Apprentice Drainage & Plumbing Engineer
TLS DRAINAGE LTD
Bishop's Stortford (CM22 7AT)
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 21 August 2025
Contents
Summary
TLS Drainage (Smithy's Drains and Plumbing) are looking for individuals with a can-do attitude to work, who are keen to work their way up through the ranks. This is a very exciting time to join the firm, with ambitious growth plans, we have the infrastructure to help our staff grow and develop with the company.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
We will complete salary reviews annually which will be based on performance of both the individual and company.
- Training course
- Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday. 08:00 - 17:00
Opportunity for additional hours and weekends from time to time depending on the workload, however the appropriate notice will be given prior.
You'll be reimbursed at the agreed overtime rate.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 15 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
As an Apprentice Drainage & Plumbing Engineer working with Smithys, you will benefit from exceptional training and support both in the field as well as in the office. Our friendly and experienced team of plumbers and engineers will guide and support you through your training, ensuring you are always receiving the correct exposure and experience to be able to become a well rounded engineer/plumber by the end of your apprenticeship.
No day is the same, however below are some of the roles and responsibilities that will be a part of your role:
- Attending emergency call outs for both drainage and plumbing, whether it be a toilet or urinal blockage, or issues with leaks and damaged pipework, you will be involved in all elements of the emergency procedure
- PPM Works – Descales of Pipe, Unvented Cylinder Checks, Tap Changes, Hot Water Tank Checks etc.
- Repairs & Maintenance – working across our network of commercial clients, you will assist our engineers with repairs and maintenance tasks, such as pipe work alterations, changing and repairing hot water systems, external drainage repairs and investigation works where required
- Project Work – as a part of the role, you will also get involved in larger scale projects working alongside our more experienced plumbers and engineers, such as suspended pipework alterations, install of multiple appliances, such as, sinks and dishwashers, and any other project work that takes place.
- Administration – Using the companies in house reporting software, you will log reports on jobs confirming what works have been completed and any recommendations for further work
We work with a network of clients, from national retailers to large scale construction firms, so there will be a requirement to work out of hours from time to time which will be reimbursed at the companies agreed overtime rates.
Where you'll work
The Pumphouse, Parvilles
Sparrows Lane, Hatfield Heath
Bishop's Stortford
CM22 7AT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HARLOW COLLEGE
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
Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade 2 or higher)
- Maths (grade Grade 2 or higher)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Enthusiasm/Self Motivated
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
Other requirements
Working outdoors will be required, accessing manholes and external drainage. Working at heights will also be required as a part of the role. Occasional early starts and late finishes may be required for project works. You will ideally be able to drive or will need to be able to commute to our office in Hatfield Heath. We will consider non-drivers, however a conscious effort must be being made to getting a driving licence in order to maintain a longer term agreement as the job will require travel to attend jobs, we can place individuals with other engineers, however the ability to commute to the office in Hatfield Heath is required. Start dates are subject to change depending on course start dates.
About this employer
Supplies all elements of drainage and plumbing services across a wide span of commercial clients. We offer emergency call outs, PPM services and project maintenance to all of our clients. Based in Hatfield Heath Essex, we have engineers attending and completing jobs all around the UK.
After this apprenticeship
- All apprentices are being taken on with the intention to make them a permanent member of the team once fully qualified
- Providing the individual meets the credentials required there are opportunities for further development once qualified, for example, senior engineer, site supervisor / foreman or other opportunities that are available within the business at the time
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HARLOW COLLEGE
Kellie Tighe
ktighe@harlow-college.ac.uk
07377125961
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000338250.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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