Passionate about trams? Enjoy meeting new people? Crich Tramway Village could be the volunteering destination for you!

by Amanda Blair

Here at Crich Tramway Village, home of the National Tramway Museum, we’re looking for enthusiastic individuals to join the volunteer Tram Crew for our vintage trams.

To apply, there’s not a long list of criteria to fulfil – you just need to be 16 or over, of smart appearance and with good customer service skills. Training is given to successful applicants, starting as a Conductor/Guard, responsible for the safety of passengers boarding and alighting, ticketing and assisting the Tram Driver.

After two years as a qualified conductor, and as long as you’ve held a full DVLA car licence for at least a year, you could also apply to be a tram driver.

Volunteers don’t have to be local, either. There are currently more than 150 volunteers who come from all over the UK and Europe – discounted accommodation is on offer for those travelling from afar.

Gaining valuable experience at Crich Tramway Village has even helped volunteers to secure permanent employment elsewhere. Joseph Burberry, a volunteer conductor at Crich and LRV Driver (tram driver) at Metrolink in Manchester, is one such volunteer. He says:

‘I started volunteering in 2012 after I’d taken part in an Ultimate Driving Experience at Crich. I started as a conductor, which is a great role because you get to meet so many new people and make good friends at the same time. Even if you believe you are too shy to have a go at something like conducting, you'd be surprised at how doing a role like this can bring you out of your shell. The skills you learn here are great for any future career you go into within the railway industry.

The skills and job experience I’ve gained while at Crich Tramway Village have helped me to get my dream job at Manchester's Metrolink. There aren't many people who can say they had a licence to drive first-generation trams before the second-generation trams. It’s a great thing to add to your CV!’