PLUMBING AND DOMESTIC HEATING TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP

S M S ENVIRONMENTAL LTD

DIDCOT (OX11 0RA)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 5 August 2025

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Contents

Summary

SMS Environmental is looking to hire an Apprentice Plumber to work within the Oxford and Reading areas. This is a great opportunity for an aspiring plumber to gain practical work experience along with the ability to earn qualifications along the way.

Wage

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

30 Days holiday +. Company iPad & Mobile Phone. Brand New Uniform, Equipment, Tool Bag & PPE. Modern, fully serviced, company van & business fuel card. Private Medical Care Plan. Discount Scheme - saving up to £240 per month on food & groceries

Training course
Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)
Hours
(Monday - Friday) Plus Paid Overtime Available. Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 2 September 2025

Duration

4 years

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

  • Hands-on experience learning: Plumbing, Heating, Gas, Oil & LPG
  • General plumbing repairs & maintenance
  • Central heating servicing & installation
  • Boiler servicing & installation
  • Bathrooms & kitchen installation
  • Assist skilled plumbers in various plumbing tasks learning from their experience. Planning, selecting, sizing, preparatory work, installation, testing and commissioning, fault finding, diagnostics, rectification, routine service and maintenance, decommission etc.
  • Select the required materials to carry out the work
  • Precision measuring, marking, cutting, and installing components
  • Learn the process of understanding and interpreting technical drawings and work in accordance with specifications
  • Take measurements and calculate the size and amount of material needed
  • Plan and carry out work to the required standards of quality and speed
  • Use of hand tools, portable power tools and equipment
  • Work safely and be aware of key health, safety, and welfare issues. Follow health & safety policy and procedures for using various tools, equipment and materials including the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) where needed
  • Maintain a clean and organised work environment
  • Move, handle and store resources, such as materials complying with relevant legislation & guidance
  • Interpret and follow verbal and written work instructions from trade supervisors and managers
  • Uphold high standards of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
  • May be asked to assist in other areas of the site (i.e. cleaning and general labouring)
  • Opportunities to watch other trades. This is beneficial to learn the sequence of work on building projects

Where you'll work

QUAD ONE
BECQUEREL AVENUE
HARWELL OXFORD
DIDCOT
OX11 0RA

Training

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

Training provider

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Training course

Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and applying safe working practices.
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating and sanitary appliances and pipework).
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of rainwater systems.
  • Plan tasks within plumbing and domestic heating systems industry.
  • Identify and document hazards for the plumbing and domestic heating systems work. Apply control measures.
  • Carry out commission and handover procedures and techniques on plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating, sanitary appliances, and rainwater).
  • Install, test, and commission, electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on the non-electrical components of plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems including industry safe isolation procedures.
  • Decommission plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Decommission electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Plan, size and select cold and hot systems to meet customer’s needs in accordance with manufacturers guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
  • Plan, size and select domestic heating and rainwater systems to meet customers' needs in accordance with manufacturers' guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
  • Carry out and apply the common installation processes and techniques used in the installation and maintenance of natural gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and natural gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input) in the workplace.
  • Install, purge, test, commission and handover low pressure natural gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and natural gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
  • Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
  • Plan, size and select low pressure Natural Gas systems (up to 35mm R1¼) and Natural Gas fired hot water and central heating appliances (up to 70kW net heat input).
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of solar thermal systems.
  • Test, commission and handover air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
  • Test, commission and handover solar thermal systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on solar thermal systems.
  • Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
  • Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) solar thermal systems.
  • Plan, size and select air source heat pump (non-refrigerant circuits) systems.
  • Plan, size and select solar thermal systems.
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing pipework.
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation of plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances (cold water systems, hot water systems, sanitary appliances and pipework systems and rainwater systems).
  • Test, commission and handover plumbing pipework (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances in the workplace. (cold water systems and sanitary appliances and pipework systems).
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances.
  • Decommission (including disconnection and dismantling) plumbing (above 28mm) and non-domestic plumbing systems and appliances.
  • Operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and applying safe working practices.
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating and sanitary appliances and pipework).
  • Carry out and apply the common processes and techniques used in the installation and test of rainwater systems.
  • Plan tasks within plumbing and domestic heating systems industry.
  • Identify and document hazards for the plumbing and domestic heating systems work. Apply control measures.
  • Carry out commission and handover procedures and techniques on plumbing and domestic heating systems (cold water, hot water, central heating, sanitary appliances, and rainwater).
  • Install, test, and commission, electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on the non-electrical components of plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems including industry safe isolation procedures.
  • Decommission plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Decommission electrical and electrical control systems applicable to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
  • Plan, size and select cold and hot systems to meet customer’s needs in accordance with manufacturers guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.
  • Plan, size and select domestic heating and rainwater systems to meet customers' needs in accordance with manufacturers' guidance, regulatory requirements and industry recognised standards and procedures.

Training schedule

Activate Learning - Reading College 1 day per week

More training information

  • Activate Apprenticeships delivers apprenticeships, training and consulting to clients across the UK
  • We work with some of the UK’s top employers, creating fantastic apprenticeship opportunities and programmes that benefit both businesses and apprentices
  • We are one of the largest education and training organisations in the UK and have a 50-year track record of delivering high quality education and training

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

A current driving licence is required for this role. • Ability to liaise effectively with clients and colleagues • Clear CRB/DBS Disclosure • Ability to work safely and effectively in a team or as a lone worker • Good listening skills – with the ability to absorb and follow all information • Ability to learn and develop new skills on the job in order to complete tasks effectively • IT knowledge – to use ipad technology and Opuz systems effectively • To attend site in a timely way in-line with client and team requirements • To be aware of personal appearance and maintain good standards of cleanliness • Job involves hard work & heavy lifting.

About this employer

The SMS Environmental team offers expert knowledge, experience and guidance to reassure clients that the environment they are responsible for is safe and compliant. SMS is proud of its people who are all highly talented, highly trained specialists and dedicated to providing outstanding customer service that clients can rely on. SMS is committed to ensuring the best personal development of every member of the team, helping the company maintain the highest standard of water treatment service and be recognised as a water treatment industry leader.

http://www.sms-environmental.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

City & Guilds Affiliated Training Programme. Core Values Champions Rewards - peer nomination every quarter with reward vouchers for nominations. Enhanced Sick, Maternity & Paternity Leave. 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.

After this apprenticeship

Progress into:

  • Senior plumber position & gas engineer
  • Site supervisor
  • Site manager
  • Project Manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ACTIVATE LEARNING

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335510.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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