General Estate Worker

Job Description

Are you keen to work on an active Estate in property and woodland maintenance?
Do you have attention to detail and are keen to get a job done well?
Do you have skills in fixing, repairing and maintaining estate items?
Are you looking to apply your skillset to a busy, forward-thinking rural estate business?
Are you enthusiastic about the environment and sustainability?

About Boconnoc

Boconnoc Estate is situated just outside Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Since the days of the Domesday Book, people have inhabited this beautiful tract of Cornwall—and the estate itself is alive with centuries of history.

Sitting at the heart of the estate is Boconnoc House and cottages which, after 12 years of dedicated refurbishment by the late Anthony Fortescue and his wife Elizabeth, now represent the heights of Cornish luxury. With Georgian architecture, beautiful countryside, and buzzing fairs, festivals, and busy events calendar, Boconnoc captures all the enchantment and beauty of Cornwall.

Boconnoc is a busy, vibrant, forward-thinking rural estate. In addition to the estate’s accommodation, retreats, and weddings business, the estate has extensive farming and woodland operations, a number of let properties (both residential and agricultural), renovation projects, forestry schemes and ambitious environmental targets.

Trustees, Land Agents and a General Manager oversee the operations management of the business and the family are closely involved.

About this role

Based on the beautiful Boconnoc Estate, we are looking for a General Estate Worker to help with the day to day maintenance and upkeep of the house, holiday cottages and the wider estate. The role is a permanent full-time contract, with a competitive salary of £20,000 per annum depending on experience. 

This is a unique opportunity to work and potentially live on a busy thriving Estate. The applicant will need to be organised, conscientious and eager to learn and develop.  The applicant should also have genuine shared interest for Boconnoc’s vision and core objectives.

Our Core Objectives

To provide a place of sanctuary and celebration
To create events that transform, educate or inspire those that visit
To always do what is right for the environment and soil
To keep tradition and history alive whilst embracing innovation
To be of benefit to the wider community in the surrounding area
To change lives through advancing spiritual, emotional and physical health
To be a financially sustainable business

Purpose of this role:

To provide maintenance support to the Estate;
To understand and work in woodland maintenance;

Key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Be quick to respond to emergency maintenance issues in the house and cottages;
  Maintenance jobs at estate properties;
• With the help of outside contractors maintain the woodland, felling trees, chopping and
• moving wood, planting, strimming, clearing the lake, raking leaves and general woodland maintenance;
• Provide preventative and cyclical maintenance of the main house and cottages ensuring it remains in good repair and issues are reported quickly to the Property Manager;
• Moving furniture in the house and gardens as required;
• Keeping the stable yard clean, tidy and in condition for guests and the Estate office clearing sheds where required;
• Painting walls, doors, windows and outside railings as required;
• Basic carpentry as required;
• Basic plumbing and electrical work as required;
• PAT test items in the house and cottages with training given;
• Clearing gutters and drains;
• Putting signage up for events;
• Take water meter readings;
• Maintain the onsite wood chip boiler
• Cut logs and kindling;
• Keeping area around house and cottages tidy – free of weeds
• Fixing and repairing items in the house and gardens including replacing lightbulbs, painting, fixing toilet seats etc;
• Keeping tracks on the Estate and in the grounds clear;
• Support the gardener with work that requires two individuals ensuring team work to maintain the grounds and gardens;
• Road sweeping, clearing drains and maintaining water and sewerage pipes;
• Maintaining Deer Park and Estate fencing as required;
• Willing to be trained in our rare water-powered sawmill, cutting wood with help from others as required ensuring all safety measures are in place.
• Be friendly and welcoming, working around our guests and clients, keeping work areas clean and tidy;
• Be health and safety trained ensuring you work within policies and procedures, wearing relevant PPE;
• Be on call to answer maintenance issues and respond within good time;

About You

• A pro-active individual with excellent communication skills, a friendly demeanour, and a can-do attitude.
• Skills in maintenance, ideally plumbing, electrics or carpentry but with an ability to turn your hand to anything;
• Highly organised, conscientious, tidy and with an attention to detail you are keen to get the job done right the first time;
• Able to lift heavy loads;
• Preferably has a chainsaw certificate and licence, although this can be achieved whilst on the job;
• Ideally licensed to drive a tractor and digger;
• Willing to pitch in, adaptable and calm in a crisis.
• Ability to display resourcefulness, enthusiasm, patience and resilience.
• A genuine interest in sustainability, and the business values and objectives.

To apply

If you’re intrigued and excited by what you’ve read so far, we would love to hear from you. To apply please email the General Manager, Heather Redmond at heather@boconnoc.com with answers to the questions below in a cover letter and attach your CV.

What do you think you’d enjoy about this role at Boconnoc?

Tell us about your experience and how it may be relevant to this role.

Closing date for applications – Friday 11^th February

If you are interested in this role please do apply before the closing date as we may close it early if we find the right candidate.