West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Apprentice Estates Craftsperson - Mechanical

The closing date is 27 February 2026

Job summary

Apprentice Estates Craftsperson (Plumbing & Domestic Heating)

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust | Estates & Facilities

Want to build a hands-on career in plumbing and heating while supporting vital NHS services? West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting an Apprentice Estates Craftsperson (Plumbing & Domestic Heating) to join our Estates team.

You'll work towards a Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating apprenticeship, gaining practical experience maintaining and repairing essential mechanical and plumbing systems across Trust sites -- helping to keep our hospitals safe, compliant and fully operational.

What you'll be doing
  • 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
What we're looking for
  • GCSE Maths A*-C / 4-9 (or equivalent Level 2)
  • Willingness to complete a Level 3 Plumbing & Domestic Heating apprenticeship
  • Good communication and teamwork skills

Why join us?
  • Earn while you learn with a nationally recognised qualification
  • Hands-on training in a complex healthcare environment

Main duties of the job

Apprentice Responsibilities

Attend all off-the-job training components of the apprenticeship as agreed with your manager and apprenticeship training provider.

Proactively engage in the on-the-job activities in the workplace to become competent in the apprenticeship standard and role.

Complete all apprenticeship course work, assessments and self-directed study in a timely way as agreed with your workplace supervisor and the apprenticeship training provider.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training required for the job role. This will be in addition to the apprenticeship training requirements

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

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.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

10 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

54 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7783552-F

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

1 Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.

(Apprentice will be working towards these and it is expected that the competences and knowledge will be met by the end of the apprenticeship course)

Job description

Job responsibilities

1 Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.

(Apprentice will be working towards these and it is expected that the competences and knowledge will be met by the end of the apprenticeship course)

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • GCSE Maths grade A* -C / 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in maths
  • Willing to enrol and complete a Level 3 plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship course

Desirable

  • GCSE English grade A* -C / 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English
  • Ability to travel independently to all rural locations to carry out the post

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience in working to deadlines and achieving agreed objectives

Desirable

  • Work experience in the NHS or similar healthcare environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good organisational skills and the ability to address and develop solutions to problems.
  • Effective communication skills for effective working relationships throughout the organisation
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
  • IT / PC skills to be able operate the various computer systems
  • Evidence of good written and spoken communication skills.
  • Able to follow written instructions and procedures

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated to learn
  • A dedicated and committed member of a team.
  • Good attention to details
  • Approachable and tactful
  • Flexible approach to working hours/duties
Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • GCSE Maths grade A* -C / 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in maths
  • Willing to enrol and complete a Level 3 plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship course

Desirable

  • GCSE English grade A* -C / 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English
  • Ability to travel independently to all rural locations to carry out the post

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience in working to deadlines and achieving agreed objectives

Desirable

  • Work experience in the NHS or similar healthcare environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good organisational skills and the ability to address and develop solutions to problems.
  • Effective communication skills for effective working relationships throughout the organisation
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
  • IT / PC skills to be able operate the various computer systems
  • Evidence of good written and spoken communication skills.
  • Able to follow written instructions and procedures

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated to learn
  • A dedicated and committed member of a team.
  • Good attention to details
  • Approachable and tactful
  • Flexible approach to working hours/duties

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Estates Operations Maintenance Manager

Ady Powell

Adrian.powell@wsh.nhs.uk

07977396556

Details

Date posted

10 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

54 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7783552-F

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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