Job Description

The Service and Team

The Archive and Cornish Studies Service cares for over 1.5 million manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, plans, audio-visual and electronic records relating to Cornwall’s rich history and culture. We are based in Kresen Kernow, in Redruth. For further information on the service please visit Kresen Kernow – A home for Cornwall's archives

Over 14,000 people a year from across Cornwall and from around the world visit the centre to use the collection, browse an exhibition, or take part in an activity. Thousands more use our website and online catalogue, or remote enquiry service. The small team of archivists, librarians, assistants and specialist staff work together to make the collections and services accessible to all.

The apprenticeship is for a fixed term of 18 months and is funded by the Sounds of the South West, a National Heritage Lottery Fund project. Our provider for the apprenticeship is LMP Library, Information & Archive Services (LIAS) Apprenticeship - LMP and you will be part of a cohort of three apprentices across the region.

The role

The role will undertake a range of tasks supporting day-to-day services and the Sounds of the South West project. With guidance and hands-on experience, you will:

• Provide a friendly, professional service, responding to user enquiries in person, online or by phone.
• Help people to find and use information in digital and physical formats.
• Retrieve and return books and archives safely and in good condition to the shelves and strongrooms.
• Organise and maintain data and digital resources using specialist systems and tools.
• Promote services, resources, and activities to encourage engagement and usage.
• Support users in developing digital and information skills.
• Apply basic research skills to help answer information requests and direct more complex queries appropriately.
• Follow organisational procedures, including data protection, confidentiality, and ethical use of information.

You will be regularly using Outlook, Excel, Teams, and our collections management systems, as well as working in a warehouse type environment.

An interest in working in an archive and gaining experience with archive and library collections is essential.

This role is offered as an apprenticeship, so you must be eligible for apprenticeship funding. Your previous qualifications and experience will be considered to ensure the apprenticeship is appropriate for you.

We are looking for a team player who enjoys helping others, is organised, and open to learning new skills. You don’t need to know everything about archives already - but these qualities will help you succeed:

• Good people skills – being approachable and able to help a wide range of people and make them feel welcome.
• Confidence asking questions and sharing information – helping people find what they need and sometimes writing emails or creating social media content.
• Digital skills – using computers and accurately updating online systems and databases.
• Problem-solving mindset – thinking on your feet when someone needs help.
• Organised and methodical – keeping books, records and resources in order, sorting documents into date or another order.
• Focused with good attention to detail – complete one task at time, such as repeatedly renaming digital files or returning items to the correct shelves.
• Awareness of fairness and inclusion – making sure everyone can access information and services

Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Working here - Cornwall Council

We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be found here - flexible working options

Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender reassignment status, age, religion and sexual orientation. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits.

Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.