Property Maintenance Operative Apprentice - University of Oxford Building Fabric Team

University of Oxford

Oxford (OX1 3UB)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 12 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 April 2025

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Summary

An exciting opportunity for you to join us as an Apprentice Property Maintenance Operative at the University of Oxford. This provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop the essential skills needed to enhance the condition and quality of our portfolio of properties across Oxford, whilst delivering a high level of satisfaction to customers.

Wage

£25,331 a year

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Training course
Property maintenance operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday full-time. Times to be confirmed. This is an 18 month apprenticeship within a two year employment contract.

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

As a Property Maintenance Operative Apprentice, you will embark on a comprehensive 18 month training program as part of a 2 year employment contract. This program will cover all aspects of the role and will be delivered through a combination of in-house training and block-release or other distance learning methods provided by Abingdon and Witney College. 
 
Upon completion, you will earn a Level 2 Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship, which is within the construction and the built environment sector. 
 
College attendance and successful completion of these studies is an essential requirement of this Apprenticeship. 
 
The DLO Building Fabric team carry out:

  • Repairs and maintenance of all building fabric items
  • Supervision of specialist contractors
  • Painting and decorating
  • Tiling
  • Plastering
  • Carpentry, including door/window repairs or replacements, locks, closers, shelving, and office alterations
  • Lamp changing
  • Basic plumbing
  • Bricklaying and brick pointing
  • Glazing and sash cord repairs 
  • Minor groundworks, such as repairs to manholes, kerbs, and paving
  • Cleaning gutters and drains
  • Small refurbishments, including toilet and kitchenette facilities, with the assistance of other DLO operatives (e.g., electricians and plumbers) 

The team are based in the DLO offices on South Parks Road and the Andrew Wiles Building workshops. They are required to carry out work across the University Estate, primarily in Central Oxford. The team collaborates closely with other DLO teams (Mechanical, plumbing and electrical) and the wider Building Fabric Team, including building inspectors and building heritage & conservation surveyors. 
 
Responsibilities:

  • Follow instructions from an experienced Property Maintenance Engineer, Building Maintenance Operative, Building Fabric Team Leader, or the wider Estates Building Services Team to independently complete basic building fabric repairs and reactive tasks in accordance with SLA targets
  • Safely operate basic equipment and seeking assistance from an experienced Property Maintenance Engineer, Property Maintenance operatives and Building Fabric Team leaders when required
  • Communicate back to your line manager, any problems for extra advice and on completion of tasks set
  • Ensure that the work environment and equipment is kept organised, clean, tidy and secure
  • Use the handheld technology provided to record Health & Safety Pre-work checks and all maintenance activities. Training will be provided
  • Learn to complete records and paperwork in line with statutory testing and other processes
  • Work under instruction and having regard to safe working practices as set out in Risk Assessments and Method Statements
  • Liaise with building users to ensure that they are kept fully informed of the location and progress of all building fabric works within their building
  • To select, within limits, materials and equipment and order parts agreed via Purchasing team
  • With support understand and be familiar with all relevant safety documents and to undertake any relevant health and safety training and to work in accordance with this
  • Attend all day and block courses in line with your apprenticeship 
    Undertake ongoing compulsory training per Estates Services training matrix for health and safety compliance
  • To embrace and actively promote Estates Services vision and values
  • Carry out such other comparable duties as may be required by your Line Manager

Where you’ll work

1A
South Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3UB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Your training course

