Employment opportunities at Holkham

Job Vacancies

Work Somewhere Special This Year

Holkham employs both seasonal and permanent employees, with a diverse range of skills and experience, from chefs and front of house, to gamekeepers and tractor drivers. Our busiest recruitment period is in February and March when we appoint the majority of our seasonal positions to start just before Easter and work until the end of October. We recruit additional front of house staff for July and August and typically these opportunities attract university or college students. Many of our seasonal employees return each year.

We offer great career opportunities at Holkham and most of our people decide to stay with us for a long time. When permanent roles arise we look for people that possess the necessary skills and experience and the right personal attributes to fit with the business. We often have permanent opportunities for school leavers, who are keen to pursue a career in catering, housekeeping or front of house. We work with local colleges to offer NVQs so that your progression is backed up with formal qualifications.

Your Data
Please refer to our candidate information notice to learn how we will manage your personal data - click here (PDF). By applying for a role with us you are providing consent to us processing your personal information for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. You have the right to withdraw your consent for processing for that purpose at any time. To withdraw your consent, please contact either the recruiting manager or the HR Manager.

Bar and Restaurant Team - The Victoria Inn at Holkham

The Victoria Inn is looking to add to our fantastic bar and restaurant team.

Ideally positioned on the beautiful north Norfolk coast, The Victoria sits at the doorstep of Holkham Hall, the focal point of the privately owned Holkham Estate of which the Victoria is a part of. We are very proud to have been awarded Gold Award status by Green tourism UK and to appear in the Good Food Guide.

This role will involve delivering excellent customer service in both our bar and restaurant, working alongside the kitchen and reception teams to consistently surpass our guests’ expectations. You should have a positive attitude, be flexible and confident with an eye for detail. Often you will be the first point of contact for our guests, helping to shape their first impressions of the Holkham Estate, therefore we are looking for high calibre candidates with a strong team ethos and a passion to work to the highest standard. At The Victoria, we have committed to pay the best wages on the coast and in return, hope to attract committed and talented hospitality professionals.

Previous experience of working in the hospitality sector would be preferred, however, previous customer service experience in other industries will also be considered. The Victoria is an exciting and expanding business that values its staff as its key resource. There is plenty of scope to develop and make a positive impact as the business moves into its next phase.

This role could be offered on a full time, part time or seasonal basis. In the full-time position, it is likely you will work 5 days out of 7 with shifts ranging between the hours of 7.30am and 11pm. Both full or part-time roles will involve weekend working. Hours will be allocated fortnightly in advance.

Hourly rate:
Over 21 - £9.06 per hour
18 to 20 - £8.02 per hour

Benefits:
Staff Discount cards (full and part time positions)
Holkham car parking permit (full and part time positions)
Monthly share of the tips
Staff accommodation is available

To apply please email a copy of your CV and a covering letter to Ed Cast, Deputy General Manager at e.cast@holkham.co.uk

High Ropes Assistant

Norfolk Adventure are responsible for the successful cycle and boat hire operations at Holkham and, as a new addition this summer, will be opening a High Ropes course. With this new operation, Norfolk Adventure are looking for enthusiastic and friendly people who have a positive work ethic, outstanding customer service skills, as well as a love of the outdoors, to work on the new course. You will have excellent communication skills and have an approachable manner to engage with and greet visitors to the Holkham Estate. Full training will be given and a good head for heights is needed.

Hourly rate: Over 21 £9.06, 18-20 £6.42
To apply for this position or to speak to a member of the team about the role, please email adventure@holkham.co.uk with a copy of your CV and a covering letter.

Click here to see the full job description (PDF).

Forester - Holkham Estate

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the forestry team. Reporting to the Head Forester, the likely tasks include thinning, biomass production, firewood, plantation maintenance and occasional arboricultural work. The small team is focused on estate forestry tasks managing approximately 2,100 acres of woodland with the emphasis being sustainable continuous cover forestry.

The successful candidate will be motivated and maintain high standards, having attained or be working towards chainsaw certification. Skills and experience include: basic training in forestry or arboriculture, CS30 and 31 essential, PA1, PA6 and CS32 tickets desirable. Experience of tractor driving and use of winch and forwarder desirable.

Competitive starting salary and enrolment into the company pension scheme.

If you are interested in the above position, please apply with a CV and covering letter to:
Harry Wakefield, Head Forester, Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AB or by email to h.wakefield@holkham.co.uk

Junior Sous Chef - The Victoria Inn

The main themes of The Victoria’s restaurant are fresh, local and seasonal. The quality of our ingredients is key, whether it be, fish from the north Norfolk coast, beef from our farms on the Holkham Estate, venison from our herd of Fallow Deer, or fresh herbs from our walled garden.

