Mechanical Operative

Wales & West Utilities; Plymouth, Cullompton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A gas distribution company in the UK is seeking an individual to contribute to the gas service by performing repairs and attending emergencies. Candidates should have practical skills, understanding of gas safety, and a UK driving license. The role offers a competitive salary of £30,633, increasing to £33,992, along with additional benefits and opportunities for development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Retirement Savings Plan with matching contributions

Flexible benefits scheme options

Opportunity to earn monthly bonuses

Comprehensive training and development

Qualifications

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Knowledge of gas safety regulations.
• Experience in dealing with gas emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Carry out repairs to the gas network.
• Attend emergencies and perform customer connections.
• Ensure safety and report diagnostic results.

Skills

Good practical and team working skills

Basic engineering principles

Customer awareness

Gas detection equipment usage

Health and safety understanding

Education

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Location

Open to Torquay, Cullompton or Plymouth

Salary

£30,633 rising to £33,992

Contract

Permanent (Full Time)

Closing date

25th August 2025

Working hours

7.75 hours per day, 38.75 hours per week Monday to Friday between our core working hours 7.30am – 5.30pm. There is also a requirement to work various shift patterns where required which includes weekend and evening work, and participation in a 24/7 standby rota.

Who are we?

We are a gas distribution business that services the gas infrastructure across Wales and the south-west of England. We serve our customers and communities with safe, reliable, and affordable energy services whilst investing to create a sustainable future to deliver our carbon-free vision for 2050.

What we’re looking for?

The purpose of this job is to contribute to a cost effective and customer focused, reliable gas service by carrying out routine and non-routine work across the district under supervision of a team leader.

Working under supervision, the job holder will carry out repairs to our network gas mains and services, attend emergencies and complete all new customer connections work. There is also a requirement to help with the delivery of our Replacement and Capital programmes, to make sure that we can supply all future gas demand.

The job holder will be trained to an appropriate standard to carry out the duties allocated and will receive direction from a First Line Manager or equivalent.

The job holder may well be an experienced practitioner in one aspect of the work, but, with appropriate training may also undertake work across a wider cross section of work.

We’ll trust you to:

• Receive instructions and requests, plan and organise resources and make appropriate arrangements to ensure that work is carried out efficiently.
• Lay, connect, disconnect, commission, decommission and maintain pipework, associated plant and equipment; this may involve non-routine work and/or appropriate specialist knowledge
• Undertake installation and maintenance work on pressure reduction installations, holders, compressor stations, heaters, pipework, valves, filters, meters and associated equipment; this may involve non-routine work and/or appropriate specialist knowledge.
• Respond to emergencies, participate in standby and undertake testing, survey, detection and diagnostic work which may be of a non-routine nature, reporting results, ensuring safety and taking appropriate action in order to maintain the transportation system and associated equipment
• Undertake and ensure that excavation, backfill, reinstatement and repair work is carried out to the necessary standards, including the removal of surplus/waste material

You can read a full job description here.

You’ll need to have:

• Good practical and team working skills
• Basic engineering principles and skills
• Customer awareness and care
• An understanding of on-site health and safety and all aspects of gas safety
• The ability to follow written and verbal instruction
• An understanding of the gas supply network and the behaviour of various gases
• Gas detection equipment and its usage
• How to deal with internal and external gas emergencies
• Knowledge of New Roads and Streetworks Act Activities
• Ability to communicate with fellow workers, management, public officials, site managers and the general public in order to carry out work, deal with routine complaints and ensure that we satisfy our customers and the general public
• Full UK Driving Licence

We would also love to hear about anything else you feel you could add or bring to the role!

As we are a safety critical organisation, all offers of employment are subject to pre-employment drug & alcohol screening.

What’s in it for you?

• A competitive salary from £30,633 rising to £33,992
• A structured pay & competency framework which rewards skills, competence and enables development and career progression
• Additional earnings through the standby rota plus overtime and additional work available
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Retirement Savings Plan (pension) with Aviva: 5% employee contribution, with WWU doubling your contribution at 10% - totalling 15%
• 14 x salary Life Insurance linked to membership of the Retirement Savings Plan
• “Choices” flexible benefit scheme options including corporate gym memberships, dental insurance, and health cash-plans
• Access to our Financial Wellbeing Programme - allowing you to manage your benefits flexibly to suit your financial needs
• Enhanced pay for parental leave
• Retail discounts and cashback scheme
• Annual salary review
• An opportunity to earn a monthly bonus via our incentive scheme
• Company Sick Pay
• In-house Occupational Health Team
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Comprehensive training
• Company vehicle (including vehicle insurance & fuel card), tools, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and uniform

The way we do things

Our Ambition, Priorities and Values inform everything we do as a business – from our strategic planning to the performance management of our colleagues. Our values underpin everything we do and we are committed to creating a working environment that supports and fosters diversity, inclusion and equity, where all of our colleagues feel valued and supported to contribute to their full potential.

We are focused on creating a culture where it doesn’t matter about gender, race, sexuality or disability; it’s about our colleagues’ skills, the way we do things and how we live our values.

You can find out morehere.

Interested?

If you think you’d make a good addition to the team, we would love to hear from you!

To apply, click the link below.

If you would prefer to complete your application form in an alternative format such as Microsoft Word or would like to discuss the role in a little more detail, please contact us [e-mail] on 07971 038 982.

You can also ask us about flexible working practices that may be available or tell us if you have any special requirements during the application process.