Plumbing and Renewables Technician Apprentice

Summary

We are offering the opportunity to be part of a small, friendly team installing energy efficient and renewable heating systems in domestic properties. You will learn how to install air source heat pumps, solar thermal and conventional gas boiler heating and hot water systems. Our work is in Oxford and the surrounding towns and villages.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Current rates as of April 2025 ● 21 and over: £12.21 ● 18 to 20: £10.00 ● Under 18: £7.55 ● Apprentice: £7.55 Apprentices are entitled to the minimum if they both: ● are aged 19 or over ● have completed the first year of their apprenticeship

Training course

Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)

Hours

Days to be confirmed between the hours of 8.30am - 4.30pm excluding weekends and Bank Holidays.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

3 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

Tasks will include working with a team to install:

Central heating pipework using copper and plastic pipe and fittings
Radiators
Underfloor heating
From the second year onwards more advanced installations such as unvented hot water cylinders and heating system components to a schematic design

Where you'll work

14 HOME CLOSE
WOLVERCOTE
OXFORD
OX2 8PS

Training

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

College or training organisation

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

Duration:

36 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment

Delivery model:

Work-based training with your employer
Day release during term time (approximately 1 day a week for 3 years)
Regular meetings with your training coordinator to monitor progress and well-being
Approximately 5 on-site assessment visits per year
Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work

Qualifications included:

City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating
Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship

End Point Assessment:

Multiple choice test
Design project
Practical installation and application test
Professional discussion, based on a log book completed during the end point assessment period

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade A* to C / Level 9 -4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience
Time management
Independence

Other requirements

If you are interested, please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early.

About this company

Aqueco ltd is an Oxford based company specialising in renewable energy heating and hot water systems. Our team is committed to sustainability and ethical business practices. Aqueco team: We are an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, ages and ambitions. Our approach is hands-on, supportive and honest.

http://aqueco.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

28 days holiday including UK Bank Holiday. Statutory sick pay.

After this apprenticeship

This is an excellent opportunity to advance within a growing company. We will ask for your feedback/aspirations on a regular basis and are happy to discuss any requests you may have

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Imogen

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328351.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Friday 25 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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