Apprentice Property Maintenance Operative - University of Oxford DPAG

University of Oxford

Oxford (OX1 3PT)

Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 May 2025

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Contents

Summary

We are seeking a motivated Apprentice Property Maintenance Operative to join our Facilities Management team within the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics. An ideal role for those interested in gaining hands-on experience in facilities management, maintenance, and operations within a world leading scientific research establishment.

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. The start date advertised is only an estimated start date and will be confirmed with the successful candidate.

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 21 July 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

You will work under the supervision of experienced technicians, contribute to the efficient upkeep of our facilities, and support all aspects of the day-to-day running of the workshop.  The apprentice will be supervised at all times when in workshops.

You would be part of a team of Facilities Management professionals who are responsible for excellent service to our managed buildings. Our primary role is to ensure that the Department has the right working environment to deliver its primary purpose: education and research. We are looking for an individual who will be as passionate about the services we provide as we are. In return, we will ensure that you have a great opportunity to develop and flourish.

College attendance and successful completion of these studies is an essential requirement of this Apprenticeship.

Responsibilities:

You will be fully trained to carry out the following during your apprenticeship:

  • Assist in the running, maintenance, and repair of building systems, to include cryo-storage facilities, laboratory equipment, compressed air and general building services
  • Support routine inspections and preventive maintenance tasks to ensure facility safety, reliability, and compliance with regulations
  • Respond, as part of a team, to maintenance requests and perform basic repairs as needed in both office and laboratory environments
  • Operate tools and equipment safely and effectively, including in a workshop environment
  • Participate in training programs to develop skills in facilities management and maintenance best practices
  • Provide a high level of customer service at all times
  • Receive, document and dispatch goods and services including post
  • With support, monitor and maintain a high standard of safety as required by the HASAW Act 1974 and be conversant with current COSHH and Manual Handling Regulations
  • Check and maintain operating efficiency and cleanliness of tools, apparatus and workshop premises

Other Duties:

  • Participate in a regular Annual Review
  • Undertake any necessary training identified and continuing professional development in order to stay up-to-date professionally including annual Information Governance training
  • Comply with Health and safety regulations
  • Comply with the policies and procedures set out in the Handbook for University Support staff (or) Academic-Related staff
  • Any other duties that may be required from time to time commensurate with the grade of the job

Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard compulsory pre-employment screening, such as right to work checks.

Where you'll work

Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics
Sherrington Building
Sherrington Road
Oxford
OX1 3PT

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)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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

Within your 2 year fixed term employment contract, you will be required to complete an 18 month training programme, (provided by Abingdon and Witney College, and based at the Bicester Construction Skills Centre), that will cover all aspects of the role and will be delivered through in-house training, as well as day-release or other distance learning methods provided.

You will complete a level 2 Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship, Level 2 Functional Skills English and maths (if required), and Level 2 Property Maintenance qualifications. 

Facilities Management Apprenticeships are an exciting development for the University of Oxford and provide an excellent opportunity to start a career in FM. For the right candidate there may be an opportunity to undertake further levels of training in the future to Level 3 and beyond.

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*-D/9-3 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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental
  • Physical fitness
  • MS Excel, Outlook and Word
  • Proactive 'can-do' approach
  • Adaptability
  • Work in various conditions
  • Work indoors/outdoors
  • Work in confined spaces
  • Responsible
  • Proactive
  • Can-do attitude

Other requirements

PLEASE SEE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION INCLUDING SELECTION CRITERIA ON THE UNIVERSITY'S JOBS PAGE FOR MORE DETAIL - VAC ID 179364 BEFORE APPLYING. 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. Applications are particularly welcome from women, black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford. 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://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk (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 VAC1000320519.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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