Would you like to help create a ceramics studio that is welcoming, creative and a safe space for all?
British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is seeking to appoint a part-time Studio Assistant to maintain the BCB Studio and provide support to staff, artists and visitors who use the space.
About us
BCB’s vision: Making change through clay.
Our mission: To develop, sustain and expand innovative ceramics practice and improve lives together with artists and creative communities.
Our values: Bold, accountable, welcoming, significant, grounded, inclusive, connected and collaborative.
About the Studio Assistant role
The role of Studio Assistant is ideal for those starting their career. If you are friendly, organised, energetic and interested in creativity and clay, then this could be the job for you.
You will be joining the team of one of the UK’s leading ceramics organisations, British Ceramics Biennial. You will work closely with BCB’s Studio Officer at the BCB Studio, a community ceramics studio in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. The studio is an inspiring, clean and safe space for people to work on all sorts of creative projects.
The ideal person for this job is enthusiastic about clay and ceramics. We will not expect you to have a huge amount of experience, but we will require you to be eager to learn new skills and open to asking for help when needed. There will be opportunities for training, and you will be given support to develop your confidence in the role.
You will be a good communicator and have an eye for detail, and you will take pride in keeping the BCB Studio working well for all the different users.
Sometimes you will work on a particular task by yourself, at other times you will work with others. You will need to manage your workload and may need to make tricky decisions about what to prioritise.
A typical day may include:
- Opening up the studio, switching on lights, heaters – making space safe for visitors
- Cleaning a section of the studio floor
- Mixing up a batch of slips or glazes
- Recycling clay
- Supporting an Associate Artist to set up for a workshop
- Completing a stock take of the clay and allocate used clay to individual projects on the relevant monitoring spreadsheet
- Unload the kiln and pack project work ready to be delivered back to the participants
- Supporting Associate Artist to clear down after a session
- Meet with the Studio Officer to discuss improvements to the studio and personal development
- Locking up studio, ensuring heating, lights and electrics are turned off
Breakdown of the role
Title: Studio Assistant, 0.5 FTE (17.5 hours per week)
Reports to: Studio Officer
Salary: £12,267 per annum for 0.5 FTE/17.5 hours per week. (This is equivalent to a full time salary of £24,534).
Contract: Permanent Contract
Location: BCB Studio, 118 & 124 Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1BU
Closing date: 10am, Monday 29 June 2026
Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for full details. The Job Description includes a list of responsibilities.
We will provide an induction and ongoing training to give you the skills to complete these tasks.
We will refer to the Person Specification when shortlisting and appointing for the role, so it is important to have the qualities listed in mind when applying, and to explain how you meet these in the application form. The criteria are labelled as either essential or desirable, so do not feel that you must meet all of these to apply.
Summary terms and conditions
Annual leave is 35 days per annum pro rata including public holidays (17.5 days per year). The probationary period is six months and the period of notice is two months in writing.
Access
We ensure our recruitment process is as transparent and accessible as possible. If you have any questions or require the application pack in an alternative format, please let us know. You can do this by emailing jo@britishceramicsbiennial.com or by calling 01782 294634. Alternative formats are available upon request to ensure they align with the applicant’s access requirements.
BCB will make every reasonable adjustment to the office, studio or working arrangements to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. You are welcome to discuss your access needs with us at any stage in the application process by emailing jo@britishceramicsbiennial.com.
Applications
To apply for this role, please submit the following by 10am, 29 June 2026.
You are welcome to have an informal conversation about the job or visit our studio. Please get in touch with our Studio & Community Programme Manager, Joanne Mills, at jo@britishceramicsbiennial.com to arrange this.
Timings
Applications open: 28 May 2026
Deadline for receipt of applications: 10am, Monday 29 June 2026
Notification of applicants called to interview: Friday 3 July 2026
Interviews (in-person): Friday 17 July 2026
Please note that BCB cannot guarantee an interview for shortlisted candidates on an alternative date to the one stated above.
Equality and Diversity
We strive to ensure that opportunities to work for BCB are open to all. All job applications are treated equally, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, pregnancy or any other equality characteristic.
We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as being Black, Asian, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled, neurodiverse, from a lower socio-economic background or those with long-term health conditions as people from these groups are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector.
We understand the paragraph above isn’t holistically reflective of the rich community in which we live and work and if you don’t feel this speaks to you and you would like to support how we communicate this in future please get in touch with us: info@britishceramicsbiennial.com.
