At a Glance
- Tasks: Digitise historical materials into high-quality digital assets for family history research.
- Company: Join Findmypast, a passionate family history company under DC Thomson.
- Benefits: Day shift hours, supportive team environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on quality and efficiency.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by preserving history and enabling others to discover their family stories.
- Qualifications: Attention to detail, basic IT skills, and a passion for history or archives.
The predicted salary is between 33750 - 41250 £ per year.
Findmypast, part of the DC Thomson media and publishing company, is recruiting for a Digitisation Operative to join our team in Boston Spa. The Digitisation Operative contributes directly to the delivery of high-volume digitisation programmes, converting physical archive materials into high-quality digital assets that enable product development, partner value, and long-term content monetisation. The successful candidate will support scalable content production in an environment where accuracy, consistency, and throughput directly impact commercial performance and partner confidence.
Findmypast is a family history company with a mission to empower people to discover and share their family stories. With billions of historical records and a passionate community, we’re building tools that make research easier, more rewarding, and more engaging for both hobbyists and experienced researchers across B2C and B2B products.
The Digitisation Operative will operate across a portfolio of digitisation workstreams on a day-to-day basis. They will combine hands-on technical execution with quality control and process discipline to ensure materials are captured, preserved, and made usable for downstream products. The successful candidate will support the organisation’s ability to respond to increasing demand for digital access to historical collections while maintaining the standards required for long-term preservation and customer trust.
Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing, handling, and digitising archive materials in line with defined standards, ensuring preservation, accuracy, and efficiency
- Operating digitisation equipment and associated systems in line with defined procedures, ensuring equipment is used safely, effectively, and issues are reported promptly where required
- Delivering digitisation output in line with production targets, supporting overall studio throughput and delivery timelines
- Ensuring all images and metadata meet defined quality standards, supporting usability and downstream commercial value
- Conducting quality assurance checks in line with established guidelines, identifying and correcting errors where required
- Maintaining compliance with health, safety, security, and partner-specific handling requirements
- Maintaining an organised, safe, and efficient working environment that supports consistent delivery
Requirements
Skills:
- Proficient with Microsoft Suite (ie Outlook, Excel, etc)
- Perform operational tasks, following procedures to deliver consistent output and resolve routine issues
- Comfortable applying data standards to ensure accuracy, completeness, and usability of digitised content and metadata
- Executes quality checks against defined criteria and identifies defects
- Identifies straightforward improvements and contributes to enhanced efficiency
- Able to work effectively with colleagues, contributing to team-based delivery
- Provides informal support and shares knowledge with peers when required
Experience:
- Experience working to deadlines or targets in structured environments
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow defined processes
- Basic IT literacy with willingness to learn new systems and tools
- Ability to maintain accuracy during repetitive or high-volume tasks
- Interest in archives, history, or digitisation
- Exposure to image handling, metadata, or structured file naming
Behaviours that will help this role succeed:
- Being More Curious: Seeks to understand processes fully and asks questions to improve accuracy and efficiency; Actively builds knowledge of tools, systems, and digitisation methods
- Experiment with Purpose: Suggests practical improvements and applies feedback to enhance quality and output; Tests small changes within defined processes to improve efficiency
- Owning the Outcomes: Takes responsibility for meeting targets and maintaining high standards in own work; Remains focused and consistent, even during repetitive or high-volume tasks
- Being More Collaborative: Works effectively with colleagues to maintain consistent standards and delivery; Shares knowledge and supports others to strengthen overall team performance
Please note, the successful candidate will need to undergo a basic background check. Closing date for applications: 25th August 2026 at 12noon.
Digitisation Operative in Boston Spa employer: Findmypast
Findmypast is an exceptional employer located in Boston Spa, UK, offering a vibrant work culture that values collaboration and innovation. As a Digitisation Operative, you will be part of a passionate team dedicated to preserving history while enjoying opportunities for personal growth and development within a supportive environment. With a focus on accuracy and quality, employees are encouraged to contribute ideas for process improvements, making this role both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Digitisation Operative in Boston Spa
✨Dive Into the Publishing Community
Get involved with local or online publishing communities. Join forums, attend literary festivals, or participate in panel discussions. This can be a goldmine for meeting industry professionals and hearing about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow leading publishing media channels on social media, like Twitter and Instagram. See what tactics and content formats are currently trending. This knowledge can help you tailor your discussions when you're networking or at interviews with companies like Findmypast.
✨Make Your Passion Visible
If you have a blog or a social media presence focused on books or publishing, use it! Share your thoughts on recent publications, trends in the industry, or interviews with authors. This can showcase your passion and knowledge, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Hunt for Opportunities on Company Websites
While job boards are useful, don’t forget to go directly to company websites, like Findmypast. They often post openings there first. Plus, you might find job descriptions that give insight into what skills they really value, which can help you ace that interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Digitisation Operative in Boston Spa
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Writing Style:In the publishing-media world, your writing style is your signature. Make sure your CV highlights relevant writing experiences, whether that's published articles, blog posts, or even social media content. Give us a glimpse of your voice and flair for storytelling right from the start!
Include Relevant Projects:Don’t just list your roles; include specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate your skills in editing, research, or content creation. If you've contributed to a magazine or worked on a publication, make that front and centre! It shows you've got hands-on experience in the industry, which we absolutely love.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Let’s be honest: a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity. Take the time to craft a letter that speaks to why you’re passionate about this role at Findmypast. Mention what excites you about the publishing-media industry and how your skills align with the job description. We want to see that enthusiasm!
Format Matters!:In the publishing-media sector, presentation is key. Ensure your CV and cover letter are well-organised and visually appealing. Use headings, bullet points, and a clean layout. This isn't just about aesthetics — it shows your attention to detail and professionalism, which we really appreciate at Findmypast.
How to prepare for a job interview at Findmypast
✨Know Your Stuff: Be Ready on Industry Trends
Get yourself clued up on the latest trends in the publishing-media world. Think about how digital transformation is impacting the industry, and be ready to chat about relevant examples. This shows you're not just passionate but also informed!
✨Showcase Your Creativity with a Portfolio
Bring along a portfolio that showcases your writing, editing, or design work. Since it’s a full-time role, they’ll want to see how your style fits their brand at Findmypast. Tailor your presentation to their projects for maximum impact.
✨Brush Up on Editing Techniques
Expect some technical questions about editing styles, proofing techniques, and style guides. They might ask you to solve a practical problem or provide feedback on a piece—know the tools and software commonly used in the industry, and be prepared to discuss them!
✨Express Your Passion for Storytelling
In the publishing-media field, storytelling is key. Be ready to discuss what stories inspire you and why you want to join the team at Findmypast. Let your enthusiasm shine through; they want to know you're genuinely interested in contributing to their narratives!
