Building & Grounds Maintenance Operative

South West Water; Totnes; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Discretionary bonus scheme

Pension

Cycle to Work

Employee Assistance Programme

Free parking

Job summary

South West Water is seeking a practical Building & Grounds Maintenance Operative to support upkeep of our Drinking Water Services sites across the South West. The role combines grounds and building tasks to keep sites safe, compliant and well-maintained.

You will work under the Team Leader, performing grass cutting, hedge trimming, minor building repairs, and routine maintenance while adhering to risk assessments and health and safety rules. DBS check may apply.

Qualifications

• Full UK Driving Licence and BE classification is required.
• Understanding of health and safety principles and safe working practices.
• Good numeracy and IT skills.
• Flexible approach to working hours and changing business needs.
• Positive, proactive attitude with a willingness to learn and develop.

Responsibilities

• Grounds maintenance: grass cutting, hedge trimming, vegetation management.
• Building maintenance: basic repairs, woodworking, door furniture repairs.
• Operate grounds maintenance equipment safely and efficiently.
• Ensure maintenance work is recorded accurately and timely.
• Support with site visitors and customers professionally and escalate enquiries when needed.

Skills

Full UK Driving Licence

Follow risk assessments

Health and safety

Numeracy

IT skills

Flexible attitude

Tools

Grounds maintenance machinery

Building repairs

Painting/ decorating

Roof gutter maintenance

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

The Role

We are seeking a practical, enthusiastic, and flexible Building & Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our team. This is a varied, hands-on role supporting the upkeep and maintenance of operational sites across our Drinking Water Services estate.

During the growing season, the role will focus primarily on grounds maintenance activities. Outside of this period, responsibilities will expand to include building maintenance and repair work. Working under the guidance of the Building & Grounds Maintenance Team Leader, you will help ensure our sites remain safe, compliant, and maintained to a high standard.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a range of locations throughout the South West, combining outdoor work with practical maintenance duties.

Key Responsibilities

Grounds Maintenance

• Grass cutting and strimming.
• Hedge trimming and vegetation management.
• Ground-level tree maintenance activities.
• Pathway repairs and maintenance, including gravel, concrete, slabs, and steps.
• Operation of grounds maintenance equipment and machinery.

Building Maintenance

• General building repairs and maintenance.
• Basic woodworking and door furniture repairs.
• Roof gutter maintenance and repairs.
• Painting and decorating tasks.
• Support with chemical tank cleaning and periodic maintenance activities at water treatment works.

Operational Responsibilities

• Use powered plant, equipment, hand tools, and approved chemicals safely and effectively.
• Complete planned and reactive maintenance activities across South West Water assets.
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of completed work.
• Follow maintenance schedules, business procedures, and company standards.
• Liaise with the Team Leader and Central Support Administrator to optimise work programmes.
• Support customers and site visitors professionally when approached and Escalate enquiries where appropriate.
• Adhere to risk assessments, Safe Systems of Work, and health and safety requirements at all times.
• Contribute positively to the reputation and image of South West Water.

Person Specification Essential Requirements

• Full UK Driving Licence, including BE classification .
• Ability to follow Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work.
• Understanding of health and safety principles and safe working practices.
• Good numeracy and IT skills.
• Flexible approach to working hours and changing business needs.
• Positive, proactive attitude with a willingness to learn and develop.

Desirable Experience

• Experience operating grounds maintenance machinery.
• Experience carrying out general building repairs and maintenance.
• Demonstrable ability to work effectively as part of a team.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver high-quality maintenance activities safely and efficiently.
• Maintain South West Water sites to a professional standard.
• Demonstrate reliability, flexibility, and a strong work ethic.
• Contribute positively to team performance and customer experience.
• Continuously develop skills and knowledge through training and practical experience.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Option to buy or sell annual leave.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Competitive contributory pension.
• Employee share schemes.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including shared parental leave.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Champion Health wellbeing platform.
• Free parking at most sites.
• Free eye tests and discounts through Specsavers.
• Perkbox discounts and rewards platform.
• Access to a wide range of corporate discounts including Dell, Virgin Media and Vodafone schemes.

Closing Date: 17th September 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all lo