Current Vacancies

The East Lancashire Railway is constantly on the lookout for talented people to help keep this vital spark of British Heritage alight.

Do you have what it takes to be a part of our family?

Director of Volunteer Workforce (Volunteer Position)

The recruitment and retention of working volunteers is a top priority and has been instrumental in making the East Lancs Heritage Railway one of the North West’s most popular leisure and heritage rail destination attracting around 200,000 visitors annually.

To maintain a sharp focus on recruitment and retention, the ELR Board is looking to recruit a Director who will champion all things volunteering.

You will be working with and supporting staff and volunteers including the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society and the Volunteer Champions Group.

You should have an appreciation of the contribution a volunteer workforce in the heritage railway sector makes to the overall delivery of services and events throughout the year.

Is this a challenge that interests you? Can you successfully represent and champion ELR Volunteers? Have you the skill, experience, time and desire to be part of an award winning, not for profit heritage railway? If you have and would like to know more, and to receive a copy of the job description please contact Nicola Rooney, Business Support Manager at Nicola.Rooney@eastlancsrailway.co.uk

The job description will include information on how to formally apply, the deadline for receipt of formal applications is Noon on Monday 27 November 2023.

Shop Assistant (Volunteer)

The East Lancashire Railway is looking for a friendly, helpful individual to help us to run our busy Gift Shop in Bury Bolton Street Station. Duties will include working the till and handling customer enquiries, keeping the display area stocked up with products, keeping the area neat and tidy and cashing up and closing at the end of the working day.

The position is voluntary. The volunteer will ideally need to be available to work midweek during the summer months and Sunday, either all day or just for the morning/afternoon time slots. Full training and support will be given.

If you are a people person who enjoys working off your own initiative and are interested in registering your interest in this role, please contact lorna.massey@eastlancsrailway.co.uk

Bury Station Buffet Assistant (Volunteer)

We currently have an opening for a buffet assistant to join our busy and professional team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a customer focused individual to join a unique and popular part of the business at the East Lancashire Railway.

This is a volunteer role, applicants must be aged 18 or over to apply. The successful applicant will be required to work weekends as well as some midweek days during our busy period.

If you feel you can work under pressure whilst maintaining an extremely high level of customer service and while continuously augmenting our establishment’s reputation, then this could be the role for you.

Download the full Job Description here.

Please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter to our Buffet Manager at – maggie.sayce@eastlancsrailway.co.uk

ELR Volunteer Recruitment Tour Leader

The East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society are looking to recruit a Volunteer Recruitment Tour Leader.

The person who accepts the position will play an important role in the recruitment of new volunteers for the East Lancashire Railway.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

  • Manage, plan and organise recruitment tours for when the Railway is operating passenger trains on the ELR.
  • Plan tour dates by liaising with the commercial team in order not to clash with special events or weddings.
  • Confirm tour guide availability for proposed tour dates.
  • Publish the tour dates on Eventbrite and also liaise with other departments to ensure they are advertised on for the ELRPS and ELLR Co. webpages.
  • Manage all enquiries from the Eventbrite site and send reminders and a safety briefing to participants one week prior to their tour taking place.
  • Use existing risk assessment to manage the tours safely.
  • Engage with participants during the tour to explain all roles on the Railway.
  • Be in charge of documenting the department the participant wishes to join, along with relevant contact details. They will then send this data to the volunteer Liaison Officer to process.
  • Remain in discussion with Volunteer Liaison Officer to ensure the process is kept up to date.

We are looking for someone who can fulfil the following criteria: 

  • Demonstrate good communication skills with potential volunteers.
  • Had good IT Skills using email and web-based applications.
  • Has a good knowledge of Departments and volunteer roles within the Railway.
  • Has completed the ELLR Co. medical with no “fit stated duty” comment.
  • Has passed the Basic Safety & Induction Course.
  • Has a valid ELLR Co. PTS or is willing to take and pass the test.
  • Can demonstrate good administration skills and be able to manage the booking system and enquiries for tours.
  • Have good communication with Volunteer Liaison Officer pre and post tours so participants can be progressed on their volunteering journey promptly.

If you are interested in volunteering for this role then please send your letter of application to the Admin Secretary, Keith Shilton, via email to secretary@elrpslts.org.uk

Applications must be sent by 20 November 2023.

If you are interested in the role but would like more information, please contact Margaret Wilson on 0785 198 455.

Infrastructure and Permanent Way Team Member – Full Time

Are you interested in becoming a part of a dedicated team of engineers working to deliver the goals set by the East Lancashire Railway? Do you want to become part of the story of this lovingly restored heritage railway which journeys through twelve miles of picturesque scenery from Heywood to Rawtenstall.

This is a full-time position, 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

General

The ideal candidate will be:

  • Capable of following and communicating safety practices and procedures as a priority.
  • Will be willing to work alone when required.
  • Willing to progress and assume further responsibilities within the department.
  • Willing to perform other duties as may be reasonable required by the General Manager.

 

Main accountabilities:

  • Maintenance of the track and structures to the ELR published safety management system and track standard.
  • Delivery of all allocated work to budget.
  • Quality standards.
  • Maintenance of relevant records regarding track condition and safety for the department.
  • Comply with all health and safety standards, maintain a safe workplace, identifying possible hazards and ensuring safe working practices.
  • Maintaining safe operation of the railway under engineering possession.
  • Weekend work when required.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Work to instruction and direction of the Infrastructure and Permanent Way Team Leader.
  • Maintain records of the work and make these available for inspection.
  • Develop and maintain excellent relationship with the engineering team, volunteers and suppliers.
  • Deputise for the Team Leader when required.

 

Key experience and qualifications

Essential:

  • Computer literate and able to plan work schedules on computer.
  • Full, valid driving license.
  • Willing to undertake training in track work and plant.

 

Desirable:

  • Experience leading teams.
  • Experience of risk assessments.
  • A pro-active, participative and flexible approach to problem solving, taking the initiative by evaluating, making suggestions and generating new ideas to improve working methods and levels of performance.
  • An ability to work under pressure and to manage conflicting demands.
  • Emergency First Aid at Work.
  • Able to work without supervision.
  • Availability out of hours.
  • Rail industry, or construction/building industry experience.
  • Experience of modern safety standards and regulations.

 

Qualifications (or equivalent qualification or experience):

  • 5+ Years’ experience working with the PWay industry – Desirable
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 – Desirable

This post is subject to satisfactory completion of a probationary period of twelve months.

To apply please email your C.V to Glenn.Longworth@eastlancsrailway.co.uk