Property maintenance operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Plan the sequence of work required to carry out routine property maintenance operations.
  • Identify and select the appropriate materials and components for property maintenance tasks, ensuring these are compliant with relevant regulatory requirements and manufacturer's specifications.
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and requirements.
  • Comply with risk assessments, and organise the workplace, to safeguard themselves and the property.
  • Comply with key regulatory and legislative requirements, including building regulations.
  • Uses safe working practices when carrying out property maintenance tasks including the use of PPE, signage, barriers, access equipment and ensuring work area is prepared and reinstated.
  • Select, and use work tools and equipment for property maintenance tasks, applying all safeguards, and ensuring the correct functioning of equipment.
  • Safely isolate and secure electrical or electronic supplies prior to performing property maintenance operations.
  • Apply and implement routine emergency system checks, testing and routine maintenance, identifying and reporting faults as required.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to plumbing systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components and clearing blockages.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to external drainage systems, including clearing blockages and replacing components.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to environmental and energy management systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components.
  • Use carpentry and joinery skills to perform repairs to windows, doors and glazing units, and their associated fittings.
  • Perform repairs to plastered surfaces, including surface preparation, fixing and mixing materials and compounds.
  • Use painting and decorating skills to prepare surfaces for decoration, apply paint using brushes and rollers, and complete sealing activities using gun appliances.
  • Perform tiling repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform flooring repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform planned, responsive or temporary repairs to buildings or their immediate surroundings, attending to minor defects within either masonry, roofing, fencing or railing, groundwork or landscaping.
  • Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data to address property maintenance problems.
  • Record and report information, using digital and written techniques.
  • Inspect own work, ensuring it is delivered to the given specifications.
  • Comply with environmental regulations and procedures. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Use and adapt communication methods for different situations and when, working with colleagues and stakeholders, using industry terminology as appropriate.
  • Provide customer feedback whilst maintaining customer service.
  • Escalates issues beyond their level of competence and authority.
  • Plan the sequence of work required to carry out routine property maintenance operations.
  • Identify and select the appropriate materials and components for property maintenance tasks, ensuring these are compliant with relevant regulatory requirements and manufacturer's specifications.
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and requirements.
  • Comply with risk assessments, and organise the workplace, to safeguard themselves and the property.
  • Comply with key regulatory and legislative requirements, including building regulations.
  • Uses safe working practices when carrying out property maintenance tasks including the use of PPE, signage, barriers, access equipment and ensuring work area is prepared and reinstated.
  • Select, and use work tools and equipment for property maintenance tasks, applying all safeguards, and ensuring the correct functioning of equipment.
  • Safely isolate and secure electrical or electronic supplies prior to performing property maintenance operations.
  • Apply and implement routine emergency system checks, testing and routine maintenance, identifying and reporting faults as required.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to plumbing systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components and clearing blockages.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to external drainage systems, including clearing blockages and replacing components.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to environmental and energy management systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components.
  • Use carpentry and joinery skills to perform repairs to windows, doors and glazing units, and their associated fittings.
  • Perform repairs to plastered surfaces, including surface preparation, fixing and mixing materials and compounds.
  • Use painting and decorating skills to prepare surfaces for decoration, apply paint using brushes and rollers, and complete sealing activities using gun appliances.
  • Perform tiling repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform flooring repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform planned, responsive or temporary repairs to buildings or their immediate surroundings, attending to minor defects within either masonry, roofing, fencing or railing, groundwork or landscaping.
  • Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data to address property maintenance problems.
  • Record and report information, using digital and written techniques.
  • Inspect own work, ensuring it is delivered to the given specifications.
  • Comply with environmental regulations and procedures. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Use and adapt communication methods for different situations and when, working with colleagues and stakeholders, using industry terminology as appropriate.
  • Provide customer feedback whilst maintaining customer service.
  • Escalates issues beyond their level of competence and authority.

Your training plan

Duration:

15 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment

Delivery model:

  • Work-based training with the employer
  • Eleven weeks of block release at Abingdon & Witney College's Bicester Construction Skills Centre (plus induction/revision days)
  • On-site assessment visits every other month throughout the apprenticeship
  • Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work

Qualifications included:

  • Level 2 Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship

End Point Assessment:

  • Multiple choice knowledge test
  • Practical assessment
  • Professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence and short research assignment

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Maths and English (grade A*-C/9-4 or equivalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • MS Excel, Outlook and Word
  • Proactive 'can-do' approach
  • Willing to learn new skills
  • Adaptability
  • Punctuality and time keeping

Other requirements

PLEASE SEE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ON THE UNIVERSITY'S JOBS PAGE FOR MORE DETAIL - VAC ID 179139. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description. As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the Apprenticeship Training Provider and will be required to complete initial assessments in English and maths, provide an up-to-date CV and book onto a short eligibility assessment telephone call where you can also find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you may have. By applying for this vacancy, you are giving the Training Provider permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. The Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Abingdon & Witney College. If you would like to talk to them about the assessments, please call on 01235 216216. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.

About this company

We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 16,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.

https://estates.admin.ox.ac.uk/maintenance (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

You'll enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts and professional development opportunities. Free entry to the Botanic Gardens and university colleges, and discounts at university museums.

After this apprenticeship

Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Jane Phipps

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000315483.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 12 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

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