Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Crew on Reed Boats in 2008.

Job Description.

N.B. First please note .....

1.. Read this job description very, very carefully, we have been repeatedly let down by people who because they do not take the time to read this have false ideas about the job. I know it is a long document and you will be tempted to just flip through it, but it is an unusual job so please read it all!

2.. We need crew to start on Thursday 22nd May. (It is possible to arrive at the boats a few days early and stay on them ready.) The boats will then be at Warwick, a town just to the South East of Birmingham. If you are in the UK it is very strongly recommenced that you come over and meet me and look at the boats before you make a commitment.

3.. We need two crew members. So priority will be given to applicants who can fill both posts. However still feel free to apply if you are on your own.

This job description both sets out the work to be covered by the crew and forms the basis of the contract of employment.

We operate with a full time staff of three, Owner/Operator, and two crew, one indoor, one outdoor. This job description relates to the crew jobs. In addition the owner's wife operates as extra crew during school holiday times.

The line of command on the boats is ….
Owner > Owners Wife > Steerer of the Motor > Other crew members

The Work and Pay.

There are three elements to the work and its rewards.

• Basic work in return for pay.
• Housekeeping assistance in return for board and lodging.
• Days off.
  

1.. Basic Work.

Approximately 40 hours a week, in return for the current UK standard basic wage, (in February 2008 this £5.52 to be paid after deductions for N.I. and tax. As exact time keeping is impossible we pay for an average/nominal 40 hour week rather than calculating exact hours worked. (i.e. £220.80)

This is made up from ...

Outdoor crew, main responsibility to steer the butty, and operate locks. Also responsible for 40 minutes in the morning each day interior cleaning of the butty,

Indoor crew, main responsibility to cook and serve breakfast and lunch, as well as early morning tea, coffee break and afternoon cup of tea. Also responsible for the interior cleaning of the motor and when required assistance with operation of boats.

2.. Housekeeping Assistance.

In the evening crew members set out and lay up the lounge/dining room for dinner and wash up after dinner. Also they do some cooking on some evenings. (Each crew member has two evenings off in every seven days.)

On change over days one crew member has the afternoon off, the other works all day. Between them they are responsible for the laundry and for cleaning inside the boats ready for new guests. Also checking stock and shopping to replenish the boats.

In return for the housekeeping assistance:-

• Accommodation is provided for the crew in the butty cabin on Ash, 8ft by 7ft, which is fairly basic, with two single bunks, 6ft by 2ft 3 inches, one above the other, but both with interior sprung mattresses. There is storage, a solid fuel stove and the privacy of an isolated rear deck. Washing facilities, toilet and shower, are on Oak. A porta-potti style toilet is provided for optional use inside this cabin.
• If required crew can also be accomodated in a cabin on the motor, 4 ft by 6ft with one single bed.
• Food, all of the same standard as the guests. Breakfast, lunch and four-course dinner with a glass of wine or beer. (The first night of each cruise dinner is to be eaten with the guests).
• All crew laundry done with the boat laundry. Towels and bedding are supplied.

3.. Day's Off.

Crew members are entitled to one full day off in return for each six days worked.

Each change over day one crew member will have a half day off. Some days we stay three nights in one location, Both crew members have a full day off then. In 2008 these are In Bath on Thursday 7th August and Oxford on Friday 22nd August.

However the rest of the time days off will be added up to be taken as the two weeks when we take a break. In 2008 these are (the dates are inclusive)..

• June 25th to July 4th at Warwick
• September 1st to September 7th at Warwick.

Any outstanding days will be taken as extra days paid for after finishing working with us.

Typical Days.

Because of the varied nature of the canals and our guests there is no such thing as a standard day, but below we give some idea of the usual typical days, which fall into two categories.

• Cruise days, when we are travelling between destinations.
• Turn Round days, the day when one published cruise ends and another begins.
  

Typical cruise day, indoor crew

Be on duty at 7.50 a.m. ready to serve guests tea at 8.00 a.m.. Prepare and serve breakfast at 8.30 a.m., clear up and wash up afterwards. Serve morning coffee, then prepare and serve lunch clear up and wash up afterwards. Serve and clear up tea at 4.00 p.m. Also responsible for the interior cleaning of the motor. This should take up about five or six of the seven hours. This crew member will also help with working locks when required; this covers the extra hours work. Some weeks this will be a daily occurrence, other weeks it will only take place on one or two days. In particularly heavily locked sections the amount of cleaning will be reduced to compensate. In the evening set out and lay up the lounge/dining room for dinner and wash up after dinner. Also some cooking on some evenings. (Two evenings off in every seven days.)