The successful candidate will support our Head Chef and Senior Sous Chef in developing and delivering the food offering at The Victoria. It is our goal to meet every customer’s expectations. As part of this role you will assume kitchen duty manager responsibilities. This will mean energising and motivating junior staff, supporting the Head Chef and Senior Sous Chef in ensuring that the kitchen team work to the highest standard and in conjunction with the front of house, deliver the best possible experience to our customers at all times.

The successful candidate will have a passion for food with experience working with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce; have had a minimum of 3 years kitchen experience at CDP or Junior Sous level. You should be experienced in stock rotation and kitchen ordering, hold Food Hygiene level 2 certification and ideally hold NVQ level 2 certification in Professional Cookers, however relevant experience will also be taken into account.

The Victoria is an exciting and expanding business. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop and make a positive impact as the business enters its next phase. The role would suit a current Junior Sous looking to join a great team and make an impact in an expanding business or a CPD looking to progress their career and take the next step.

This is a full time salaried position and will consist of working 45 hours per week over 5 days. The role will include evenings and weekend working.

Salary: £28,000 per annum depending on experience, plus tips.

If you are interested in the above position please send a CV and cover letter to Edward Cast, Deputy General Manager email: e.cast@holkham.co.uk

Assistants - Woodland Café operated by Norfolk Adventure

Norfolk Adventure are responsible for the successful cycle hire, boat hire at Holkham and the new ropes course opening in summer 2019. They are looking for happy, motivated people to join their team and work in the new Woodland Café serving visitors to the cycle hire, woodland adventure play area and ropes course.

This is a seasonal opportunity working from 1st April to 31st October and we have full and part-time positions available. Full training will be given.

Hourly rate: Over 21 £9.06, 18-20 £6.42

To apply for this position, please email adventure@holkham.co.uk

Opportunities in the Holkham Building Maintenance Team

Builder / General Maintenance

You should have a knowledge of general building works and construction methods. You will be part of our Building Team dealing with brickwork, roof, groundwork and general maintenance tasks.
Salary range: £19,000 – £21,000 per annum dependent on experience.

Role is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

To apply for this position, please email a copy of your CV to Jane Berwick (Office Manager) email: j.berwick@holkham.co.uk

Catering Supervisors - Holkham Enterprises

We are looking for full time Catering Supervisors for our busy Beach Café at Wells.

You will be required to lead and ensure consistently high standards of presentation and customer service in conjunction with the Café Managers. The successful applicant will be required to work to an operational rota which will include bank holidays and weekends. You will be required to develop and maintain a high level of knowledge of our food and drink products, our local suppliers and general knowledge and understanding of the Holkham Estate.

The position is ideal for someone who has some relevant experience, however additional training will be given. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, determined, possess strong interpersonal skills and have an excellent eye for detail. The ability to work as part of a team with a varied age range, as well as under your own initiative and to work calmly under pressure is essential.

Hourly rate: £9.63 per hour from 1st April.

To apply, please email a copy of your CV to Sarah Hiner: careers@holkham.co.uk

Seasonal Catering Assistants - Holkham Enterprises

Ideal for hard working people who love a fast-paced customer orientated business. Tasks include drinks and food service, cleaning and making our customers feel welcome. You may be required to work in any of our three cafés.

Hourly rate: Over 21 £9.06, 18-20 £6.42 and under 18 years £5.18

To apply please email a copy of your CV and covering letter to Sarah Hiner email: careers@holkham.co.uk

Farming Graduate Programme

Holkham Farming Company’s farming graduate programme is designed to offer you a diverse and exciting opportunity to apply your knowledge in a cutting-edge farming environment. We will offer you a structured 3-year programme that will include:

• Artis, BASIS and FACTS training
• A clear job description with assigned areas of responsibility
• Accommodation (shared with other students/graduates)
• An assigned mentor to support you through the programme
• A competitive starting salary with progression over the three year programme.

A career at Holkham offers a unique opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the farming operation including:
• Innovative arable operations
• Beef and sheep production
• Management of Countryside Stewardship Schemes
• Commercial grain storage and analysis
• Energy crop production for anaerobic digestion plant
• Working with science and research institutions

We are looking for a graduate with prior work experience in agriculture. You will also have the following:
• The ability to work well as part of a team
• A desire to strive towards self-progression
• A positive and flexible attitude
• Experience of operating agricultural equipment
• A full UK driving Licence

Click here to view the Farming Graduate Programme brochure (PDF)

For more information please contact James Beamish, Farm Manager; email j.beamish@holkham.co.uk

Volunteers – Holkham Education Team

We are looking for volunteers to help with a wide range of educational, family events held throughout our main visitor season. Events may include Easter, Halloween and Christmas celebrations, pond dipping and school holidays/ half term activities. Volunteering can be for as little as a couple of hours per event. Full training and support will be given throughout each event.

