Barchester leads development of new maintenance apprenticeship standard

A new standard for Apprenticeships in Property Maintenance has been developed by a trailblazer group of cross-sector employers, led and supported by national care provider Barchester Healthcare as part of the government’s drive to equip people with the skills that employers need to grow and compete.

Barchester, working alongside companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Carillion, Mitie, Interserve, has established this new standard, which is recognised by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM).

This new benchmark means that for the first time there will be an Apprenticeship for maintenance staff within a range of business areas, including health and social care, hospitality, the NHS and local authorities. This development gives apprentices who are not construction based the opportunity to learn how to maintain and care for the condition of buildings and grounds, ensuring they are kept in excellent working condition.

Bill Wilson, Director of Property Services at Barchester Healthcare, said: “We welcome the new standard that will really raise the level of quality maintenance provided in sectors like health and social care and encourage younger people into the sector. The standard will be assessed every two years to keep it fresh and in line with business needs.

“At Barchester, we  already have capable and dedicated maintenance teams and this now means an apprentice can begin a career with us at one home and progress to a position in our Property Services team, supporting 40 or more homes. It’s a great step forward.”

Barchester is one of the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to work for and in good company with others like Whitbread and Marriott Hotels International. Part of the reason for this is that Barchester has successfully run Apprenticeship programmes for over 12 years, offering young people an opportunity to  â€˜Get in and Go Far’. With the advantage of allowing individuals to earn while they learn, an Apprenticeship with the only healthcare provider to make the Sunday Times list can be an excellent route into a successful career. 

In addition to the Property Maintenance Apprenticeship, Barchester also offers Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care, Administration, Customer Service, Hospitality and Professional Cooking, among others. Barchester Apprenticeships also offer a great pathway into nursing.