Holker Hall and Gardens is looking for an enthusiastic Gardener to join our team of six, working under the Head Gardener and Senior Gardeners to help care for this nationally significant historic garden. Home to the Cavendish family for over 400 years, our 35 acres; renowned as a plant person’s garden include herbaceous borders, lawns, topiary, water features, cut-flower production and woodland, and we’re still developing them further. This is a genuinely progressive garden, with modern equipment and excellent welfare facilities, as well as real scope to develop your skills.

The Role

• Maintaining our herbaceous borders, lawns, hedges, trees, shrubs, glasshouses and cut-flower production

• Pruning, weeding, planting, mulching, watering and dead heading to keep the gardens at their best

• Operating modern machinery including compact tractors, mowers and brush-cutters

• Sharing your knowledge with visitors and contributing your own ideas to the gardens’ development

About You

We’re looking for a gardener with all round experience and a genuine passion for plants and gardens. You’ll need a Level 2 horticultural qualification (or equivalent practical experience), good plant knowledge, machinery experience, a full driving licence and a good level of fitness. You’ll be a team player and have a willingness to develop both yourself and the garden. Experience in a historic, botanic or public garden setting, a Level 3 qualification, or tickets such as First Aid, LANTRA, NPTC or IPAF would be an advantage.

What We Offer

• Company pension and standard Holker benefits

• Excellent welfare facilities and modern, well-maintained equipment

• A progressive garden with real scope to develop your skills though on the job experience as well as external training opportunities.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a short covering letter to Head Gardener Matthew Murgatroyd at Matthew@holker.co.uk, or get in touch to discuss this opportunity further.

South Cumbria (South Lakes & Furness area) | Competitive salary, PAYE | Full-time, Permanent

About Us

Burlington Aggregates Ltd, part of the wider Holker Group, operates a broad portfolio of sites across South Cumbria — including crushers, screeners, wash plant, batching plant, excavators, loading shovels, dumpers and telehandlers.

The Role

We’re building our own in-house maintenance team, and we’re looking for a Lead Mobile Plant Engineer to help shape it. This is a great opportunity for an experienced mobile plant engineer who wants to work locally to our sites, keep regular hours, and take on a role with real influence. Training opportunities are available for the right candidate.

Requirements

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Plant or Machinery Maintenance (essential); minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role; own hand tools (essential); comfortable working alone or as part of a team; good understanding of written policies, LOTOTO, risk assessments, SOPs and method statements; able to conduct and carry out own risk assessments; willing to take ownership of the department, including organising parts (training given); abrasive wheels, welding or hot works qualification (an advantage); understanding of hydraulic, electric and pneumatic systems; high standards of honesty and integrity.

Benefits

Competitive salary, PAYE employed; company van; 20 days paid holiday plus bank holidays; company pension; Holker Group benefits; job security; clear progression plan; company-funded training and equipment; ongoing training and support.

How to Apply

Send your CV to sam@burlingtonaggregates.co.uk.

Burlington Aggregates, part of the Holker Group, has been quarrying in Cumbria for generations, supplying aggregates and sands from our sites at Kirkby-in-Furness, Elterwater, Goldmire, Roose, and Broughton Moor. Our products and services range from ready-mixed concrete, construction aggregates, and decorative materials to inert landfill and recycling.

We’re looking for a motivated, safety-conscious Quarry Operative to join the team on a full-time basis, working across our various sites, and supporting the Operations Manager in the safe, efficient production of sites.

What you’ll be doing

• Operating a range of plant and equipment, including loading shovels, dump trucks, excavators, telehandlers, wash plants, crushers, and screeners
• Assisting with aggregate production and loading
• Assisting the Operations Manager with day-to-day production tasks
• Working safely and to company policies and procedures at all times
• Travelling between our Cumbria sites as required

What we’re looking for

• A valid full driving licence
• NPORS or CPCS Operator Card
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions and terrain
• Self-motivated, with a good team-working attitude
• Previous quarry or plant experience desirable but not essential – full site training given
• Travelling between our Cumbria sites as required

Salary & Benefits:

• £14.48 per hour + £1 per hour bonus
• Company pension scheme
• 20 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
• Holker Card: free tickets for you and a guest into the Holker Hall and Gardens all year round, discount in the Courtyard Cafe and giftshop, free ticket for you and a guest to Cartmel race days, discounted Burlington products, and referral bonus at the caravan parks.
• Ongoing training and support.

Send your CV to office@burlingtonaggregates.co.uk

We are seeking a skilled and motivated experienced Heritage Joiner to join our Estates team, playing a key role in the repair, maintenance, and improvement of a diverse property portfolio. Working closely with the Senior Joiner/Works Co-ordinator, you will carry out a wide range of high-quality joinery repairs, planned maintenance, and refurbishment works, ensuring that all properties are maintained to the highest standards.

This is a varied, hands-on role where no two days are the same. In addition to joinery duties, you will support the wider Estates team by assisting with general maintenance tasks, collaborating with colleagues across different trades, and contributing to the efficient delivery of projects. You’ll be expected to work safely, use your initiative to solve practical problems, and take pride in delivering excellent workmanship and customer service.

This opportunity would suit a reliable and adaptable joiner with strong technical skills or ·somebody who has strong interest in heritage property maintenance and restoration, a proactive approach, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the Estate.

40 hours per week – Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm
Reporting to the Property Manager and Senior Joiner/Works Co-ordinator
The right candidate must have a valid driving licence

Key responsibilities:

• Manufacture and assemble bespoke joinery items to a high standard.
• Repair and restore historical wooden structures within the estate.
• Create and install woodwork for new projects as needed.
• General Building and Maintenance of various proactive and reactive matters across the Estate
• Ensure the Builders Yard and Joiners Workshop are maintained to a high standard and to Health and Safety Regulations, including general housekeeping
• Undertake Health and Safety training as required
• Manage own timekeeping and keep an accurate record of timings for jobs
• Report any issues immediately to the relevant person
• Ensure any company vehicle provided is maintained, serviced, and taxed in accordance with the company vehicle policy

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in joinery, with a portfolio demonstrating high-quality craftsmanship.
• Wider building trade experience
• Exceptional woodworking skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and plans.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Additional Skills (Preferred):

• A good grasp of general building and maintenance skills.
• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

What We Offer

• 24 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Long-term development opportunities
• Additional training as required by the Estate
• Holker Card: free tickets for you and a guest into the Holker Hall and Gardens all year round, discount in the Courtyard Cafe and giftshop, free ticket for you and a guest to Cartmel race days, discounted Burlington products and referral bonus at the caravan parks.
• Life Assurance benefits including health and wellbeing services, counselling sessions, bereavement support, probate services, financial guidance

For more information or to apply please send your CV to deborah@holker.co.uk.