Work with us

Working at Awen

Working at Awen is so much more than just a job. As an Awen colleague you will join a team that is committed to our purpose of ‘making people’s lives better. You will have a part to play in helping our communities and customers have positive and impactful experiences, whether this is working at our theatres, in an outreach activity, at a library, our country park and house or as a part of our business support team 

We will support and develop our people to shape a culture of creativity, empowerment and continuous improvement, that enables you to fulfil your potential, be happy and give your best at work. 

Awen is an exciting community where committed, dedicated, inspiring and driven individuals come together, each person bringing something special to create a friendly and diverse culture. Our people are our success and you can be part of it. 

Current Vacancies:

Our Diverse and Inclusive Culture

We are proud of Awen’s commitment to Inclusion and Diversity and the meaningful steps we are taking to drive equitable advancement and outcomes for all. 

We welcome all applications irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, religion, belief, sexual orientation, age or disability. We value the contribution of all our colleagues and offer a culture which is supportive, family friendly, inclusive and allows everyone to thrive and become part of our journey.

AGE FRIENDLY EMPLOYER 

We have joined the Centre for Ageing Better and pledged to demonstrate the importance and value of older workers in the workforce. 

DISABILITY CONFIDENT LEADER 

We are proud to be disability confident leaders and have a positive approach towards, changing attitudes, offering opportunities, supporting disabled people in the workplace. As leaders we also play a role in encouraging other organisations to become Disability Confident Employers.  

GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME 

As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our workforce we provide a guaranteed interview scheme to applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the job who are disabled or people of the global majority. 

REAL LIVING WAGE 

Being a Real Living Wage accredited employer is important to us at Awen as we believe in paying our colleagues a salary which meets their everyday needs. 

 

Our Staff

There are almost 200 people working across Awen.
These are some of their stories.

Rhiannon Davies

Libraries Engagement Officer

I joined Awen Libraries in 2015 and began by working in Bridgend Library for 3 years. I really enjoy working with our customers from tiny babies up to the older generations.

I have recently been appointed as the Libraries Engagement Officer, which involves taking library services out into our communities as well as identifying and organising new opportunities, to encourage participation and ensure people benefit from our facilities and programme of events.

I really enjoy the job as I get to work with lots of different people on a daily basis and I’m passionate about promoting what the libraries do.

It is very rewarding working with all the lovely Awen staff and community alike.

Nicola Edwards

Programme manager

I first learnt about Awen when I was looking to re-locate back to my home town of Bridgend following a long stint as a booking agent in London. It felt like a dream come true as I had always wanted to use my event management skills and passion for community arts back in my hometown and try and make a real change in Bridgend.

My role as programme manager has given me the privilege to learn about all of Awen’s truly fantastic venues and the diverse communities that surround them in Bridgend. It is my role to find quality artists to perform as part of artistic programs for Grand Pavilion, Maesteg Town Hall, Bryngarw Country Park, Blaengarw Workmen’s Hall and all of our lovely libraries. Being a dedicated programme manager has allowed me to focus in on the needs of each venue, develop the type of work that is available across Bridgend and start attracting new artists that have not performed in Bridgend before. This opportunity has only helped my passion for music, theatre, dance and participatory arts to grow.

Mark Phillips

Head of Infrastructure and Innovation

I’ve been with Awen since it’s inception in 2015 when it took over the management of the Grand Pavilion and various other venues from Bridgend County Borough Council. My initial training and career was in ICT systems and software/database development for the industrial and legal sectors. A chance opportunity led to a “hobby” working in the Grand Pavilion technical team. The old saying goes that you should never scratch an itch… well I did, and the hobby soon became serious. A few years later the ICT career was put on ice as I progressed in to the roles of Assistant Manager and then General Manager.

With the advent of Awen, its ever increasing requirements for ICT systems, and the need to focus on capital projects, things have turned full circle and I’m now Head of Infrastructure and Innovation. For the last 18 months I have been heavily involved in the technical design of Maesteg Town Hall and am looking forward to the refurbishment and development programme commencing in 2020.

It’s a bit of a cliché, but no two days are the same for me at Awen. One day, I might be designing a new network segment in order to support an E-POS system or VoIP telephone system, and the next day I might be head down reviewing technical drawings and specifications produced by our architects. I enjoy the variety and challenge of being able to apply my technical knowledge and skills in order to help further Awen’s aims and purpose.

Beth Hopkins

Education and Development Coordinator

I first joined the team at Bryngarw Country Park as a Seasonal Ranger in 2014 and now, 5 years on, have progressed to a full-time position as the Education & Development Officer.

My role at the Park is hugely varied and can range from practical habitat management, wildlife monitoring and working with volunteers, to public engagement, developing projects, and organising and leading events, as well as providing environmental education to schools and groups – no two days are the same!

Whilst working for Awen, I have had the support I needed to grow professionally and am able to be creative within my role, exploring new ideas and working towards making the Park a better environment for the benefit of both the wildlife and the local community.

It is an exciting and incredibly rewarding job!