General Operative
Location: Exeter
Salary: £30,000 + Van and Fuel Card
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time Hours
42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
About the Role
We are seeking a reliable and proactive General Operative to join our Repairs and Maintenance team. This is a hands‑on, varied role supporting the upkeep, safety and presentation of internal and external communal areas. The role requires a practical approach, a strong awareness of health and safety, good communication skills and the flexibility to support a range of general operative duties as part of a wider team.
Role Responsibilities
- Carry out electronic communal compliance surveys across internal and external communal areas, accurately recording findings to ensure buildings meet all relevant health and safety requirements
- Identify, report and escalate any compliance issues or hazards within communal areas, ensuring appropriate remedial actions are followed up in line with procedures
- Conduct monthly emergency lighting flick tests within communal areas to confirm systems are operational and compliant, recording results electronically
- Undertake annual emergency lighting duration tests, ensuring lighting remains functional for the required period and meets statutory and safety standards
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic records of all inspections, tests and surveys carried out, ensuring audit readiness and compliance evidence is available
- Liaise with colleagues, contractors and relevant stakeholders to support timely completion of remedial works identified through compliance checks
- Complete additional general operative works as required, providing support across teams to ensure communal areas are maintained to a high standard
- Assist other teams and services when needed, demonstrating flexibility and a collaborative approach to service delivery
Role Criteria:
- UK full driving licence
- Experience of working in a practical, hands‑on role.
- General awareness of health and safety requirements, with the ability to work safely in internal and external communal areas
- Ability to carry out routine checks, inspections or basic testing tasks, following procedures and reporting any issues identified
- Willingness to complete a range of general operative duties as required, supporting the upkeep and safety of communal spaces
- Comfortable using basic electronic systems or devices to record work completed, inspections or checks
- Able to work independently on routine tasks while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team
- Good attention to detail, with a reliable and methodical approach to work
- Strong communication skills, enabling effective interaction with colleagues, residents and other teams
- Flexible and adaptable, with a positive attitude towards supporting other teams and services when needed
- Committed to maintaining high standards of safety, quality and professionalism at all times
Benefits we can offer you
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
- Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
- Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
- Family friendly policies
- Access to EAP Counselling sessions
All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.
As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.
To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.
Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:
Francesca Swan ([email protected])If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.
At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.
In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.
What We Do
Mears Group is a market-leading housing and care company that provides bespoke services to our clients. We provide and manage 11,000 homes for local and central Government and are also responsible for keeping 750,000 of all social housing in the UK in good repair. Mears has 6,500 employees and a footprint across the country
