Apprentice Estates Craftsperson (Plumbing and Domestic Heating)

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Suffolk (IP33 2QZ)

Closes in 13 days (Friday 27 February 2026)

Posted on 12 February 2026

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Summary

Looking to kick-start a career in plumbing and heating? West Suffolk NHS Trust is recruiting an Apprentice to join our Estates team.

You’ll complete a Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating apprenticeship, gaining hands-on experience maintaining and repairing essential mechanical and plumbing systems across Trust sites.

Wage

£24,937 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wage will increase to NHS AfC band 4 on successful completion of apprenticeship course.

Training course
Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)
Hours
Flexible working, mainly Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm but may include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 7 April 2026

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

  • Learn maintenance, fault finding and repair of plumbing and heating systems
  • Support work on LPHW, steam systems, cold water services and domestic plumbing
  • Assist with medical gas, decontamination equipment and HVAC systems (with training)
  • Carry out planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive repairs
  • Support new installations and system improvements across Trust sites
  • Work safely in line with HTMs, Trust policies and health & safety standards
  • Use hand tools, power tools and workshop equipment correctly

Where you'll work

West Suffolk Hospital
Hardwick Lane
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 2QZ

Training

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

Training provider

SUFFOLK NEW 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

Training will take place both at the main hospital site in Bury St Edmunds and at Suffolk New College site at Rope Walk, Ipswich, IP4 1LT.

Apprentices will need to be able to travel to Ipswich weekly and sometimes more frequently than this.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade A*- C or 4-9)

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
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental

Other requirements

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for this role.

About this employer

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across West Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

http://www.wsh.nhs.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Apprentice will be eligible to join NHS pension scheme.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust supports career development for all colleagues. Apprentices may wish to progress into project management, team leader roles or other specialist areas of estates and facilities within the Trust.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015215.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Friday 27 February 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.