Two-year programme based in Lowestoft with weekly day release to Suffolk New College (rural campus at Otley)

Our team works to maintain and repair public buildings and infrastructure in our parks. The apprenticeship will cover carpentry and joinery, plumbing, plastering, brick and block work, tiling and painting and decorating.

Wage

• £15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• [Minimum wage rates](opens in new tab)

Training course

• Property maintenance operative (level 2)

Hours

• Monday to Thursday 8am-4pm, Friday 8am-3:30pm.
• 37 hours a week

Start date

• Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

• 2 years

Positions available

• 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The role blends paid, on-the-job training with learning. Your tasks will include maintaining and repairing buildings and structures within our parks and open spaces, as well as at our community buildings and tenanted properties such as the Marina Theatre and cafés in our parks.

Work is sometimes based outside and undertaken throughout the year, so you will be required to work in all weathers. You will start in a ‘hands-on’ role covering a range of practical tasks, with specialist skills in carpentry and joinery, plumbing, plastering, brick and block work, painting and decorating being learnt through progression and college day release.

A wide range of machinery and tools are used, and additional training may be required depending on the nature of the work undertaken.

Working and learning in property maintenance is rewarding, offers a diverse range of employment opportunities and includes a range of skills that are transferable into many other industries.

Where you'll work

• Unit 2
• Horn Hill
• Lowestoft
• NR33 0PX

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

• Property maintenance operative (level 2)
• [Understanding apprenticeship levels](opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents:

• Plan the sequence of work required to carry out routine property maintenance operations.
• Identify and select the appropriate materials and components for property maintenance tasks, ensuring these are compliant with relevant regulatory requirements and manufacturer's specifications.
• Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and requirements.
• Comply with risk assessments, and organise the workplace, to safeguard themselves and the property.
• Comply with key regulatory and legislative requirements, including building regulations.
• Uses safe working practices when carrying out property maintenance tasks including the use of PPE, signage, barriers, access equipment and ensuring work area is prepared and reinstated.
• Select, and use work tools and equipment for property maintenance tasks, applying all safeguards, and ensuring the correct functioning of equipment.
• Safely isolate and secure electrical or electronic supplies prior to performing property maintenance operations.
• Apply and implement routine emergency system checks, testing and routine maintenance, identifying and reporting faults as required.
• Perform maintenance and repairs to plumbing systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components and clearing blockages.
• Perform maintenance and repairs to external drainage systems, including clearing blockages and replacing components.
• Perform maintenance and repairs to environmental and energy management systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components.
• Use carpentry and joinery skills to perform repairs to windows, doors and glazing units, and their associated fittings.
• Perform repairs to plastered surfaces, including surface preparation, fixing and mixing materials and compounds.
• Use painting and decorating skills to prepare surfaces for decoration, apply paint using brushes and rollers, and complete sealing activities using gun appliances.
• Perform tiling repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
• Perform flooring repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
• Perform planned, responsive or temporary repairs to buildings or their immediate surroundings, attending to minor defects within either masonry, roofing, fencing or railing, groundwork or landscaping.
• Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data to address property maintenance problems.
• Record and report information, using digital and written techniques.
• Inspect own work, ensuring it is delivered to the given specifications.
• Comply with environmental regulations and procedures. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Use and adapt communication methods for different situations and when, working with colleagues and stakeholders, using industry terminology as appropriate.
• Provide customer feedback whilst maintaining customer service.
• Escalates issues beyond their level of competence and authority.