Property Maintenance Apprentice

St Clare's, Oxford

Oxfordshire (OX2 7AL)

Closes in 24 days (Friday 15 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 21 April 2026

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Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join and learn from a professional and dedicated team. 

You will be working as part of the St Clare’s maintenance team to carry out practical maintenance and construction work according to deadlines and to a high standard in the College’s buildings across all sites.

Wage

£26,426 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

10% employer pension contribution

26 days holiday + bank holidays. The College is closed between 24th Dec - 1st Jan incl. The Apprentice will be required to book holiday for days which are not bank holidays. 

Training course
Property maintenance operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 7.30am to 4.00pm, with 30 mins lunch break. You may also be required to work outside normal hours including evenings, weekends and bank holidays to meet the needs of the business, for which time off in lieu will be granted.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

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

  • Carry out relevant trade duties on planned and responsive works as requested to St Clare’s specifications and standards.
  • Carry out repairs and restoration work on St Clare’s properties including repairs to the fabric of buildings e.g. repairs to walls, doors, doorframes, skirting boards or plaster damage to internal walls.
  • Understand and maintain plumbing and drainage systems, e.g. repairs to WC systems, leaking taps or water testing and unblocking drains.
  • Understand and maintain electrical distribution systems, safe repair of electrical installation to legal requirements, e.g. replacing damaged sockets, plugs, lighting and fuses.
  • Carry out painting and decorating to a high standard.
  • Work safely and efficiently in accordance with the information, instruction and training given and inform their line manager of any potential safety hazards not adequately controlled.
  • Complete relevant work-related documentation to the satisfaction of their line manager.
  • Use authorised plant, tools and equipment provided with due care and attention and as supervised.
  • Work flexibly as part of a team across the repairs and maintenance service building and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues, customers and managers to ensure the effectiveness of the repairs and maintenance service.
  • Undertake health and safety and other training as required and adhere to risk assessments and method statements working in a safe manner taking account of your own and other’s health and wellbeing. 
  • Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding (child protection, confidentiality, data protection and health, safety and security reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.

Where you'll work

139 Banbury Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 7AL

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

Duration:

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

Delivery model:

  • Work-based training with your employer.
  • Eleven weeks of block releases throughout the year, plus induction / revision days.
  • Regular meetings with your training coordinator to monitor progress and well-being.
  • On-site assessment visits every other month throughout the apprenticeship.

Qualifications included:

Level 2 Property Maintainance Operative Apprenticeship.

End Point Assessment:

  • Multiple choice knowledge test.
  • Practical assessment.
  • Professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Minimum Four (grade A*-D/9-3 (or equivalent))

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Physical fitness
  • Enthusiastic
  • Good sense of humour
  • Flexible

Other requirements

You will need to pass an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete a series of initial assessments, essential eligibility checks and a phone interview to find out more about the apprenticeship process and training. As a new apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments, please call us on 01235 216216.

By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. 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.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £7.55 per hour from April 2025. This applies to 16 - 18-year-old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent. 

About this employer

St Clare’s is a coeducational independent school in Oxford.  It was founded in 1953 by Anne Dreydel OBE and Pamela Morris to rebuild links between British and European students after the Second World War. Over the last 70 years our campus has grown to accommodate our increasing student population and every year we consistently attract students from over 40 countries.  Our mission remains focussed on ‘advancing international education and understanding’.

https://stclares.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • A free lunch during working day when students are in residence
  • Season tickets loan
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Life Assurance
  • Employee Assistance Programme

After this apprenticeship

A full-time permanent position may be available upon succesful apprenticeship. We strongly believe in investing in and bringing the best in our people. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Aneta Helliwell

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216 216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027044.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Friday 15 May 2026 at 11:59pm)