Working at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens

The Bishop’s Palace: Our Commitment

The Bishop’s Palace is dedicated to equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. We value the strengths that a diverse workforce brings to our organisation and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances.

Join Us

If you are excited by the prospect of helping shape the future of one of Somersets most iconic historic sites,  we would love to hear from you. Become part of a team that celebrates heritage, fosters community, and believes in making a lasting difference.    

Step into history—and help us write the next chapter.

Looking for a Voluntary role?  We often have volunteering opportunities too which you can find here. 

Marketing Assistant

Full time (37 hrs per week)
£26,500 pa (FTE).  Part time hours considered  

Are you a creative, organised and enthusiastic marketer who would love to help tell the story of one of Somerset’s most iconic heritage attractions?   We are looking for a Marketing Assistant to support our Marketing & Communications Manager and help us reach, inspire and engage a wide range of audiences.

About the role

This is a varied, hands-on role supporting the planning, creation and delivery of marketing communications across online and offline channels. You will help develop campaigns that increase awareness, grow visitor numbers, drive event ticket sales and support wedding bookings, and encourage engagement. You will also take a lead on content marketing creation.

Key responsibilities

• Work with the Marketing & Communications Manager to plan relevant campaigns from initial concept through to delivery, identifying messages, channels and content that resonate with existing and desired audiences.
• Create, manage and develop content and creative assets for the Palace’s social media platforms and campaigns, including monthly reporting and analysis.
• Manage website content, including design updates, optimisation, SEO, reporting and analytics.
• Coordinate, set up, deliver and report on email marketing campaigns.
• Continually optimise the Palace’s Google Business Profile with event details, images and ticket links, helping the Palace and its events appear in relevant local searches.
• Monitor and respond to audience questions and reviews across third-party digital platforms, including social media, Google Business Profile and TripAdvisor.
• Distribute content to third-party partners, including event listing sites, travel partners and other promotional opportunities.
• Support the development, distribution and installation of print assets for on-site and off-site use.
• Support PR visits and communications where required.
• Be flexible and responsive to the needs of the marketing team and wider Trust, supporting ad hoc tasks as needed.

About you

We are looking for a creative, organised and digitally confident marketer with strong visual and written content skills. You will be enthusiastic about using marketing to connect people with a much-loved heritage site, and comfortable balancing a varied workload across content creation, social media, website updates, email marketing, reporting and visitor engagement.

You will bring:

• Experience creating visual and written content, particularly photography and videography.
• Proven experience managing social media accounts.
• Experience using website content management systems and design packages.
• Experience of email marketing platforms and processes.
• Experience in digital performance reporting.
• Excellent digital competence, creativity and technical know-how.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to be agile, multi-task and manage conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• A positive, flexible and respectful approach, with willingness to support colleagues and work occasional evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Why join us?

You will be part of a friendly and dedicated team working in a unique and beautiful setting, helping to protect and share The Bishop’s Palace for the benefit of visitors, communities and future generations.    You will be able to build experience across all areas of marketing in a creative and varied environment.      There is also a competitive benefits package – details below.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form and submit this along with the Equality & Diversity form.

Please complete the applicaton form along with equality & diverity form  and send to [email protected]
Please note that CVs will not be considered for this role.

 Job description and person specification: Marketing Assistant

Closing date for applications: midday on Tuesday 1 September 2026

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September 2026, with an anticipated start date in mid-October.

 Application notes – word version and PDF version

Chef

Full time (37.5hrs pw) – straight shifts
£29,250 pa (FTE).  Part time hours considered

One of our Chef team will be leaving us to further his career in London – which leaves us looking to recruit an excellent chef to join our Kitchen team.    
The Role:
We’re looking for a full time (37.5 hrs pw) Chef who can work within a small kitchen team to produce exceptional food cooked to order.    The Bishop’s Table offers breakfast, Brunch and lunch in the busy café.    The team work day shifts, generally 8am until 4.30pm.  The café is open from 9.30am until 5.30pm daily.  Very occasional evening if a special event is taking place.       Our Kitchen team are responsible for creating menus, ordering and all health, safety and hygiene to ensure an efficient smooth-running kitchen.      You will work with our Garden team to help plan seasonal produce from the Palace Garden and develop/maintain relationships with local suppliers.   We also have a monthly Supper Club, plus cater for special events both within the café and in the Palace.

Who are we looking for:
We’re looking for Chef with at least 3 years’ experience in a busy kitchen producing fresh food to order.    The café menu includes breakfast, sandwiches, salads and daily specials.   The Supper Club and event catering range from Afternoon Teas to 3-course menus, so a good range of catering experience is essential.  

This could be a great environment to develop your career.   Or perhaps you are looking to change your work /life balance and come to an exciting catering environment which has daytime shifts.     You must be a team player, be enthusiastic about creating and producing seasonal menus, be willing to learn and share learning.     It is key time in the café’s development to join and to help influence the future catering offering.  As a small team there may be times when you may be asked to assist in other areas.

Qualifications / Skills:
Ideally our Chef would have NVQ L1 or 2 or City and Guilds 7061/7062.  
At least 3 years’ experience as a chef in a fast-paced kitchen
Level 2 Food Hygiene and good knowledge of food allergens
Willing to share skills and experience
Excellent communication skills and ability to place orders and maintain kitchen paperwork.

How to Apply
Please send a CV along with a Cover letter to [email protected] 

Full details of the role can be found:  Chef Job Description

Applications will be considered as received and shortlisted applicants invited to interview.

Start date:   Ideally mid-late August so we can arrange a handover week with our chef who will be leaving us. 

We reserve the right to close any vacancies early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested in any of the above roles, please submit your application as early as possible.

How to apply

To apply for any role please first review the job description and person specification.   For roles which ask for an application form to be completed you can access the application form here:  Application Form

Equaliy & diversity monitoring form – we request that applicants complete an equality and diversity monitoring form.   You can access this here:  Equality & Diversity monitoring form 

Application notes – you can find further details to help submit you application and understand the recruitment process here:  Application notes (word) or Application notes (PDF)

Employee Benefits

You will be working for an independent charity whose main aim is to share, preserve and protect the 800-year Bishop’s Palace, with its medieval buildings, moat and spectacular gardens. We reinvest in the team and the site and work with local community groups and organisations as part of our community engagement.    

• We are a real living wage and a Disability Confident employer.
• We provide an induction and training plan for each employee from day one.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and long service holiday rewards
• Wellbeing support and access to the organisational Employee Assistance Programme
• A positive, supportive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment
• Family-friendly policies
• Staff social events
• Free admission for yourself and a guest ticket
• Free event tickets and staff discounts
• Opportunity to join the Palace Trust Pension scheme (min of 12% basic pay contribution)
• Opportunity to support the local community through volunteer days
• The chance to make a meaningful impact in the preservation and celebration of local heritage

Accessible recruitment

Usually our job applications ask for an Application form to be completed or request a CV and cover letter. Check the role for the application details.    If any applicants are unable to apply via email then you are welcome to apply in the following ways: 

By post – If you wish to send your application by post please address to:  Recruitment, The Bishop’s Palace. Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD 

In Person –  If you are local to Wells and wish to deliver your application just drop into the Ticket Office / Shop during our opening hours,  addressed to Recruitment.

By Phone – if you are unable to submit electronically or by post and would prefer to provide details of your experience over the phone you can call 01749 988111 and we can arrange a time for a member of the team to contact you.