What can we offer you? A chance to meet new people and learn new skills. Invitation to a variety of staff held events throughout the year, a lunch meal voucher per volunteering day and a combined Holkham car park pass and staff card (which entitles you to a variety of discounts) after the completion of a set number of volunteering hours. No experience is required (although this would be an advantage), just a passion for sharing with others, enthusiasm and energy.

If you are interested, our Education team would be keen to hear from you. Please register your interest by email to educationcoordinator@holkham.co.uk

Volunteers - Holkham Hall

We are looking for volunteers to help with book cleaning, conservation cleaning of porcelain, fabrics and furniture within Holkham Hall. You will be part of an exciting new chapter at Holkham as volunteering within the hall itself is something new.

What can we offer you?
Become part of a friendly team.
Helping the team care for the historical collection.
Getting behind the scenes of this magnificent house and handling interesting objects.
You will receive ongoing training, support, and professional advice.
A lunch meal voucher per volunteering day, a combined Holkham car parking pass, a Holkham staff card which entitles you to a variety of discounts in Holkham businesses and our tenant’s businesses (after the completion of a set number of volunteering hours).

If you have experience in conservation this would be an advantage, and/or if you have an interest and passion for heritage and being part of a team, we would love to hear for you. If you are interested, the hall team would be keen to hear from you. Please get in touch by email with Hall manager, Jon Haggerwood at j.haggerwood@holkham.co.uk

Volunteers – Holkham National Nature Reserve

Do you care for this coastline?

We welcome volunteers to help with various tasks on the Holkham National Nature Reserve throughout the year, meeting every Wednesday and on one or two weekend days per month.
We currently have enough helping hands on the NNR. We will let you know when spaces become available.

If you would like to know more about the National Nature Reserve click here.

Volunteer Opportunities at The Lookout, from April 2019

The Lookout - General Engagement
A wonderful opportunity to engage with visitors to the Holkham National Nature Reserve. You will be based at The Lookout visitor centre and will help to enhance the visitor experience with your knowledge of the wildlife and the diverse habitats of the NNR. This may include: discussing the information available on the interactive interpretation, informing visitors about recent bird and wildlife sightings, pointing out and helping to identify birds seen from the visitor centre watchpoints and advising visitors about what is to be found in the different areas of the reserve.

The Lookout - Activities Assistant
This volunteer post involves supervising and assisting with creative, nature-based activities, particularly during school holidays. You will be working with children and families and a degree of practical skill would certainly be useful. If you enjoy helping others learn about the environment around them and have a good knowledge of the wildlife of Norfolk, this could be for you.

Please email Will Clennell to register your interest, schoolscoordinator@holkham.co.uk

Volunteers – Holkham Enterprises

Would you like to join our small team of volunteers in the Landscape Department?

We are looking for volunteers to help with the walled garden project at Holkham Hall which is currently being restored to its former glory. You will get involved in a variety of jobs in the gardens including weeding, pruning, watering, planting and painting. You do not need to be highly skilled, just have enthusiasm for gardening and be keen to help. Our opening season is from April to October and we can arrange days to suit you.

We are also looking for willing and passionate volunteers to help with a variety of gardening jobs to maintain the intricate patterns of the formal parterres on the terraces of Holkham Hall, which were designed by leading landscape gardener W. A. Nesfield in the 19th century.

If you are interested our Landscape Department would be keen to hear from you.
Email Simon Bosley on s.bosley@holkham.co.uk

Work Experience and Internships

We are pleased to offer a number of work experience placements for local school pupils each year to help them understand more about their potential career path, as well as learning about the different aspects of the Holkham Estate. To be eligible you must live locally and must be able to demonstrate a real interest in one of the careers we offer. Work experience will be offered for a minimum of 1 week and up to a maximum of 2 weeks. To apply the pupil must apply in writing to Holkham’s Education Manager Sue Penlington, email: s.penlington@holkham.co.uk and include:

• The start date and duration of your proposed work experience placement and which school or college you are currently attending.
• Why you would like to be considered for a work experience placement including what skills you have and hobbies you are interested in.
• Which business or department you would like work experience within e.g. landscape, catering.

Regretfully, due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to offer a placement to every pupil that applies. Applicants will be requested to attend an informal interview before the offer of a placement is made. Please note that the estate is unable to respond to applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications for our 2019 Work Experience Scheme have now closed. The closing date for applications for our 2020 scheme is 31st January 2020.

Internships and Placements
Opportunities for internships for either university or college students arise when we identify a requirement for a student to assist us in one of our businesses. All Internships will be advertised on the vacancies page of the website as and when they arise.