Thatching Craft Fellow

Starting salary: £27,740

Contract type: Fixed term for 18 months

Grade: 1

Location: HEB Thatch, North Uist

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Interviews: To be held on Week Commencing 04 May 2026

You will work with Neil Nicolson at HEB Thatch, gaining experience that will introduce you to traditional building construction and maintenance skills. This will include Highlands and Islands thatching, thatch maintenance, thatch materials collection and processing and other traditional building maintenance skills. You will be using a range of traditional and modern tools.

This post is part of a wider programme of Craft Fellows across Scotland. Craft Fellows have the opportunity to gain practical experience, learn from experts in their chosen field or craft, increase their knowledge of the wider conservation sector, expand their professional network and have access to a wide range of learning resources from The Engine Shed, Scotland’s dedicated Building Conservation Centre.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland:

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) + 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role:

• Carrying out work in a professional manner, whilst working on conservation/restoration projects and whilst representing HES at events, conferences, and training workshops.
• Health and Safety, not only for yourself, but also for anyone who might be affected by any of the work you are carrying out.
• Using, caring for and maintaining various tools and equipment. All training related to this will be provided.
• Support and learning from Neil Nicolson, whilst also taking responsibility for your own learning and personal development, and the recording and reporting of this to HES.
• Being an active member of the HES Craft Fellowship Programme, and getting involved with training, continued professional development opportunities, and the craft fellow network.
• Supporting with the delivery of training, education visits and outreach events both within the thatching and vernacular building skills field and through HES’s Engine Shed programme.

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to complete a cover letter which addresses:

• Why you are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland
• How you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 800 words), using examples of where you have used these skills in the past.

Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential Criteria:

• An Interest in traditional building conservation and/or conserving historic structures.
• Practical experience of using hand tools and power tools.
• Ability to work independently but to also take direction to complete a project.
• Ability to be curious and ask questions/carry out research to support own learning.
• Ability to be an active member of a team.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at recruit@hes.scot or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online, please read our ‘How to Apply’ section followed by ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.