Keykeeper. JW Evans Silver Factory

Summary

The contract is part time and permanent, and the hourly rate is £12.71. Your working time will be 7.00 hours each week. The employer, English Heritage, is a charity. You will be based at J. W. Evans Silver Factory, which is in a former industrial building where you may experience noise and grime in the course of you duties. It is located in West Midlands.

Closing date 27-04-2026

Job Description

Would you like to work for the charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England? We are looking for a Keykeeper to join us at JW Evans working a minimum of 7 hours per week but this may vary.

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings. That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

Birmingham in the 19th-century was hailed as the 'workshop of the world'. The Jewellery Quarter was its busy hub, producing jewellery, silver and tableware.

About 40% of British jewellery is still made there. Behind a frontage of terraced houses, J.W.Evans Silver Factory is among its most complete surviving historic factories. Crammed with tools and equipment, it's preserved as if the workers might return at any minute.

As our JW Evans Keykeeper you will be responsible for providing safe access to the site at agreed times for contractors and English Heritage staff and volunteers, remaining on site to monitor work and activity where necessary. You will also be required to open the site to facilitate public access for agreed opening hours, including pre-booked activities and tours, group visits or community events.

The role will also involve you to carry out all pre-agreed safety and security checks, recording these checks and reporting defects and required works on English Heritage systems.

You will be someone who can use their own initiative and be able to work with limited or no supervision. Ideally you will need to live within a reasonable distance of JW Evans to carry out this role.

Benefits include:

- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events

- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you, and up to 6 friends and / or family members

- 25% discount in our shops and cafes

- Statutory maternity/paternity/shared parental leave

- 28 days' holiday including Bank Holidays pro rata

- Matched pension contributions up to a maximum of 10%

Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

If you would like to talk to us before you apply e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Ed McGregor, Volunteer and Engagement Manager for the West Region, on ed.mcgregor@english-heritage.org.uk. No agencies please.

In person interviews will be held on Tuesday 5th May at JW Evans Silver Factory. Please keep this date clear.

Disclaimer
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