Maintenance Operative

Serco; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company van with fuel card

Tools provided

Uniform provided

Full training and career progression

25 days’ annual leave + bank holidays

Pension scheme

Job summary

Serco is seeking a Maintenance Operative in Carlisle to carry out planned, preventive and reactive maintenance across a portfolio of properties. You’ll perform joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating, ensure safety standards, and contribute to 24-hour emergency cover via an on-call rota.

Applicants should be practical, with DIY skills or maintenance experience, hold a UK driving license, and be willing to travel across the region.

Qualifications

• Experience in maintenance or strong DIY skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willing to travel across the region and beyond within the UK.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned, preventative and reactive maintenance across a portfolio of properties.
• Complete joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating, fitting and general maintenance.
• Work with Housing Officers, contractors and colleagues to maintain safe homes.
• Record maintenance activities, manage jobs, and coordinate contractors as needed.
• Carry out property compliance activities, including PAT testing and safe practices.
• Manage materials, tools and the company vehicle responsibly.
• Build positive relationships with residents and landlords, delivering a professional service.
• Take part in the out-of-hours on-call rota for 24-hour emergency maintenance.

Skills

Maintenance

DIY skills

Trades experience

Job description

Location: Carlisle

Salary: Up to £30,000 depending on experience and skills, plus excellent benefits, Vehicle and Tools also provided

Schedule: Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Monday-Friday, 7.5 hours per day between 08:00 and 18:00 to meet operational requirements. Participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota (approximately once every 8-10 weeks) is required to provide 24-hour emergency cover.

Ready to make a difference?

As a Maintenance Operative in our Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) team, you'll help provide safe, secure and well-maintained accommodation for people seeking asylum on behalf of the Home Office. Whether you're bringing years of trade experience or you've developed practical DIY skills and are ready to build a career in maintenance, we'll support you to grow.

Every repair you complete has a positive impact. You'll receive the tools, training and opportunities to develop your skills, gain recognised qualifications and progress into more senior roles, all while helping create safe homes and delivering vital public services.

What You'll Do As a Maintenance Operative

• Carry out planned, preventative and reactive maintenance across a portfolio of properties, ensuring work is completed safely, to a high standard and within agreed timescales.
• Complete a range of property repairs, including joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating, fitting and general maintenance.
• Work closely with Housing Officers, contractors and other colleagues to maintain safe, compliant homes that meet Home Office standards.
• Record maintenance activities, manage jobs through our systems and help coordinate contractors and specialist repairs where needed.
• Carry out property compliance activities, including planned maintenance and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), while maintaining safe working practices.
• Manage materials, tools and your company vehicle responsibly, ensuring everything is maintained to a professional standard.
• Build positive relationships with residents, landlords and partner organisations, delivering a professional and customer-focused service.
• Take part in the out-of-hours on-call rota to help provide a 24-hour emergency maintenance service.

Does this sound like you?

• You're practical, enjoy solving problems and take pride in a job well done.
• You might already have maintenance experience, or you may simply have strong DIY skills and be keen to build a long-term career – we'll help you develop.
• You're willing and able to travel throughout the region and occasionally elsewhere in the UK. A full UK driving licence is essential.
• Desirable: Experience or qualifications in one or more trades (e.g. joinery, plumbing, painting, decorating, building maintenance), experience working in residential properties or social housing, knowledge of health and safety requirements and safe working practices, experience using digital systems to manage maintenance jobs.

What We Offer

• A fully equipped company van (with fuel card), tools and uniform, with personal use of the van included
• Full training, mentoring and opportunities to gain new skills and qualifications
• Clear career progression, with opportunities to move into specialist and management roles
• Salary progression based on your skills, experience and development
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting and checks

This role requires BPSS clearance, which involves identity verification, employment history, and criminal record checks to meet government security standards. An Occupational Health Questionnaire will also be required to ensure we can offer appropriate support for your wellbeing and performance.

A Little Bit About Us

At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our Inclusive Recruitment Commitment

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the
• Ban the Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our Ban the Box pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).