Search for more NHS jobs in Cardiff
Job overview
Are you ready to launch a skilled engineering career with real purpose?
Join Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as a Trainee Maintenance Engineer and play a vital role in keeping our hospitals safe, operational, and fit for delivering outstanding patient care. This is a unique opportunity to earn, learn, and develop within a supportive NHS environment.
You will work across a wide range of systems—from water and ventilation to medical gas and specialist plant—gaining hands-on experience in maintenance, fault finding, and repair. Alongside this, you’ll complete a structured training pathway including Level 2 and Level 3 engineering qualifications, delivered through day release at college.
This is more than a job—it’s a progression pathway. With commitment and successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for a Band 5 role, supporting your long-term career in engineering.
We are looking for candidates who bring curiosity, resilience, and a genuine interest in engineering. You’ll need 5 GCSEs (including English, Maths and Science) and a commitment to learning and working within a team that values compassion, integrity, and continuous improvement.
If you want to build a career that combines technical excellence with meaningful impact, apply today.
This is a fixed term role for 42 months.
Main duties of the job
The post combines practical experience with a structured apprenticeship programme. Trainees will follow an Individual Learning Plan and attend college on a day-release basis to achieve recognised engineering qualifications, including Level 2 and Level 3 awards and essential skills. The three-year programme gradually reduces college attendance while increasing workplace learning under the guidance of experienced staff.
Progress will be reviewed regularly with supervisors and assessors. Progression depends on achieving competency requirements, demonstrating commitment and meeting organisational values and behaviours. This is a developmental Band 4 role with a defined progression pathway, and successful completion will provide eligibility to apply for a Band 5 post.
Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs, including English, Maths and Science, and demonstrate a commitment to a career in Estates engineering. In line with Welsh Government apprenticeship funding criteria, candidates who already hold a degree or higher-level qualification are not eligible for this programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Good Communication Skills. Ability to work without supervision. Adaptable to change. Capable of working in a demand driven service. Working to deadlines.
Experience
Essential
- Completion of an Approved Apprenticeship or Structured Training Program for a minimum of three years. Sufficient site experience. Knowledge of low pressure hot water systems, steam raising plant, ventilation systems, pneumatic/hydraulic systems, building energy management systems.
Desirable
- Working in an Acute Hospital Environmental. Knowledge of current HTM’s and HBN’s
Qualifications
Essential
- ONC Mechanical Engineering / relevant engineering discipline or equivalent level of experience in the specialist areas of engineering through training, experience. Mechanical Engineering BTEC Level 3. NVQ Level 3 – Mechanical Engineering. City & Guilds 6189 – Plumbing & Domestic Heating. City & Guilds 3345 – Water Regulations. City & Guilds 7188 – Heating & Ventilation. 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above including English, Maths and 1 Science
Desirable
- HNC Mechanical Engineering / relevant engineering discipline or equivalent level of experience in the specialist areas of engineering through training, experience
Personal Qualities
Essential
- If required in exceptional circumstances, undertake on call duties to fill any gap in the rota until such time that agreement of a full rota team has been established on a permanent basis by the teams and management
Desirable
- Volunteer for overtime if required to meet urgent service needs.
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 4 Hospital Porter roles in Cardiff
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Trainee Maintenance Engineer with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales. It is listed as a Band 4 Estates and facilities role. The advertised salary is £28,819 - £31,626 per annum. The contract type is 42 months (Fixed term end date will be 42 months from start date). The application deadline is 30 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (23 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.