Apprentice Property Maintenance Operative

EASTERN LEARNING ALLIANCE

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Ely Cambridgeshire

Closes in 15 days (Friday 16 October 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 1 October 2026

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Summary

Apprentices will support the maintenance and repair of buildings and facilities, ensuring they are safe, compliant for purpose for pupils, staff and visitors. Opportunities available at Chesterton / Impington and Witchford. We can transport learners between sites to the central maintenance team to access a higher level of skills.

Wage

£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Property maintenance operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, between 7.00am - 5.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Sunday 1 November 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

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

  • Assist with planned and reactive maintenance activities across Trust sites
  • Carry out routine inspections of buildings, fixtures, fittings and equipment
  • Identify defects and report maintenance requirements
  • Assist in plumbing inspections, water isolation, repairs to taps, traps and associated fittings
  • Support repairs to waste systems and clearing blockages
  • Inspect, adjust and repair doors, windows and associated fittings
  • Assist with glazing bead replacement and minor joinery repairs
  • Prepare surfaces and carry out painting and decorating works
  • Apply caulk and frame sealants
  • Assist with plasterboard, plastering and tiling repairs
  • Support school site teams with day-to-day maintenance tasks
  • Assist with classroom moves, furniture installation and holiday maintenance programmes
  • Support contractors working on Trust premises
  • Follow Trust Health and Safety procedures and wear appropriate PPE
  • Complete and log compliance checks through portal

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Chesterton Community College, Gilbert Road, Cambridge, CB4 3NY
  • Impington Village College New Road, Impington, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 9LX
  • Witchford Village College, Manor Road, Ely Cambridgeshire, CB6 2JA

Training

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

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL 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

You'll enjoy the best of both worlds - attending Cambridge Regional College one day a week to develop your knowledge and skills, while spending the rest of your time applying what you learn in a real working environment at Eastern Learning Alliance.

More training information

Internal training courses.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3/D)
  • Maths (grade 3/D)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About this employer

We are an innovative and exciting family of schools based in the east of England who work together to achieve excellent outcomes for all our students.

We know that great schools hold the power to transform whole communities, and are committed to providing an exceptional school experience to every student. All our work centres around our core ELA Values: Education; Inclusivity; Experience; Collaboration.

https://tela.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Reduced gym membership fees

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Successful apprentices will have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge within the company, with potential career progression to a permanent Site Officer role and further advancement opportunities.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000056591.

Apply now

Closes in 15 days (Friday 16 October 2026 at 11:59pm)