Everything You Need To Know About A Career in Maintenance

This is a guest post by Bryan Christiansen, the founder and CEO of Limble CMMS.

The modern labour market remains precarious and highly competitive. This is truer than ever in the COVID-19 era, which has changed the way in which people live and work. The advent of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies will further disrupt the labour landscape in the coming years.  

And while many businesses suffered because of COVID-19 there are always areas that are essential and one of them is - maintenance.

This is something to think about when choosing a career or thinking about a career switch. Because however much the world changes, one thing is constant: things need to be maintained. Facilities need to be safe and clean - buildings, public institutions, factories and so on. All these places need people behind the scenes who are making sure that power is on, water is not leaking, the floor is clean, the production line is going, etc.

This article will show that there’s enormous scope out there for the maintenance professional and why this career is worth pursuing.

The enormous scope of ‘maintenance’

Maintenance defined

BusinessDictionary defines the term maintenance as, “Activities required or undertaken to conserve as nearly, and as long as possible, the original condition of an asset or resource while compensating for normal wear and tear.” In short, it’s keeping something in good working order and condition.

Therefore, a maintenance worker is tasked with maintaining and repairing physical assets, such as equipment and machinery, as well as buildings and infrastructure, which includes everything from fixing guardrails and dismantling cubicles, to plumbing and electric installations.

Different tasks, different jobs

Maintenance work occurs in a variety of different settings, from work in a single building or site, such as a hotel or office block, to work across multiple buildings or sites, such as a university campus or various municipal facilities. The work is highly diverse. Maintenance careers can encompass the general to the highly specialised, with just a few examples being:

• Aviation Maintenance Worker

• Automotive Maintenance Mechanic

• Custodian

• Dairy Processing Equipment Repairer

• General Maintenance Worker

• Grounds Maintenance Worker / Groundskeeper

• Handyman

• Industrial Cleaner

• Janitor

• Machinery Maintenance Worker

• Maintenance Painter

• Shipping / Marine Maintenance Worker

• Vehicle Washer/Equipment Cleaner

As with any good career, maintenance has tremendous scope for managerial and executive-level jobs to which a maintenance professional can aspire. Some of these are worth listing here (if only to inspire you!):

• Assembly Supervisor

• Building and Grounds Supervisor

• Building Maintenance Manager

• Campus Maintenance Manager

• Electrical Superintendent

• Facilities Director

• Facility Manager

• Field Operations Executive

• Head of Housekeeping

• Maintenance and Service Manager

• Operations Manager

• Production Supervisor

• Systems Auditor

Unsurprisingly, maintenance salaries can vary. For example, a sample size of 522 jobs found that the average annual salary for a maintenance technician was £32,500, while another study based on 2,900 salaries found that the average salary for a ‘maintenance person’ in the UK was £36,754.

Maintenance-related education

Diverse means of entry

Maintenance-related education is as diverse as the maintenance field itself. There is no ‘single’ or ‘only’ way of getting into the maintenance field, unlike the rigid, formal entry requirements of professions such as medicine or law. 

The education and certification choices made by an aspirant maintenance worker will depend a lot on a person’s career aspirations and financial realities, and may also depend on a specific job. 

For example, some employers provide on-the-job training, whilst others may demand upfront evidence of formal education or certifications.

Formal education in maintenance

Nothing beats practical work experience, of course, especially in a field as practical and hands-on as maintenance. 

However, well-balanced education can also be very helpful, especially if it covers key maintenance areas such as electrical wiring, plumbing, carpentry, construction, flooring, mechanics and the various structural and HVAC issues that can arise in buildings and plants. 

Also helpful are electives that cover occupational health and safety, machinery and electric safety principles, such as Lock Out, Tag Out, and risk management. Knowledge of the UK’s BS 8210:2020 facilities maintenance management code is also good to have.

In the UK, the abundance of maintenance-related certificate courses is astounding. You can undertake a one-year Level 2 Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship at Wiltshire College & University Centre or opt for a 2-year Property Maintenance Operative (L2) Apprenticeship Standard offered at Cambridge Regional College. 

Even more specialised options can include a C&G Level 1 Diploma in Vehicle Maintenance (one-year at Harrow College & Uxbridge College), an RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (6 months from Writtle University College) or certificate in Conversion, Adaptation and Care of Buildings (six weeks at Nottingham Trent University). There are seminars, workshops and courses ranging in duration from one day to three, and even four years, some of which can be done online.

Apprenticeships in maintenance

Apprenticeships are also an excellent way of attaining knowledge and expertise in maintenance. The UK offers many maintenance apprenticeship opportunities, with excellent support and guidance offered by entities such as the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education and IWFM.  

Companies often offer the best apprenticeship opportunities. For example, EDF Energy offers an Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship with an emphasis on renewable energy. Applicants require five GCSEs at Grade C or above and National 5 or equivalent, including maths, English and two science or technical subjects. The starting salary for apprentices is £11,551 a year with annual pay increases, with accommodation and meal costs covered for the first two years, a pension scheme and 25 days’ paid holiday.

5 Key Considerations: Are You Maintenance Material?

#1. Happy hands

If you’re good with your hands and fixing things, then maintenance is for you. Physical stamina helps too.

#2. Left brain

If you have a technical, practical mind, matched with technical skill (in just about anything), this field is perfect for you.

#3. Human touch

Whether it’s dealing with supervisors or clients, good interpersonal and communication skills are important for any maintenance worker.

#4. Efficiency central

Maintenance work is often done under tight schedules, so good time management skills are key.

#5: Dexterity, flexibility

No two maintenance days are exactly the same. You need to be adaptable and flexible - and super quick on your feet too!

Key takeaways

Having a good manual skill or ‘trade’ for those who are practical and work well with their hands has been an excellent career choice for generations. That hasn’t changed. There will continue to be a real benefit in being a skilled worker in a field as diverse as maintenance. The pay can be good and the scope of work immense. That is why, if you have the inclination and interest, a career in maintenance could indeed be a very good bet.

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