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.


Head Gardener - Holkham Enterprises

This established post has responsibility for all activity undertaken by the gardens team in the park and across the wider estate. Click here to find out more.


Project Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a project manager to join Holkham’s Land and Property team. Click here to find out more.

Wedding and Events Co-ordinator - Holkham Events

We are looking for an efficient and enthusiastic candidate with strong administration skills who may be looking for their first role in the events industry. Your main role will be to support our small but busy team in achieving the team’s annual income targets. The role would involve taking initial phone & email enquiries, to assist with all wedding related administration, and database management. This role will also be required to provide support to the Operations Manager during the delivery of wedding and events.

To succeed you will need to be an enthusiastic individual who is calm under pressure and has an efficient approach to dealing with client enquiries. You will need to possess excellent IT skills in Word and Excel and be able to manage databases and spreadsheets as necessary, and have a flair for written communication.

Salary: £20,030 per annum. The position is full time, 40 hours a week. Weekend and bank holiday work will be required. To download the full job description, please click here.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter to Belle Hutton, Sales Manager Wedding and Events – b.hutton@holkham.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 3rd April, with interview held on Thursday 11th April.

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

Learning and Engagement Gardener

We are looking for an experienced gardener with a focus on working with volunteers and visitors to join our existing team. The role will predominately be based in the Walled Garden supervising volunteers and working with our local community including supporting school visits. This position is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about horticulture and would like to share this passion with others.

Salary: £19,530 (39 hours a week).
Occasional weekend and bank holiday work is required.

Please note due to the nature of the role that a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check is applicable for this post and will need to be undertaken prior to the appointment being
confirmed.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter to Head Gardener Dene Wood d.wood@holkham.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Friday 22nd March with interviews likely to be week commencing Monday 1st April.

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

Closing date: 22nd March 2019.

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

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

Accounts Assistant

The Land and Property Department is a combination of businesses including property maintenance, refurbishment of the existing 290 estate cottages, development and investment projects. The projects involve the development of redundant assets such as disused barns, larger scale projects and new build.

Reporting to the department’s senior accountant, this new, full-time role is supporting all aspects of financial reporting for the Holkham property businesses and trusts. From the day-to-day maintenance of ledgers, to assisting in producing monthly, quarterly and annual management reports, this role will be varied and interesting. The successful candidate will have previous accounting experience and possess a strong understanding of accounting concepts, processes and controls. Excellent numeric and analytical skills are essential, with a keen eye for detail. We are looking for a team player with a positive attitude.

Salary: £18,000 - £23,500 per annum dependent on experience. Plus benefits.
To apply please send your CV and covering letter to Dawn at D.Spetch@holkham.co.uk

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.

The role is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

To apply please email a copy of your CV to Jane Berwick (Office Manager) email: j.berwick@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 Dene Wood at d.wood@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.