Driver/Studio Assistant

Driver/Studio Assistant

Position

Permanent, Full time

Working hours

37.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm

Location

Plowden & Smith Ltd, Unit 5, Liongate Enterprise Park, 80 Morden Road, Mitcham, CR4 4NY (with ad hoc ON-SITE work required)

Salary

£29,000

Start date

as soon as possible

As a hands-on Driver/Studio Assistant you will handle artworks and deliver and collect these from our clients in and around London in a professional and presentable manner.

On a daily basis you will support the needs of the business by ensuring items are tagged, logged and housed appropriately. You will be on call throughout your day at Plowden & Smith to oversee artworks entering and leaving the building, assist conservators with locating and moving artworks and maintaining working spaces to ensure these are compliant, clean, tidy and functioning well. You may be asked to assist in the basic maintenance of workshop machinery and facilities to ensure that the working environment is a productive and pleasant one for all.

This is a junior role where you will learn a lot and receive direction from conservators and the client services team. You may be trained to assist with basic conservation treatment, but this is not guaranteed.

This role requires, a willingness to learn, exceptional communication skills and to be extremely organised so that you can proactively support and engage with all relevant departments. An interest in Art would be helpful but not essential.

Core Responsibilities (include but are not limited to)

• Carry out the physical day-to-day movement of objects/artworks including art handling, packing and documenting artworks.
• Regularly deliver and collect artworks to a schedule, ensuring safety of the artwork through adequate packing and appropriate storage of these items.
• Maintain studio space and employee facilities under the guidance of conservators and Head of Operations.
• To ensure delivery vehicles are functional, clean, tidy and operating correctly.
• Conduct a daily walk around to check in with conservators to see if support is needed. Ensure fire exits are well marked and kept clear, and that walkways/communal spaces are clear of artworks and packing materials.
• Potential scope to train to assist conservators with basic treatments.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Must have a full clean driving licence and be comfortable driving alone in transit sized van.

Desirable skills

• Team player with a can-do attitude, able to work proactively with colleagues and staff.
• Reliable, tolerant, highly organised with exceptional communication skills.
• Able to take direction well from multiple sources.
• Flexible and responsive to change.
• Comfortable balancing competing demands and communicating priorities.

Who This Role Suits Best

You’ll thrive if you

• Like hands-on, practical work
• Enjoy being busy and moving around
• Are interested in art, museums, or conservation
• Don’t mind doing support tasks alongside skilled professionals
• Can handle responsibility + logistics
• Are willing to undertake training and have basic health and safety awareness

What this role provides

• Entry into art conservation / gallery world
• Very varied day-to-day work (not desk-bound)
• Opportunity to learn practical and technical skills
• Exposure to high-value artworks and professionals

Why work for Plowden & Smith?

We work with some of the world’s most rare, beautiful, and interesting artworks, artefacts, and national and international collections.

• Work in a stimulating, creative environment.
• Access to company ICOM cards for free entry to a range of international museums & galleries.
• Opportunities throughout the year to attend preview nights and private view events.
• Support for Continued Professional Development
• Child Care Voucher Scheme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.

Please send your c.v., and a brief covering letter (covering letter -no more than 250 words to kate.goad@plowden-smith.com and include Driver/Studio Assistant in the subject line.

Please note that you must have the right to live and work in the UK. We cannot support any individual in applying for a visa.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates need during the recruitment process. If there are additional options, you would like to request please contact Kate Goad on hr@plowden-smith.com OR call +44 (0)20 8874 4005.