Apprentice Facilities & Property Maintenance Technician - University of Oxford - Pathology
University of Oxford
Oxford (OX1 3RE)
Closes in 21 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 30 March 2026
Contents
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for you to join the University of Oxford as an Apprentice Facilities & Property Maintenance Technician. This entry-level position is ideal for individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in facilities management, maintenance, and operations within a world leading scientific research establishment
- Wage
-
£26,686 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
All new entrant apprentices at the University of Oxford start at apprentice grade 1A.
- Training course
- Property maintenance operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday full-time. Times to be confirmed. 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
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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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.
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 are essential requirements of this apprenticeship.
Responsibilities:
- Assist in the running, maintenance, and repair of building systems, including 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
- Learn to 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
- Learn to provide a high level of customer service at all times
- Learn to 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
- This job description should be regarded only as a guide to the duties required and is not intended to be definitive. It may be reviewed in the light of a change in circumstances following consultation with the post holder. The job description does not form part of the contract
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
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
South Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3RE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
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.
Training schedule
Within your 18 month fixed term employment contract, you will be required to complete an 18 month training programme, provided by Abingdon and Witney College, that will cover all aspects of the role.
You will complete a level 2 Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship.
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 workplace 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:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- IT skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Physical fitness
- MS Excel, Outlook and Word
- Good written communication
- Good verbal communication
- Able to work outdoors
- Can work in confined spaces
Other requirements
- PLEASE SEE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION INCLUDING SELECTION CRITERIA ON THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD'S JOBS PAGE FOR MORE DETAIL - VAC ID 185621 BEFORE APPLYING.
- This is an entry level position but applications from those who can demonstrate an understanding or awareness of facilities management and a passion for property maintenance are preferable. 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 employer
We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 17,000 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.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 VAC2000024028.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)