Apprentice Plumber
THE CALICO GROUP LIMITED
Lancashire (BB11 2ED)
Closes in 18 days (Sunday 30 August 2026)
Posted on 11 August 2026
Contents
Summary
As an Apprentice Plumber, you'll learn a skilled trade while helping to maintain safe, comfortable and well-functioning homes for our customers.
- Wage
-
£15,080 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Plumbing and domestic heating technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Hours to be confirmed on receipt of offer.
36 hours 15 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 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
Working alongside experienced colleagues, you'll learn how to diagnose problems, complete repairs safely and efficiently, and provide excellent customer service in customers' homes. You'll develop an understanding of plumbing systems, regulations, health and safety requirements and industry best practice while gaining valuable workplace experience.
Through your apprenticeship programme, you'll gradually build confidence and responsibility, applying your learning in real-life situations while receiving support from your manager, mentor and training provider.
Success in this role will come from:
- Developing strong practical plumbing and domestic heating skills.
- Learning how to work safely and responsibly in customers' homes and work environments.
- Building positive relationships with colleagues, customers and contractors.
- Producing quality work with attention to detail.
- Taking pride in delivering excellent customer service.
- Learning how to manage your workload and meet appointments and deadlines.
- Successfully completing your apprenticeship qualification and achieving your professional goals.
- Demonstrating Calico's values and commitment to improving communities.
Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll gain exposure to a variety of repairs, maintenance and installation activities, helping you build a strong foundation for a career in plumbing and heating.
No two days are the same in this role. You'll gain hands-on experience across a variety of plumbing and domestic heating activities while working towards your apprenticeship qualification.
With support and training, you will:
- Learn how to diagnose and carry out a range of plumbing repairs within customers' homes and communal buildings
- Assist with the installation, maintenance and repair of domestic plumbing and heating systems.
- Support experienced plumbers to identify faults and implement effective solutions.
- Learn how to safely use plumbing tools, equipment and specialist materials.
- Assist with repairs to pipework, taps, toilets, sinks, showers, radiators and heating systems.
- Develop an understanding of water regulations, building regulations and health and safety requirements.
- Travel to different locations across our communities to carry out work activities.
- Maintain accurate records relating to completed work, materials used and customer interactions.
- Learn how to use digital devices and systems to manage jobs and record information.
- Deliver excellent customer service when working in customers' homes.
- Attend apprenticeship training sessions and complete coursework as part of your qualification.
- Participate in networking, development and learning opportunities across the Calico Group.
- Contribute to apprentice projects, Youth Voice activities and initiatives that help improve services.
- Work safely, professionally and in line with Calico's values, policies and procedures.
Where you'll work
Centenary Court
Croft Street
Burnley
Lancashire
BB11 2ED
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BURNLEY 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
The successful applicant will attend day release at Burnley College.
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Calico Homes is part of The Calico Group and provides homes and services to thousands of customers across Lancashire.
We believe everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Our teams work together to provide high-quality housing, deliver repairs and improvements, support sustainable communities and help people thrive.
Our Homes team is responsible for maintaining and improving properties across our communities, ensuring customers receive a safe and well-maintained home. From joiners and electricians to surveyors and housing professionals, a wide range of colleagues work together to deliver services that make a real difference to people's lives.
As an Apprentice Joiner, you'll become part of a team that takes pride in maintaining homes, improving neighbourhoods and supporting the communities we serve.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Potential for a long-term career with Calico after successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BURNLEY COLLEGE
Themis
Themis@burnley.ac.uk
01282 733005
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047461.
Apply now
Closes in 18 days (Sunday 30 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.