required to ensure the smooth running of the property, such as assisting at events held within the garden or the property.

Assisting with interpretation activities such as answering horticultural enquiries from visitors and contributing to accurate plant records.

Working with staff to foster positive relationships with local communities, visitors and promoting the work of the Trust, and actively seeking opportunities to increase Trust membership.

Working with and supervising volunteers to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard and gain benefits from their volunteering.

Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety and environment policies and procedures to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and visitors. This includes recognition of the Trust’s environmental policy with respect to sustainable gardening policies.

This is an exciting and varied role within the Visitor Services Team at Holmwood House as part of the Tenement House, Holmwood and Weaver’s Cottage cluster. We are looking for energetic, cheerful, and talkative individuals to join our team this season.

Working at all 3 sites will be required on a rota basis, but this role will be based primarily at Holmwood House. Through engaging and informative interactions, you’ll help share stories about these iconic sites and build support and understanding for the National Trust for Scotland.

You’ll help welcome visitors from across the globe and ensure they have an enjoyable and memorable experience here from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.

You’ll work flexibly and with an eye for detail, ensuring the smooth and safe operations in Admissions, Retail, Catering and Events activities whilst making the property the best possible place to visit and work.

By maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising opportunities to generate income, and ensuring that the site and its assets are safe and secure you will be a vital part of furthering the valuable work of the National Trust for Scotland.

You will contribute to the team property targets and work well within a team.

You will deliver 30 min guided tours of the property to visitors, understanding of the property establishing and maintaining the Trust’s reputation as a guardian of Scotland’s heritage, and as the organisation that actively wants people to engage with and enjoy the properties it cares for. Training will be provided.

You will help with the day-to-day catering operations in Holmwood’s café, from taking orders and serving food, to mastering barista skills and ensuring good housekeeping of café and kitchen areas. Training will be provided.

Our ideal candidate you should be an excellent storyteller with a knack for customer service. An outstanding tour guide will perform minor alterations to each itinerary to suit the unique interests of each group. You will have excellent presentation skills and be able to communicate the importance of Scottish heritage and its preservation and work well within a team which includes our fantastic group of volunteers.

Someone who wants to help us generate the income and recruit the members that enable us to care for all the unique and valuable properties within the Glasgow cluster. They will enjoy the variety and exciting challenges that come with working across several different sites and areas.

This is an exciting and varied role within the Visitor Services Team at the Weavers Cottage as part of the Tenement House, Holmwood and Weaver’s Cottage cluster. We are looking for energetic, cheerful, and talkative individuals to join our team this season.

Working at all 3 sites will be required on a rota basis, but this role will be based primarily at the Weavers Cottage. Through engaging and informative interactions, you’ll help share stories about these iconic sites and build support and understanding for the National Trust for Scotland.

You’ll help welcome visitors from across the globe and ensure they have an enjoyable and memorable experience here from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.

You’ll work flexibly and with an eye for detail, ensuring the smooth and safe operations in Admissions, Retail, and Events activities whilst making the property the best possible place to visit and work.

By maintaining excellent standards of service, optimising opportunities to generate income, and ensuring that the site and its assets are safe and secure you will be a vital part of furthering the valuable work of the National Trust for Scotland.

You will contribute to the team property targets and work well within a team.

You will work with staff and volunteers by understanding of the property establishing and maintaining the Trust’s reputation as a guardian of Scotland’s heritage, and as the organisation that actively wants people to engage with and enjoy the properties it cares for. Training will be provided.

Our ideal candidate you should be an excellent storyteller with a knack for customer service. An outstanding tour guide will perform minor alterations to each itinerary to suit the unique interests of each group. You will have excellent presentation skills and be able to communicate the importance of Scottish heritage and its preservation and work well within a team.

Someone who wants to help us generate the income and recruit the members that enable us to care for all the unique and valuable properties within the Glasgow cluster. They will enjoy the variety and exciting challenges that come with working across several different sites and areas.

An exciting opportunity has opened to join the team at The National Wallace Monument as a Visitor Experience Assistant. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated individual, who is committed to delivering a first class customer experience to every visitor at the attraction.

The post is a customer focused role and the holder will be expected to have a good level of background knowledge about the attraction, the surrounding area, as well as Stirling’s wider tourism offering. They will also be required to assess individual visitor needs, upsell products and ensure that each customer receives the highest level of customer service at all times. The successful candidate will need to ensure that all policies and procedures are adhered to, and that the attraction and grounds are being consistently maintained to the highest possible standard.

This position is initially offered on a one-day-per-week basis (7 hours). However, the working hours are subject to change based on business needs and may increase accordingly. The role operates across a seven-day schedule, and availability for weekend work is essential.

Dalkeith Country Park has been enjoyed by visitors for 120 years and its woodlands, riverside trails, cycle tracks and events calendar are valued by locals and visitors from afar. Fort Douglas is an exciting adventure park which is a pull for visitors of all ages, while the stable yard houses Restoration Yard, a unique venture comprising a retail store, restaurant, and wellness space.

We are looking for a Car Parking Assistant to assist our visitors with parking and help keep traffic moving over the busy weekend period and during holidays. With a friendly and professional approach, you will process contactless payments, direct customers to spaces and patrol parking areas. You should demonstrate a positive attitude and good people skills.

• Do you enjoy working outdoors, helping people and have great communication skills?
• Can you demonstrate excellent customer service skills?
• Do you have the maturity and confidence to deal with challenging situations when required?

Hours of work will vary and will include weekends and school holidays.

