Estates Office – Maintenance Operations
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary £19,278 per annum rising to £24,097 after 1 years’ service, £25,977 after 2 years’ service and £26,741 after 3 years’ service.
Apprentice Grade 2
Full Time / Fixed Term for 48 months
Apprenticeship Standard: Mechatronics Maintenance Technician – Level 3
Training Provider: Make UK
Closing date: 26 August 2026 - 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.
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
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 are 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 affect 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 into 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.
During this apprenticeship you will learn the following duties:
Year One: In depth fundamentals training year
Through block-based learning at Make UK (Aston, Birmingham) you will learn the main practical skills and theory behind multi-skilled maintenance. This includes:
Applying safe systems of working.
Make a technical contribution to either the design, development, quality assurance, installation, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, systems, processes or services.
Applying proven techniques and procedures to solve engineering problems.
Demonstrating effective interpersonal skills in communicating both technical and non-technical information.
You will be expected to attend take an enthusiastic and active approach to learning the new knowledge, skills and behaviours required with awareness that you are representing the University in an external environment.
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 Craftsperson
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
Health and Safety
The arrangements for meeting the University’s health and safety objectives are contained in the University Health and Safety Policy, and associated Estates Control Documentation. This includes the responsibilities of key staff and procedures covering the main activities of the University. All staff are expected to take care of themselves and those that may be affected by their actions.
This apprenticeship would suit:
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. If you enjoy practical work, are good at solving problems and interested in maintenance engineering as a career, this could be an ideal job for you.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
GCSE (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.
Career Pathway
On completion of this apprenticeship, you may be able to progress into one of the following roles:
Maintenance engineer
With additional experience you could move into a:
Technical role
Team leader role
For enquiries please email: [email protected]
View our staff values and behaviours here
Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .
