Cultural Learning & Participation Officer - Apprentice in Burnley

About the Trust

We’re one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We’re looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Our apprenticeship programmes help preserve essential skills and develop tomorrow’s experts. We welcome new talent with fresh ideas and in return offer real responsibility, structured learning, and long‑term progression. This role follows a 37 hour, Monday to Friday working pattern with occasional evening and weekend working. This is home-based with an assigned local hub for collaborative working. The geographical region covered will be Burnley and Pennine Lancashire. You should feel comfortable working independently for the majority of the week, with support available when needed.

Role Overview

As an Apprentice Engagement Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in planning, organising and co-ordinating artistic and cultural education community engagement projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and deliver inclusive participation activities for diverse audiences.
• Research, understand and engage target audiences, identifying needs, expectations and barriers to participation.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders such as community groups.
• Coordinate projects end-to-end, including schedules, venues, resources and budgets.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on engagement and impact using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Ensure all activity complies with Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Equality, Accessibility and Data Protection requirements.
• Work collaboratively across teams and with external partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Demonstrate and promote the Trust’s values, ensuring inclusion and diversity are embedded in daily practice.

About You

You don’t need any prior experience - we’ll teach you everything you need. What matters is you have a genuine interest in community engagement, organisation, and helping teams deliver great work. You communicate clearly in writing and in person, pay attention to detail and feel comfortable working both independently and in a team. You’ll ideally have grade A-C or grade 9-4 in Maths and English GCSE (or equivalent) already achieved or on track but we can support if you don’t have this. An Enhanced DBS check will be required for this apprenticeship.

Training & Development

You will work towards the Level 3 Cultural Learning & Participation Officer apprenticeship standard with one of our expert training providers. Whilst on-the-job, you will work with supportive colleagues to get the best out of your apprenticeship experience. The Canal & River Trust is committed to supporting apprentices to become experts in their field, offering structured development pathways and long-term career prospects.

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 annual salary of £22,095. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community. We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes. All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.