Interested? Please apply by emailing a copy of your CV and covering letter to recruitment@buccleuch.com.

The closing date for applications is 5 March.

Please view our privacy policy at www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/privacy/

Dalkeith Country Park has been enjoyed by visitors for 120 years and its woodlands, riverside trails, cycle tracks and events calendar are valued by locals and visitors from afar. Fort Douglas is an exciting adventure park which is a pull for visitors of all ages, while the stable yard houses Restoration Yard, a unique venture comprising a retail store, restaurant, and wellness space.

We are looking for Visitor Services Assistants who are enthusiastic and energetic individuals to help us deliver our seasonal activities and assist with the day to day running. If you can help keep our young visitors engaged and want to work in a fun environment with like-minded people then we would love to hear from you!

• Are you friendly and brimming with enthusiasm?
• Can you demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a wide range of people?
• Do you have strong customer service skills and an understanding of the individual needs of our visitors?

Hours of work will vary and will include weekends and school holidays. While similar experience would be desirable, it’s more important that you can demonstrate a positive attitude and are great with people.

Interested? Please apply by emailing a copy of your CV and covering letter to recruitment@buccleuch.com.

The closing date for applications is 5 March.

Please view our privacy policy at www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/privacy/

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Ensure the highest standards of kitchen hygiene, cleanliness, tidiness and related schedules are adhered to.

Cleaning and sterilising countertops, kitchen walls, stoves, ovens, grills and sinks.

Cleaning the entire kitchen once it is closed to ensure it is ready for the next day.

Maintaining the food storage areas like freezers and refrigerators.

Receiving deliveries and organising them in the kitchen.

Washing dirty dishes like cutlery, pots, cutting boards and pans or loading dishes into the dishwasher.

Removing kitchen waste from waste containers and disposing of them properly.

Cleaning and maintaining cooking equipment like cookers, pots and food mixers.

Supporting the Chef in basic food preparation like cutting ingredients, peeling and washing food items.

Follow instructions from Chef and adhere to daily / weekly checklists.

Adhere to the Trust’s “Health & Safety Policy”, being mindful at all times of the health and safety of self, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

Adhere to the Trust’s obligations to minimise impact on the environment, e.g., efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste.

Adherence to the COSHH Training provided and control of substances covered by COSHH.

Involvement in the upkeep and maintenance of both the entire department site and, specifically, the F&B outlets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

To provide a consistently high standard of visitor care at all times

Welcoming visitors to the site and processing their admission/retail purchase in a friendly, efficient and knowledgeable manner.

Welcoming visitors with special needs / impairments and providing a high level of service.

Welcoming International visitors and aiding with specific needs.

Welcoming groups in an efficient and warm manner.

Answering visitors’ queries about the site and the local area.

Proactively engaging with visitors about the site, its history, contents, offers and merchandise.

Promoting the National Trust for Scotland brand, to include our Membership scheme, events, upselling other properties and any promotional campaigns, being proactive in the selling of Membership and Gift Aid.

On occasion conduct guided tours of Falkland Palace to the general public and visiting groups.

To maintain excellent standards of the site and personal presentation at all times

Ensuring site is ready to open and welcome visitors by the set opening time.

Wearing correct uniform, name badges, or PPE as required.

Reporting all instances of damage and wear and tear issues promptly to your line manager.

Working in harmony with other departments; Collections Care, Gardening and site repair employees/contractors.

Financial Responsibilities (where applicable)

To adhere to all financial procedures to include till operation and safeguarding of monies: to implement amendments to standard procedure as instructions may dictate.

Visitor Services/Retail/Events/Cashier duties (where applicable)

To ensure that retail merchandising is in accordance with NTS policy.

To assist in achieving site retail/membership/events targets and KPI’s.

To actively upsell products and services to facilitate the visitor’s enjoyment.

To actively feedback visitor comments to line managers to develop and improve offer, service, operations.

To work flexibly across departments and Fife Properties as needed.

To assist with the set-up, stewarding and break-down of events in liaison with the management.

To assist with Heritage Hospitality events. This may include evening work.

To ensure good housekeeping in back of house areas.

Your role of Steward will be a part year permanent position up until 30 September 2025 and is recurring each summer season. The likely start date for this role is in April 2025.

Are you looking for a flexible seasonal job that is both fun and unique? You’ll get an insight into Scotland’s rich history and gain valuable experience in the tourism industry and help bring Scotland’s dramatic history to life for our visitors from across the world. Explore the fascinating stories from Scotland’s past and share your passion with international and local visitors who come to Edzell Castle during the season.

Come and work in Edzell Castle in Edzell, Angus, a county of rolling hills and glens along the stunning east coast of Scotland. A role that will enable you as part of the Visitor & Community team help visitors create memories to last a lifetime at these fantastic properties.

Edzell Castle was home to the Lindsays, a gifted, turbulent and tragic noble family who acquired the estate in 1358. The lordly seat was a motte and bailey residence near the medieval church. In the 1500s, the family built a brand new castle – the one we admire today. What do you know about the Seven Cardinal Virtues, Seven Liberal Arts & the Seven Planetary Deities & how do they relate to the gardens of Edzell, can you excite visitors about that?

Benefits of working with HES

– A generous holiday allowance of 25 days holidays + 11.5 public holidays per year (pro-rata in line with hours/length of contract)
– A Civil Service pension which means you will receive an employer contribution of 27% of your annual salary
– Free entry to Historic Environment Scotland sites (with up to three guests) and all English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties
– Discounts on 100’s of online retailers
– Interest free loans for bicycles and annual travel passes