The Vision of the Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership (GCLP) is of a landscape with the River Garnock at its heart, forming a connection from the Muirshiel hills to Irvine Bay and around which the natural, cultural and historical wealth of the valley is enhanced, revealed and made accessible for the benefit of communities now and in the future.

The Garnock Connections area has many, largely unknown, sites of natural and historical significance. Hen harriers can be found on the Muirshiel uplands, and the saltmarshes and mud flats of the unusual double estuary at Irvine provide a vital overwintering refuge for wading birds. The estuary was also once home to the largest dynamite factory in the world. Further inland, the master craftsmen of Beith supplied furniture to ocean liners such as the RMS Queen Mary and the RMS Queen Elizabeth II. Any one of these cultural or natural heritage features should be considered nationally significant in their own right. However, it is the combination of all of them, sharing a rich history of adaptation and change, shaped by the landscape, and linked by the river, which makes the Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership area a truly significant and unique place.

The unique heritage of the Garnock Connections area currently faces a range of local, national, and international threats, from economic deprivation to climate change. However, the various forces for change acting on the area also provide a range of opportunities for people to engage with their heritage and help ensure its survival long into the future.

The 25 projects within the Garnock Connections Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) are divided into four delivery Themes, linked to the four Garnock Connections Objectives. Through delivering the Community Network theme, people will develop strong connections with their heritage. Through delivering the Knowledge Network theme, heritage will be better understood and valued. Through delivering the Access Network theme, people and place within the landscape will be better connected. Through delivering the Habitat Network theme, habitats and species networks will be enhanced.

Garnock Connections will be delivered by a small team of staff supporting Project Leads from a range of organisations and community groups. Strategic oversight will be provided by the GCLP Board and operational support will be provided by the GCLP Steering Group and specialist Working Groups. The people and communities of the Garnock Connections area are at the core of the programme, and the scheme includes a range of opportunities for training, volunteering, learning and other forms of engagement.

The GCLP has recently secured funding from the HLF Landscape Partnership grant programme to deliver Garnock Connections over a four-year period, from April 2018 – March 2022. www.garnockconnections.org.uk

As Digital Skills Trainee, your role will be to manage and develop GCLP's online engagement in order to support delivery of the project. You will predominantly be expected to work from home, although occasional visits to the Garnock Connections office and landscape will be necessary.

As a trainee, you will have access to extra training and support in order to develop your skills and employability within the heritage sector.


Key Responsibilities

• Promote and create content for Garnock Connections website and social media accounts
• Investigate potential of and implement new media channels, e.g. Snapchat, Instagram
• Work with local communities to determine most effective engagement methods
• Liaise with colleagues and partners and keep up to date with various projects
• Assist in running virtual events over Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Facebook Live, etc
• Contribute to regular reports, newsletters, press releases, etc
• Occasional visits to project sites

 
Essential Criteria 

Be able to evidence :

• Educated to GSCE level or equivalent
• an organised and methodical approach to with an eye for detail
• the ability to prioritise tasks, work independently and on your own initiative but also as part of a wider team
• excellent interpersonal skills and resilience to thrive in a demanding role which will include working both home and on-site
• an ability to talk confidently and passionately about the project
• knowledge of the theory and practice of delivering a project
• an ability to produce written materials, newsletters and similar project related communications including report writing
• competency in using IT software (e.g. MS packages, Outlook, social media etc)

• Experience of organising training events, workshops, facilitated discussions and meetings
• Experience of Joomla or similar website development software
• A full driving licence or other means of travelling around the project area

This role is a 9 month contract working 22.5 hours per week over 3 days.