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- Tasks: Join our team to craft and maintain beautiful canal lock gates.
- Company: Canal & River Trust, dedicated to preserving our waterways.
- Benefits: Starting salary of £28,154, pension scheme, and increasing holiday entitlement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the environment while developing your carpentry skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in carpentry/joinery and ability to read technical drawings.
- Other info: Dynamic workshop environment with opportunities for career progression.
The predicted salary is between 28154 - 33784 £ per year.
Join Our Team: Workshop Craft Operative (Joiner/Carpenter) opportunity.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. We’re excited to welcome a new Workshop Craft Operative (Joiner/Carpenter) to our team. This role offers a chance to make a meaningful impact by helping maintain and enhance our beautiful canal network.
Working Hours & Travel
The role will be based from Bradley Workshop, Bradley Lane, Bilston, WV14 8DW, 5 days a week. The working hours of the workshop are 07:30 - 16:00 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 on Fridays.
Role overview
As a Workshop Craft Operative, your experienced crafts person skills will help to provide excellence in the visitor experience for the Canal & River Trust through efficiently building/supplying complete lock gate and lock gate parts for the entire network in line with safety requirements and heritage standards. This role is vital to enhancing the reputation of the network, whilst protecting its integrity for decades to come.
Key responsibilities
- Comply with Canal & River Trust’s Health & Safety policy and defined standards; report incidents, accidents and near misses. Complete point of work risk assessments for non-routine tasks and adjust work methods where appropriate.
- Use carpentry/joinery or fabricator/welder expertise to undertake the manufacture & refurbishment within a timely manner, in accordance with defined standards and agreed programmes. Work outside when required.
- Work within quality assurance protocols, uploading documents digitally where required.
- Operate a variety of machinery, plant, tools, and other equipment in accordance with Canal & River Trust’s safety standards and where appropriate support in-house maintenance.
- Undertake general housekeeping of personal equipment, workshop equipment and workspace ensuring all are maintained to defined standards.
- Timely response to customers’ queries and requirements, including responding to emergencies.
- Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc) is appropriate for the task.
- Assist with the measurement of locks and lock gates to identify correct lock gate measurements for manufacture - you will be working alongside an experienced team of specialists to learn this heritage skill.
- Understand and interpret technical drawings to translate into production.
About You
We’re looking for someone with a solid foundation in carpentry or joinery, as these skills will form the core of your work. While you’ll have the opportunity to learn and develop additional skills along the way, confidence in reading technical drawings, accurate measuring, and creating strong, precise joints is essential. You might come from a general building background or a specialist joinery environment—anywhere that careful measuring, cutting, and joining have become second nature to you.
Skills & Qualifications
- Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification (or experience) e.g. City & Guilds Level III, NVQ Level III in Joinery, Carpentry.
- Experience handling plant/equipment in group A e.g. chainsaw, hand power tools, forklift truck.
- Experience of working within relevant discipline e.g. Joinery, Carpentry.
- Experience of reading technical drawings.
- Experience in CNC manufacturing/operations would be advantageous.
- Full Valid UK Driving Licence - you will need to be able to respond across the region and get to where the team need you.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
We offer a starting salary of £28,154 with opportunities for progression. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure.
Workshops - Craft Operative in Birmingham employer: Canal and River Trust
Contact Detail:
Canal and River Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Workshops - Craft Operative in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, check out their website and social media. Understanding their values and recent projects can help you connect better during the chat.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a mate or in front of the mirror. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when it’s your turn to shine.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! Bring along examples of your work or any relevant projects you've done. This is a great way to demonstrate your experience and passion for carpentry and joinery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, shoot them a quick thank-you email. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace Workshops - Craft Operative in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your carpentry or joinery skills in your application. We want to see how your experience aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your expertise!
Read the Job Description Carefully: Take a good look at the job description and tailor your application to match. Use the same language and keywords we’ve used to show that you understand what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforwardness, so avoid fluff and focus on what makes you a great fit for the Workshop Craft Operative role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly, and we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canal and River Trust
✨Know Your Craft
Make sure you brush up on your carpentry and joinery skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with technical drawings, measuring, and creating joints. This will show that you’re not just a good fit for the role, but that you’re genuinely passionate about the craft.
✨Safety First
Familiarise yourself with health and safety protocols relevant to the workshop environment. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve adhered to safety standards in previous roles. This demonstrates your commitment to maintaining a safe workspace, which is crucial for this position.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
This role involves working closely with a team of specialists. Think of examples from your past where you collaborated effectively with others. Highlighting your ability to communicate and work as part of a team will make you stand out as a candidate who can contribute positively to the workshop environment.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare some thoughtful questions about the role and the workshop's operations. This could include inquiries about the types of projects you'll be working on or how the team approaches quality assurance. Asking insightful questions shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
