Apprentice Estates Craftsperson - Mechanical - West Hospital

Apprentice Estates Craftsperson - Mechanical - West Suffolk Hospital

18th February 2026

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.

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.

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.

• 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

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

• 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
• Desirable Ability to travel independently to all rural locations to carry out the post

• Essential Experience in working to deadlines and achieving agreed objectives
• Desirable Work experience in the NHS or similar healthcare environment

• 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
• Enthusiastic and motivated to learn
• A dedicated and committed member of a team.
• 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.

For questions about the job, contact:
Estates Operations Maintenance Manager

The closing date for this job offer is on 27/02/2026

£24,937 to £30,162 a year per annum

This job is located inBury St Edmunds, Suffolk

West Suffolk College is an ambitious vocational and academic College, with a stunning main campus set in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. We are committed to providing outstanding education to all our students.