Visitor Assistant

English Heritage Ltd; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A national heritage charity is seeking Visitor Assistants to enhance visitor experiences at Carlisle Castle. The role offers flexible hours: 15 hours weekly during peak season and 0 during winter. Responsibilities include engaging with the public and ensuring excellent service delivery. The charity promotes diversity and offers various employee benefits, including free access to sites for staff and family, discounts, and generous leave policies. Applicants with a passion for customer service and teamwork are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Career progression opportunities

Free access to heritage sites for staff and family

25% discount in shops and cafes

Enhanced parental leave

25 days' holiday plus Bank Holidays

Matched pension contributions up to 10%

Qualifications

• Passion for people and heritage.
• Ability to deliver engaging visitor experiences.
• Flexibility to work weekends and Bank Holidays.

Responsibilities

• Ensure visitors have a great experience.
• Provide recommendations to enhance visits.
• Maintain accessibility and site presentation.

Skills

Excellent customer service

Teamwork

Public engagement

Job description

Visitor Assistant

Title Visitor Assistant
Location Carlisle Castle, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8UR
Salary £12.39 per hour / 15 hours per week April to October, 0 hours November to March / Permanent
All salaries will increase following the NLW rise on 1st April 2026 to a minimum of £12.71 per hour
Job type Permanent Ref 16285

Would you like to work for the charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England? We are looking for a Visitor Assistant to join us at Carlisle Castle. We have two positions available at £12.39 per hour / 15 hours per week April to October, 0 hours November to March / Permanent, and one contract at £12.39 per hour / 7.5 hours per week April to October, 0 hours November to March / Permanent. (All salaries will increase following the NLW rise on 1st April 2026 to a minimum of £12.71 per hour)

Standing proud in the city Carlisle Castle has dominated for nine centuries, and has remained a working fortress until well within living memory. It has withstood many sieges, held captive a royal prisoner, and been home to the King's Own Royal Border Regiment.

No history background? No problem. What is important to us is a passion for people and excellent customer service. You will enjoy working with others as part of a team and understand what makes excellent customer service to deliver an engaging visitor experience to a diverse audience.

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings. That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

By joining us as a Carlisle Castle Visitor Assistant, you will be part of an amazing team of employees and volunteers, ensuring visitors have a great time from the moment they arrive until they say goodbye. Through your recommendations, you will help personalise their visit - this could include talking about the benefits of English Heritage membership or recommending things to see and do on site. You will also contribute to making sure your site is accessible, safe and well presented at all times.

It is a varied role - some days will be busy from start to finish and others quieter, especially on the wetter days! Some paid or voluntary experience with the public is beneficial but full training and support is provided as part of your induction. You will be required to work weekends and Bank Holidays, more information will be provided at interview.

Benefits

• The opportunity for career progression within the heritage sector in retail, food and beverage or general management
• Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
• Free access to all English Heritage sites for you, and up to 6 friends and / or family members
• 25% discount in our shops and cafes
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
• 25 days' holiday plus Bank Holidays pro rata rising to 28 days after 3 years
• Options to buy additional leave
• Matched pension contributions up to a maximum of 10%

To find out more about us and what we do, please register via one of the links below join us at one of our webinars.

Friday 23rd January 2026 11.30am-12.30pm

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3ac4acf3-1db2-40d8-a81b-5c178615e5e6@30116e44-4d79-44c0-a8c1-ebc0707da3c9

Wednesday 4th February 2026 6-7pm

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ea661ca0-f117-46dd-8c83-af63e055008a@30116e44-4d79-44c0-a8c1-ebc0707da3c9

You can also find out more about us here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ and meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

If you would like to talk to us before you apply e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Hannah Williams, Site Manager, on [e-mail] No agencies please.

You will need to refer to the following documents when completing your application.