Plumber - Housing Repairs Team
| Posting date: | 15 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £32,293 to £37,938 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 January 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We’re looking for an experienced, reliable and caring Plumber to join our Housing Repairs Team and make a real difference to people’s homes across Reading.
You’ll play an important role in helping our residents feel safe, comfortable and supported in their homes by carrying out a wide range of repair, maintenance and installation work in both occupied and vacant properties across the borough. Every job you complete contributes to improving people’s daily lives.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
Based at our Bennet Road depot in Reading (RG2 0QX), you’ll be part of a friendly, skilled and supportive Housing Repairs team delivering essential plumbing services to our tenants.
You will carry out both routine and emergency plumbing repairs safely and efficiently, including:
Installing and repairing sinks, WCs, water heaters and other plumbing assets
Completing maintenance work on elements of heating systems, such as radiators
Responding to urgent repairs when required
You will also take part in our out-of-hours emergency call-out rota, helping to support residents when they need it most.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of your workload, tools, van stock and materials, ensuring jobs run smoothly and to a high standard. All work will be carried out in line with current legislation, safety standards and best practice.
Because much of your work will take place in people’s homes, a respectful, professional and considerate approach is essential. You’ll also keep clear and accurate records, including service sheets, orders and timesheets, so everything is transparent and well documented.
About You:
You are a skilled and dependable Plumber who takes pride in delivering quality work. You enjoy hands-on problem solving and finding practical solutions that really help people.
You’re professional and courteous when working in residents’ homes, and you’re able to stay calm, patient and empathetic in challenging situations.
You enjoy working both independently and as part of a team, and you’re committed to maintaining high standards of safety, workmanship and customer care in everything you do.
What we’re looking for
City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing (or equivalent), with proven experience
Strong plumbing repair, maintenance and installation skills, including full bathroom installs
Experience working in occupied properties with a customer-focused approach
Calm, empathetic and professional manner with residents
Excellent problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Full UK driving licence
Willingness to work flexibly, including out-of-hours emergencies
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Sean Donaghue, Assistant Housing Repairs and Maintenance Manager – sean.donaghue@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 29th January 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
You’ll play an important role in helping our residents feel safe, comfortable and supported in their homes by carrying out a wide range of repair, maintenance and installation work in both occupied and vacant properties across the borough. Every job you complete contributes to improving people’s daily lives.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
Based at our Bennet Road depot in Reading (RG2 0QX), you’ll be part of a friendly, skilled and supportive Housing Repairs team delivering essential plumbing services to our tenants.
You will carry out both routine and emergency plumbing repairs safely and efficiently, including:
Installing and repairing sinks, WCs, water heaters and other plumbing assets
Completing maintenance work on elements of heating systems, such as radiators
Responding to urgent repairs when required
You will also take part in our out-of-hours emergency call-out rota, helping to support residents when they need it most.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of your workload, tools, van stock and materials, ensuring jobs run smoothly and to a high standard. All work will be carried out in line with current legislation, safety standards and best practice.
Because much of your work will take place in people’s homes, a respectful, professional and considerate approach is essential. You’ll also keep clear and accurate records, including service sheets, orders and timesheets, so everything is transparent and well documented.
About You:
You are a skilled and dependable Plumber who takes pride in delivering quality work. You enjoy hands-on problem solving and finding practical solutions that really help people.
You’re professional and courteous when working in residents’ homes, and you’re able to stay calm, patient and empathetic in challenging situations.
You enjoy working both independently and as part of a team, and you’re committed to maintaining high standards of safety, workmanship and customer care in everything you do.
What we’re looking for
City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing (or equivalent), with proven experience
Strong plumbing repair, maintenance and installation skills, including full bathroom installs
Experience working in occupied properties with a customer-focused approach
Calm, empathetic and professional manner with residents
Excellent problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Full UK driving licence
Willingness to work flexibly, including out-of-hours emergencies
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Sean Donaghue, Assistant Housing Repairs and Maintenance Manager – sean.donaghue@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 29th January 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.