Volunteer Role Description: Work Placement
What this role will entail
The purpose of the role is to develop skills in the workplace and support the work of Cambridge Museum of Technology; an independent industrial heritage Museum located in Abbey Ward.
Each placement will last roughly one to two weeks depending on individual availability.
Applications are welcome from school students aged 18+ and university students.
This role description provides an overview of the different areas of work skills development on offer.
Why Cambridge Museum of Technology needs this role:
This placement is open to those of all backgrounds and experiences, especially those interested in working in museums, education, engineering, or other STEM fields.
The placement will primarily be asked to assist with administrative tasks to support the work of Museum, perform front of house duties and to support learning activities and community events.
Week One provides a well-rounded understanding of how an independent museum operates by offering induction, training, and hands-on experience across the departments.
The student can then reflect on what they have learnt and choose where they would like to specialise in Week Two (if appropriate) or be given a small project to work on which would be fully supervised and supported depending upon staff availability. In addition to support, the student would also be offered feedback on their work and advice if they wished to pursue a career within the sector. Upon completion of the project, they would also be eligible for further volunteering opportunities with us in the future
Volunteer tasks:
• Administrative tasks responding to email and telephone enquiries, helping with filling documentation.
• Covering front of house: greeting visitors, recording visitor numbers, fielding enquiries.
• Preparation of materials for children’s activities and community events.
If proceeding to Week Two
Tasks may include:
Education
• Work with the Education Officer to design a new school activity session.
Collections work
• Handling and working directly with objects, checking and updating catalogue records.
• Collections care and housekeeping.
Engineering
• Site Maintenance such as basic gardening, painting and assisting with minor repairs to our site of industrial heritage.
• Stoking the boiler on Steam Events [only under direct supervision].
What you will gain from this role:
• Taste of work in a museum environment
• Chance to develop new skills
• Experience to enhance your CV
• Opportunity to support the day-to-day running of an independent museum
• Join a motivated and enthusiastic team
Skills required:
• Reliability
• Welcoming and polite manner towards visitors
• Basic administrative skills
• Willingness to learn and to support the aims of Cambridge Museum of Technology
• Ability to work independently and to show initiative
• Conscientious attitude
Optional Specialised Tasks
• For site maintenance and stoking the boiler, these tasks require some degree of physical fitness. We would advise discussing with your GP if you have a health condition that could be exacerbated by these tasks prior to commencing your work placement.
Potential time commitment:
The agreed time period for a volunteer placement is up to two weeks. The Museum has staff onsite Monday to Sunday so we can offer some degree of flexibility. A normal day will be 10am-4pm but on Mondays we may only be able to offer until 1pm.
Location
Cambridge Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane, Cambridge CB5 8LD.
Contact: 01223 800652 info@museumoftechnology.com
Training and support:
Induction will take place on a placement’s first day. Training will be given by a Duty Manager or Site Team for all tasks which the placement is asked to undertake throughout.
Health and safety responsibilities:
The Volunteer will be provided with a risk assessment for this placement. They will be responsible for their own health and safety and that of those with whom they volunteer. The Volunteer will not work unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults.
How to apply:
Those interested should send an email to info@museumoftechnology.com or write to Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8LD. or alternatively fill in the Expression of Interest Form below.
We hope to inform applicants of the outcome of their applications within 2 weeks of application.
We will be offering 2 placements per term.
For Summer 2026- application deadline is 1st June 2026
For Autumn 2026 application deadline is 1st September 2026
For Spring 2027 application deadline is 1st December 2026
We warmly encourage students to get in touch with us themselves if they have any questions about the placements and will only discuss the outcome of applications with the students themselves.
About Cambridge Museum of Technology
Cambridge is famous for its university, historic buildings, and high-tech companies. Its industrial history has been overlooked and little remains of the former industrial landscape. Cambridge Museum of Technology tells this hidden history.
Cambridge Museum of Technology is the home of our industrial heritage. Based in the city’s historic sewage pumping station, the Museum helps people to explore, enjoy, and learn about their industrial heritage by celebrating the achievements of local industries and the people who worked in them.
This project was made possible with funding from the Cambridge City Council Communities Fund.
