Maintenance & Grounds Team Member

Chappell-Enterprises-UK; Great Horkesley; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Littlegarth School in Colchester, Essex, is seeking a Maintenance & Grounds Team Member to join its Estates Team and look after buildings, facilities and the wider estate. The role covers planned and reactive maintenance, inspections and support for contractors, ensuring a safe and well‑presented environment for pupils and staff.

This hands‑on position requires broad maintenance experience, problem‑solving skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Experience in building maintenance or facilities management.
• Practical skills across carpentry, plumbing and repairs.
• Ability to diagnose issues and propose solutions.
• Knowledge of preventative maintenance and scheduling.
• Understanding of health and safety in maintenance.
• Experience coordinating external contractors.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out planned and reactive maintenance across school buildings and facilities.
• Identifying maintenance requirements and proposing practical solutions.
• Diagnosing faults and carrying out repairs where appropriate.
• Undertaking carpentry, plumbing, decorating and general building maintenance.
• Carrying out basic electrical maintenance where capable.
• Repairing fixtures, fittings, locks and doors.
• Undertaking preventative maintenance to extend asset life.
• Maintaining maintenance records and supervising external contractors.

Skills

Carpentry

Plumbing

Decorating

General repairs

Problem solving

Driving licence

Education

Trade qualification

Job description

Maintenance & Grounds Team Member

Littlegarth School | Colchester, Essex
£29,000-£31,000 per year
Full-time | Permanent
Monday to Friday | 8:30am-4:30pm
Some flexibility to start earlier when required
Full UK driving licence required

Are you an experienced maintenance professional who enjoys practical problem-solving and takes pride in keeping buildings, facilities and grounds safe, functional and well presented?

Littlegarth School is looking for a skilled and dependable Maintenance & Grounds Team Member to join its Estates Team and help maintain the school's buildings, facilities and wider estate.

This is a varied, hands‑on role covering planned and reactive maintenance, general repairs, building inspections, contractor support and wider estates duties. You will play an important part in ensuring pupils, staff and visitors can learn and work in safe, secure and well‑maintained surroundings.

The role would suit someone with broad practical maintenance experience who is confident diagnosing problems, carrying out repairs and knowing when specialist contractor support is required.

About Littlegarth School

Littlegarth School is committed to providing a safe, secure and welcoming environment for pupils, staff and visitors.

The school operates across a varied estate requiring ongoing maintenance, preventative works, statutory checks and general facilities support throughout the year.

You will join a small Estates Team where flexibility, teamwork and a practical approach are important, while also having the opportunity to take ownership of maintenance issues and identify effective solutions.

The role

As Maintenance & Grounds Team Member, you will help manage the day‑to‑day upkeep of Littlegarth School's buildings, facilities and infrastructure through a mixture of planned maintenance, reactive repairs and preventative work.

You will identify and diagnose maintenance issues, carry out repairs within your area of competence and work alongside the Operations and IT Manager to coordinate specialist contractors where necessary.

Your work will cover a broad range of disciplines including carpentry, plumbing, decorating, joinery, fixtures and fittings, minor electrical maintenance and general building repairs.

Alongside your maintenance responsibilities, you will support wider estates operations including room set‑ups, school events, compliance checks, seasonal duties and general site support.

What you'll be doing

• Carrying out planned and reactive maintenance across school buildings and facilities
• Identifying maintenance requirements and recommending practical solutions
• Diagnosing faults and completing repairs where appropriate
• Undertaking carpentry, plumbing repairs, decorating, joinery and general building maintenance
• Carrying out basic electrical maintenance where competent to do so
• Repairing fixtures, fittings, locks, doors, windows and furniture
• Completing minor refurbishment works and building improvements
• Undertaking preventative maintenance to help extend the life of buildings, facilities and equipment
• Carrying out regular building and facilities inspections and identifying potential hazards
• Supporting the operation of heating, lighting, water and other building services
• Helping keep classrooms, offices, sports facilities and communal areas in good repair
• Supporting statutory compliance checks including fire safety, emergency lighting and water hygiene monitoring
• Maintaining appropriate maintenance records
• Liaising with and helping supervise external maintenance contractors
• Keeping workshops, stores, tools and equipment safe and organised
• Assisting with room set‑ups, furniture moves and school events
• Supporting colleagues across the wider Estates Team when required
• Assisting with seasonal duties including gritting, snow clearance and emergency response

What we're looking for

• Previous experience in building maintenance, facilities management or a similar property maintenance role
• Good practical skills across carpentry, plumbing, decorating and general repairs
• Ability to diagnose maintenance issues and identify appropriate solutions
• Understanding of preventative maintenance and how to identify work before problems develop
• Sound knowledge of building maintenance principles and when specialist contractors should be engaged
• Good understanding of health and safety requirements within a maintenance environment
• Practical problem‑solving skills and confidence working independently
• Good organisational and communication skills
• Reliable, adaptable and willing to support the wider Estates Team
• Willingness to work outside usual core hours when required
• Willingness to participate in an out‑of‑hours on‑call rota
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable experience and qualifications

• Recognised qualification in a relevant trade or maintenance discipline
• Previous experience within a school or similar multi‑building estate
• Knowledge of statutory building compliance and planned preventative maintenance
• Experience coordinating or supervising external contractors
• First Aid qualification
• Experience using maintenance management systems

Working hours

This is a full-time, permanent position, working throughout the year.

Core working hours are:

Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

Some flexibility will be required to start earlier where operational needs require.

You will also need to be willing to take part in an out‑of‑hours on‑call rota and attend alarm call‑outs when necessary. Relevant overtime payments apply to out‑of‑hours alarm attendance.

Salary

• £29,000-£31,000 per year
• Full‑time, permanent employment
• Monday‑to‑Friday working pattern
• Varied maintenance role across the Littlegarth School estate
• Opportunity to work across planned, reactive and preventative maintenance
• Broad exposure to building, facilities and wider estates operations

Pre‑employment requirements

Because this role is based within a school environment, applicants must be able to:

• Provide two references from recent employers
• Successfully complete an Enhanced DBS / criminal records check
• Hold a full UK driving licence

Applicants who cannot meet these requirements will not be able to be considered for the position.