POSITION DETAILS:

Department: Estates
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary £19,011 per annum rising to £23,764 after 1 years’ service, £25,618 after 2 years’ service and £26,372 after 3 years’ service.
Apprentice Grade 2
Full Time / Fixed Term for 48 Months
Apprenticeship Standard: Engineering Technician Level 3
Training Provider: Make UK
Closing date: 29 June 2025 - please upload a CV with your application.
Eligibility: The training delivered in apprenticeships is funded through the apprenticeship levy which is subject to Department for Education funding rules for apprenticeships. When reviewing applications the University and the training provider will be checking candidates meet this eligibility criteria . Further information is available on our webpage .
You have normally been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years. For exemptions please refer to the government funding rules for apprenticeships.

APPRENTICESHIP CONTEXT

Have you considered training to be a Maintenance Multi-Skilled Craftsperson?
If you enjoy practical work and are good at solving problems this could be an ideal job for you.
The University of Birmingham has an estate that includes some two hundred buildings and half a million square metres of floor space. Outside there are over a hundred hectares of grounds including our Green Heart and twenty hectares of sports pitches, all of which is maintained and developed by the Estates Office.
The Estates office is looking for apprentices who are good communicators and enjoy working with people to help us care for and develop our facilities for students, staff and visitors. This is a front facing customer service role where you will learn how various maintenance issues effect people and the importance of great customer care.

APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY

As a maintenance multi-skilled craftsperson apprentice, you would be assisting in the maintenance of equipment and services across the estate.
The work activities mainly fall in to two areas; reactive and planned maintenance. Reactive maintenance means responding immediately to equipment and service breakdowns fixing faults on site or arranging for replacement equipment to be installed.
In preventative maintenance includes making scheduled checks on equipment and systems, finding and fixing faults, and recalibrating instruments oiling and cleaning equipment and parts carrying out scheduled overhaul and replacing parts that have reached the end of their working life.
As a representative of the University you will be professional at all times, maintaining a good standard of work and adhere to University processes and procedures.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND BEHAVIOURS

• GCSE level 2 (A*- C or 4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• Willingness to learn and develop with a confident manner.
• Good practical ability strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work well as part of a team and on your own.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• A reasonable level of fitness, a head for heights (for some jobs) and a basic knowledge of health and safety.
• Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.
• Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
• Basic IT skills
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

How to perform minor repair work/installations to assist fully qualified Maintenance Craftsperson, including:

• labouring as necessary;
• selecting and using the relevant tools and equipment to carry out required tasks;
• preparing the area for work to be carried out and make good upon completion of work.
• manufacturing, repairing and installing signage around campus.
• Learning the work of assistants in other crafts so being able to provide cover

YEAR TWO: APPLYING THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE WORKPLACE AND LEARNING THE MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT ROLE.

How to perform routine statutory planned preventative maintenance tasks, including:

• the replacement of filters;
• the checking and replacement of drive belts;
• testing, inspection and minor repair of central battery systems;
• testing and minor repair of emergency lighting systems;
• testing of Fire Alarm systems;
• minor lighting repairs to both internal and external installations;
• legionella checks to hot and cold water systems (eg temperature recording);
• reading of energy consumption meters;
• assisting in the dosing of heating systems;
• freeing, oiling and greasing of critical system components;
• assisting with the inspection and testing of fume cupboards.

How to perform minor repair work/installations to assist fully qualified Maintenance Craftsperson, including:

• labouring as necessary;
• selecting and using the relevant tools and equipment to carry out required tasks;
• preparing the area for work to be carried out and make good upon completion of work.
• manufacturing, repairing and installing signage around campus.
• Learning the work of assistants in other crafts so being able to provide cover.

You will also learn the following duties:

• The role and responsibility of competent person for working inside High Voltage Substations.
• How to erect scaffold and mobile access platforms (following successful completion of training).
• How to select and obtain necessary materials from Stores or external suppliers as required.
• Transporting goods, equipment and personnel to and from site on a daily basis.
• Organising works on site, liaising with building occupants/external personnel agreeing a local programme, ensuring area accessibility etc.
• Providing assistance to the Controls Officer responsible for Building Management System related fault diagnosis, repairs and new installation work.
• Inspecting and maintaining health and safety standards, plant and equipment and general tidiness within Plant Room areas, noting any issues or defects and reporting immediately.
• Recording, completing and providing essential job information as necessary for labour management purposes.
• Undertaking all work in accordance with safe working practices and safe working procedures, observing statutory and University policy on Health and Safety, and being familiar with the appropriate legislation relating to the work being carried out.

You will have a variety of planned placements throughout the Estates Department and will be assigned fully competent mentors to support you.

YEARS THREE AND FOUR: LEARNING THE FULL ROLE OF A MAINTENANCE MULTI-SKILLED CRAFTPERSON

It is expected that by year three you will be fully familiar with the Assistant Duties and ready to learn and achieve more. During year 4 you will be based full time at the University, you will receive regular support from Make UK to complete all required mandatory qualifications and prepare you for the apprenticeships End Point Assessment.

Electrical duties:

• How to diagnose and repair faults in engineering installations, plant and equipment. To deal with new situations as they arise and to pass on knowledge to others.
• How to interpret and work from verbal instructions, drawings and specifications appropriate to University buildings.
• Show understanding and appreciation of all elements of building fabric construction to enable judgement on the extent of repairs required.
• Perform a wide range of work of other crafts, demonstrating flexible and multi-skilled working
• To learn new techniques and craft practices in line with evolving technology and legislative Health and Safety Requirements.
• To manufacture, assemble, erect and install new work to current standard.
• Carry out repairs, maintain and efficiently run plant and equipment.
• To work as part of a multi-disciplined team and understand fully the inter-relationship between the various maintenance crafts.
• Instruct others on aspects relating to their work.
• Recording, completing and providing essential job information
• Undertake all work in accordance with safe working practices and safe working procedures.
• Driving safely whilst obeying all traffic laws and regulations, when driving University vehicles
• Adhere to all the University and Estates Office Guidance, Policies & Procedures.
• Uphold the values of the Estates office and the University.

Mechanical duties:

• How to diagnose and repair faults in engineering installations, plant and equipment. To deal with new situations as they arise and to pass on knowledge to others.
• To interpret and work from verbal instructions, drawings and specifications appropriate to University buildings.
• Show understanding and appreciation of all elements of engineering systems in University buildings
• Work on unvented hot water systems
• Work on pressure systems
• Perform a wide range of work of other crafts, demonstrating flexible and multi-skilled working.
• To learn new techniques and craft practices in line with evolving technology and legislative Health and Safety Requirements. This may involve attendance on training courses.
• To manufacture, assemble, erect and install new work to current standard.
• Carry out repairs, maintain and efficiently run plant and equipment.
• To work as part of a multi-disciplined team and understand fully the inter-relationship between the various maintenance crafts.
• Instruct others on aspects relating to their work.
• Recording, completing and providing essential job information
• May be required to participate in the on-call system as necessary to cover emergency breakdowns outside of normal working hours.
• Undertake all work in accordance with safe working practices and safe working procedures.
• Driving safely whilst obeying all traffic laws and regulations, when driving University vehicles
• Adhere to University and Estates Office Policies & Procedures

ADDITIONAL DUTIES YOU WILL LEARN

• Use of tablets using a selection of apps for recording and monitoring of various work activities
• Adhere to the Estates Office corporate image at all times
• Maintain effective customer relations
• Ensure that all aspects of our service contribute to customer satisfaction
• Respond and act appropriately to requests at all times
• To participate in multi-disciplinary team work to improve service provision
• Carry out such other duties as are required