Museum Assistant Apprentice

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the day-to-day operation of the museum to ensure visitors enjoy a welcoming, engaging and rewarding experience.
• Assisting with visitor reception, ticket sales, retail transactions, and general enquiries.
• Providing information and assistance to visitors and helping to interpret museum displays and exhibitions.
• Supporting the care, documentation and management of the museum's collections.
• Assisting with object handling, condition checking, cleaning, packing and preventative conservation activities under supervision.
• Supporting the installation, maintenance and removal of temporary exhibitions and displays.
• Assisting with community events, family activities, talks, workshops, school visits and outreach projects.
• Working alongside volunteers and helping to ensure they feel supported and valued.
• Assisting with volunteer administration, including recording volunteer hours and preparing rotas when required.
• Supporting collections management activities, including cataloguing, photography, object entry procedures, and database updates.
• Assisting with the maintenance of museum stores, displays and public spaces to ensure they remain safe and presentable.
• Helping to open and close the museum and prepare galleries and public areas for visitors.
• Answering telephone, email and face-to-face enquiries and directing more complex enquiries to appropriate staff members.
• Supporting administrative tasks associated with the museum's day-to-day operation.
• Following museum policies and procedures relating to health and safety, security, collections care and visitor services.
• Assisting staff and volunteers during special events, some of which may take place outside normal opening hours.
• Supporting the safe evacuation of the museum in the event of an emergency and reporting any concerns relating to the safety or security of the museum, collections, volunteers or visitors.
• Assisting with the museum's marketing and communications, including social media, website content, promotional materials and event publicity.
• Supporting the administration of museum projects and grant-funded programmes.
• Assisting with data collection, visitor surveys, audience evaluation and reporting.
• Maintaining accurate digital and paper records in accordance with museum procedures.
• Supporting meeting administration, including preparing agendas, papers, notes and action lists where required.
• Assisting with financial administration, including recording purchases, processing invoices, stock monitoring and cash reconciliation.
• Supporting volunteer recruitment, induction and record keeping.
• Assisting with bookings and administration for events, talks, school visits and community activities.
• Supporting archive cataloguing and records management projects undertaken in partnership with local heritage organisations.
• Assisting with research and information requests from members of the public, researchers and partner organisations.

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a range of administration and business support roles within the museum, heritage and cultural sectors, as well as progression to higher-level apprenticeships and professional development opportunities.

The successful applicant must be able to travel independently to Epping Forest District Museum, New City College (Loughton) and local heritage partner sites as required. A full driving licence would be advantageous but is not essential.

Desirable 

• GCSEs or equivalent qualifications in History, Geography, Science, Art, Business Studies, Media Studies, or another relevant subject.
• An interest in museums, local history, heritage, culture, archives, or collections.
• Experience of volunteering, customer service, retail, community engagement, or working with the public.
• An interest in museums, local history, heritage, culture, archives, or collections.
• Experience of volunteering, customer service, retail, community engagement, or working with the public.
• We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who live, work, study, or have a strong connection to the Epping Forest District of Essex and have an interest in its history, heritage, and communities.

Epping Forest District Museum CIO is an independent, accredited museum and registered charity based in Waltham Abbey, Essex. The museum collects, preserves and shares the history, archaeology and heritage of Epping Forest District through exhibitions, events, learning programmes and community engagement activities. Working with volunteers, schools, community groups and heritage partners, the museum welcomes thousands of visitors each year and provides opportunities for people to explore and enjoy local history and culture.