General Operative

mearsgroup; Exeter; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick Pay

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Family friendly policies

Employee Assistance Programme

Mears Rewards

Volunteering leave

Cycle to Work

Share save scheme

Job summary

Mears Group in Exeter is seeking a skilled General Operative to join the Repairs and Maintenance team. This hands-on role involves practical work, customer service, and teamwork to maintain our properties to a high standard.

You will work 42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, on a permanent full-time basis. The role requires safety awareness and the ability to work well with colleagues and contractors, with opportunities for training and progression.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a General Operative, Labourer, or Property Maintenance role.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexible and proactive approach to maintenance tasks.
• Awareness of health and safety in construction/maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Assisting roofers with safe transport and handling of roofing materials, tools and equipment on site.
• Supporting roofing works by securing ladders and maintaining safe access.
• Carrying out general maintenance and labouring tasks for day-to-day property repairs.
• Assisting with clearance of occupied and void properties and removal of waste.
• Loading, unloading and moving materials safely around sites.
• Keeping work areas clean, safe and tidy at the end of each job.

Skills

General Operative

Labourer

Property maintenance

Teamwork

Health and safety

Tools

PPE

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,186.33

General Operative

Location: Exeter

Salary: £28,186.33

Contract Type

Permanent, Full-Time Hours

42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and dependable General Operative to join our Repairs and Maintenance team following a recent internal promotion. This is a hands‑on role requiring a mix of practical ability, customer service, and teamwork. You'll be responsible for a wide range of tasks that help maintain our properties to a high standard.

Role Responsibilities

• Assisting roofers with the safe transportation, preparation, and handling of roofing materials, tools, and equipment on site.
• Supporting roofing works by securing ladders, maintaining safe access arrangements, and ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Carrying out general maintenance and labouring tasks as directed, supporting the wider team with day‑to‑day property repairs and upkeep.
• Assisting with the clearance of occupied and void properties, including the removal of waste, debris, and redundant materials.
• Loading, unloading, and moving materials safely around sites to support efficient completion of works.
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and organised working environment, ensuring work areas are left tidy and free from hazards at the end of each job.

Key Criteria

• Previous experience working in a General Operative, Labourer, or Property Maintenance role.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, customers, and contractors.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A flexible and proactive approach to work, with a willingness to support a variety of maintenance and property‑related tasks.
• Awareness of health and safety requirements within a construction, maintenance, or property environment.

Benefits we can offer you

• Company Sick Pay
• Life Assurance (1x annual salary)
• Company pension scheme with Pensions people
• 5% employee and 3% employer pension contribution with People pension
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity (14 weeks full pay, 12 weeks half pay and 13 weeks statutory pay), paternity (2 weeks full pay) and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - free confidential support and counselling available
• Mears Rewards offering discounts and cashback at leading retailers including travel, household items and shopping
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering leave - up to two days per year to support community initiatives
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Share save scheme
• Recognition and long service awards
• Buy up to 5 days holiday each year depending on length of service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression opportunities across Mears Group
• Occupational health support
• Green car scheme with Tusker after successful probation period

Be part of an inclusive workplace with access to a range of colleague networks and support groups focused on diversity, wellbeing and career development. From Disability, Pride (LGBTQ+) and Ethnic Diversity networks to Women in Leadership, the Women Operative Support Group, Women's Health, Men's Mental Health and Armed Forces communities, these groups provide opportunities for support, connection and professional development across our diverse workforce.

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questi