Labourer

Starting salary: £27,740
Contract type: Permanent
Grade: 1
Location: Melrose Depot
Working Hours:  Summer (April-October) Monday - Thursday 07:30-16:15 Friday 07.30-14:20, Winter (October-March) Monday - Thursday 07:30-14:20  
Interviews: To be held in person at Melrose Depot on Week Commencing 9th November 2026 

Thank you for your interest in the post of Labourer/Driver with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) that will be based at Melrose Abbey Depot. This is a permanent and pensionable position.

You will be joining a dedicated team where you will contribute to the conservation of historical monuments under the care of Historic Environment Scotland within the Scottish Borders.

As part of the Regional Property Maintenance, Compliance & Logistics Team, you will be part of a small team consisting of 10 people, who carry out building compliance checks and maintenance repair work in the Borders district. 

You will provide labouring duties to the team as well as assisting with regular maintenance inspections and surveys. You will be expected to make your own way to and from Melrose depot for start and finish times. You may on occasion be required to work at other monuments within the HES South Region.

For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.

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

• Providing semi-skilled assistance to enable colleagues to carry out their conservation duties
• Carrying out routine maintenance at various sites ensuring continued high standards of presentation of the properties in care and the ‘stitch in time’ works
• Maintenance of small plant and equipment
• Assisting with surveys and works inspections.
• Maintaining individual responsibilities for Health & Safety awareness and the health and safety of members of the public and fellow employees
• Keeping the working site clean and tidy, ensuring that access and egress to working areas are maintained at all times
• Delivery of consumables, plant and equipment 
• From time to time you will be required to attend training courses identified to assist the work, or to comply with health and safety legislation (this may require overnight stays away from home).                        
• Transporting the Monument Conservation Unit staff, plant, equipment and materials from depot to various Historic Environment Scotland sites spread throughout the Borders area.

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:

1. Why you are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland

2. 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:

•  A basic general understanding of traditional building methods, especially using lime mortars, and an up-to-date awareness of the practices and techniques needed in the conservation of historic buildings and monuments.

• Experience and knowledge of health & safety practices including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments, risk management etc.

• Experience of working within construction sites

• Experience of general labouring practices

• Experience of small plant and equipment maintenance

• A full UK driving licence, or a valid non-UK driving licence that permits driving in the UK, with a commitment to convert to a full UK driving licence within 12 months of appointment or before the non-UK licence can no longer be used legally in the UK, whichever is sooner. 

Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description.

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.