Typical cruise day, outdoor crew.

Clean inside the butty 8.30 a.m. for 40 minutes. 9.30 till 1.00, and 2.00 until 5.00 steer the butty and otherwise navigate the boats. In the evening set out and lay up the lounge/dining room for dinner and wash up after dinner. Also some cooking on some evenings. (Two evenings off in every seven days.)

Typical turn round day.

Indoor crew

Be on duty at 7.50 a.m. ready to serve guests tea at 8.00 a.m.. Prepare and serve breakfast at 8.30 a.m.
(On the previous day the Indoor crew will have checked food and cleaning stock cupboards against a master list to produce a shopping list. )

Outdoor crew

When guests come over to Breakfast, strip beds and collect and bag all laundry. Put fresh towels and shower mats in shower rooms.

At 9.15 Crew members carry out the duties below, acting at Crew 1 one week then Crew 2 next week.

Crew 1

Clear up and wash up after Breakfast. Be on hand to assist guests till rest of crew return. Start cleaning of butty/motor till 12.00 noon. Afternoon is then free, however they have to remain with boats till other crew return. Working with the other crew member lay up for dinner at 7.00, have dinner with guests then wash up afterwards.

Crew 2

Go with Owner in taxi to take laundry to laundrette for service wash. Then go on together to a supermarket to shop, using a taxi bring shopping back to the boat help sort it and put it all away. Responsible for, using a taxi, collecting and putting away the laundry. Also responsible for completing the cleaning of the butty/motor. Work should be completed about 4 to 5 p.m. Working with the other crew member lay up for dinner at 7.00, have dinner with guests then wash up afterwards.

(To complete the picture, remember that the owner/operator is responsible for:-
o Cleaning the outside of both boats each day.
o Steering the motor.
o Cooking the evening meal 5 out of 7 nights. Preparing some dishes before breakfast every day.
o Carrying out, with assistance as required, basic boat maintenance, obtaining diesel, coal, and gas and pumping out the toilets. Also in the Spring and Autumn seeing to the coal stove in the motor lounge.)

General conditions.

· The boats are a non-smoking zone inside for everyone.

· Crew are not allowed to handle the boat or food under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (One glass with dinner at night is fine, it is excess, which is the problem.)

· We are prepared to take on separate crews for different parts of the total period, but we can only change over during one of the break weeks. Preference will however be given to those who can work the entire season.

· It will be useful if outdoor crew have some experience in the operation of canal boats but not essential as training will be given. However indoor crew must have some experience of at least ordinary domestic catering and cleaning. (Essentially cooking breakfast and following simple lunch time and evening dinner recipes.)Training will be provided in the way we operate the boats and in our catering and cleaning systems.

· Fitness is essential. Boat work requires a certain amount of physical effort, although skill replaces brute strength in most situations. Crew also need dexterity to be able to handle themselves safely while moving around the boats and between the boats and the shore.

· Crew will be required to supply their own clothing; they will need jeans, polo shirts, T-shirts, sweat shirts pullovers, etc. and non-slip shoes or boots for working the boats in sometimes cold and muddy conditions. They will also need separate tidy clothes for wearing in the evenings.

· Although indoor and outdoor crew are set out as separate jobs it is possible either for the crew to swap roles each week, or for a couple, by mutual agreement, to vary who does what work. Our only concern is that all the tasks set out are covered between the two crew members.

· Initially the job offer will be until the next break, usually about 6 to 8 weeks. This is to give both sides, employee and employer the chance to see if the reality matches expectations. Three weeks before the end of this probationary period a decision will be expected from both sides about extending the employment for the rest of the season or terminating it during the break week.

Next ?

First explore this web site to find out more about the boats and where we are going this year. If you have any questions, either email martinreed@reedboats.co.uk or phone us on 07977 229103

Still interested and want to apply? Then send an email to martinreed@reedboats.co.uk which includes ...

• Your CV.
• A letter which sets out why you wish to work on the boats.