At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and repair our historic canal network using your trade skills.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to preserving waterways.
- Benefits: Starting salary of £28,154, pension scheme, and increasing holiday entitlement.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working outdoors and learning heritage craft skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in bricklaying or stonemasonry and a relevant qualification.
The predicted salary is between 28154 - 28154 £ per year.
Join Our Team: Craft Operative bricklaying Opportunity. Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
As a Craft Operative in our Operations team, you will play a vital role in caring for our network, responding to incidents as they happen and ensuring our waterways remain safe and accessible for everyone. They act fast, think on their feet and take real pride in protecting the places people love. This is a mixed-skills role suited to someone with experience in one or more trades (e.g., carpentry, metal fabrication, bricklaying, or stonemasonry). You’ll work flexibly, responding to emergencies as they occur across our network.
Working Hours & Travel
This role follows an annualized hours system, including weekends and bank holidays. You’ll be based at our Devizes depot and travel across the Wales and South West region, with occasional support in other areas. Flexibility is essential, as emergency call-outs and rapidly changing priorities are a core part of the team’s work.
Role Overview
As a Craft Operative, you will help improve, maintain and preserve our historic network. This includes refurbishing and repairing canal infrastructure such as locks, bridges, aqueducts, towpaths and associated equipment, always working to high safety, environmental and heritage standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Carry out outdoor maintenance and repair works to maximize network availability, often involving heritage-sensitive solutions.
- Use bricklaying or other trade skills to support manufacture and refurbishment work to agreed standards and timescales.
- Safely operate machinery, plant, tools and equipment, and support in-house maintenance where required.
- Maintain personal equipment, workshop tools and workspace to required standards.
- Respond promptly to customer queries and urgent situations.
- Ensure equipment, materials and PPE are appropriate for each task.
- Assist with measuring locks and lock gates, learning heritage craft skills alongside specialist teams.
- Read and interpret technical drawings to inform work.
- Work with and supervise volunteers to support sustainable maintenance delivery.
- Travel regionally and flexibly to meet nationally prioritized work demands.
About You
You must bring strong operative skills and be confident applying your trade knowledge in unique environments. While additional skills can be learned on the job, competence in at least one relevant discipline is essential to aid your colleagues. Whether you come from a building or bricklaying background, your experience and enthusiasm will help you thrive in this role.
Skills & Qualifications
- Trade relevant apprenticeship or equivalent qualification (e.g. City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2).
- Experience operating plant/equipment (e.g., chainsaws, power tools, forklift trucks).
- Experience in a relevant discipline in bricklaying or stonemasonry.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
- Full UK driving license (essential for regional response travel).
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.
Craft Operative in Devizes employer: Canal & River Trust
Join a dedicated team at Canal & River Trust, where as a Craft Operative, you will not only enhance your skills in a supportive environment but also contribute to the preservation of our historic waterways. With a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and a strong focus on employee growth, we foster a culture of pride and responsibility, ensuring that our canals remain safe and accessible for everyone. Based in Devizes, you'll enjoy the flexibility of working across the beautiful Wales and South West region, making a meaningful impact in your community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Craft Operative in Devizes
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research their values and recent projects. When you show up for an interview, drop in some knowledge about their work on canals and how you can contribute. It’ll impress them and show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or at industry events. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have. This could give you insider info that sets you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments! Since this role involves hands-on skills, brush up on your bricklaying and other trade techniques. Practising these skills will not only boost your confidence but also show your commitment to the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen to join our team. Don’t forget to highlight your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the role!
We think you need these skills to ace Craft Operative in Devizes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your relevant trade skills in your application. Whether it's bricklaying, carpentry, or any other trade, we want to see how your experience can help us keep our canals safe and accessible.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor it to the Craft Operative role by mentioning specific experiences that relate to the job description. We love seeing how you connect your background to what we do.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your skills and experiences shine through without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canal & River Trust
✨Know Your Trades
Make sure you brush up on your skills in bricklaying, carpentry, or any other relevant trade. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on and how your experience can benefit the team. This shows you're not just a jack of all trades but a master of your craft!
✨Understand the Role
Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities of a Craft Operative. Think about how you can contribute to maintaining and improving the canal network. Being able to articulate your understanding of the role will impress the interviewers and show your genuine interest.
✨Safety First!
Since safety is paramount in this role, be prepared to discuss your experience with safety protocols and equipment. Highlight any relevant training or certifications you have, and demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high safety standards in your work.
✨Flexibility is Key
This job requires a flexible approach due to emergency call-outs and changing priorities. Be ready to share examples of how you've adapted to unexpected situations in the past. Showing that you can think on your feet will make you a standout candidate!
