Multi Skilled Operative
About the job
- Proven experience in domestic repairs and maintenance across multiple trades, including carpentry, plumbing, plastering, tiling, and decorating.
- A full United Kingdom driving licence.
- The ability to work independently and manage workload effectively.
- Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent customer service skills, with experience working in occupied homes.
- A good understanding of health and safety regulations and safe working practices.
- The ability to use handheld devices or job management systems to record work.
- To drive a Mears vehicle, candidates must be aged over 21, have held their licence for over three months, and have fewer than nine points.
- Entitlement to work within the United Kingdom is required.
- Carry out day-to-day responsive repairs across void and tenanted social housing properties.
- Replace or repair skirting boards, architraves, and internal door frames.
- Install and adjust kitchen units, worktops, and cupboard doors.
- Repair or replace internal doors, handles, locks, and hinges.
- Identify and fix minor plumbing issues such as leaks, dripping taps, and blocked sinks.
- Carry out patch plastering and make good damaged walls or ceilings.
- Complete wall and floor tiling repairs, including grouting and sealing.
- Paint and decorate to a professional finish following repair works.
- Ensure all repairs are completed safely, efficiently, and to a high standard.
- Work in occupied properties with sensitivity to residents’ needs and privacy.
- Report further works, safeguarding concerns, or property issues beyond scope.
- Deliver customer service while working in residents’ homes.
- Accurately record job details, materials used, and completion notes using handheld devices or job sheets.
- Maintain tools, equipment, and the company vehicle in good working order.
- Manage the daily workload efficiently to meet service-level targets.
About the company
Mears Group provides maintenance, repairs, and facilities services to social housing and related sectors in the UK. It delivers outsourcing of property maintenance and planned works for housing associations and public sector clients, using a mix of directly employed staff and subcontractors. The service coordinates multi-trade maintenance programs, compliance, and responsive repairs under contracts or framework agreements. Its goal is to be a leading UK provider of outsourced property maintenance and facilities services for housing associations, local authorities, and other public-sector clients.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Founded
1988
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Mears won Birmingham City Council’s £450m ten-year contract in August 2026.
- Mears retained Leeds, Moat, Thurrock, Cross Keys, and Livin, adding over £1bn.
- Retrofit demand expanded: South Cambridgeshire extended Mears’ £4.6m decarbonisation project in April 2026.
What critics are saying
- Orbit ends March 2027, removing about £30m annual revenue and working capital.
- Public landlords rebid aggressively in 2026, and Mears’ contracts depend on procurement cycles.
- Tenant-service failures or safety lapses can trigger council exits, lawsuits, and a reputation death spiral.
What makes Mears Group unique
- Mears Group’s August 2026 order book hit £4.2bn across UK social housing.
- Mears combines repairs, planned maintenance, compliance, and retrofit through one integrated operating model.
- Mears completed Pennington Choices integration in August 2026, strengthening compliance and asset-assurance capabilities.
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Benefits
Paid Vacation
Company Social Events
Employee Discounts
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
7%1 year growth
7%2 year growth
7%New apprentices join Mears training scheme in Lanarkshire. Mears apprentices. (Image: Supplied) A new group of apprentices has started training with Mears through its partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, as the long-running programme continues to create opportunities for young people across the area. The apprentices have joined the company through its Enterprise contract with the council, which forms part of the Strategic Housing and Repairs Partnership. The scheme combines practical, on-the-job training with nationally recognised qualifications, allowing participants to earn while developing skills in a range of trades. More than 130 apprentices are currently enrolled in the four-year programme, with a further 30 employed through Mears' supply chain. Participants are gaining experience in joinery, painting and decorating, plumbing, heating, bricklaying and plastering. Under the Enterprise contract, Mears is committed to delivering 600 apprenticeships. The current programme has a completion rate of 98.5%, according to the company. The wider partnership between North Lanarkshire Council and Mears supports around 500 jobs, providing employment, training and skills development for local residents alongside the delivery of housing and repair services. Recruitment for the next apprentice intake is due to begin in February 2027. Councillor Jim Logue, leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: "It's always encouraging to meet young people who are taking the first steps in their careers and are eager to learn new skills. "Apprenticeships provide a direct route into employment, helping young people build confidence, gain recognised qualifications and develop valuable experience in the workplace. "Our partnership with Mears continues to create opportunities for local people while supporting the delivery of essential services across North Lanarkshire." Gavin Hay, training and development manager at Mears, said: "We are delighted to welcome our newest apprentices and support them as they develop their skills and build their careers. "Completion rates within the apprenticeship programme currently stand at 98.5%, which is incredible." Kyle Savage, a third-year apprentice bricklayer, said: "I'd recommend this to anyone as it's a great way to help the community and it's fully funded."
Mears misses out on new Orbit deal amid 'financially challenging' contract. Orbit is set to take on a new maintenance contractor as it has decided against renewing a £30m-per-year deal with Mears, which has run for eight years. Sharelines Mears misses out on new Orbit deal amid 'financially challenging' contract #UKhousing. The maintenance firm had applied through a procurement process to extend its current contract with the 46,000-home landlord when it ends next March. However, a Mears spokesperson told Inside Housing it had been "unsuccessful". Separately in a half-year update on 6 August, Mears said: "While the group has delivered strong operational performance to this client [Orbit], the contract has proved financially challenging, absorbing a disproportionate level of working capital." The contractor said the deal was worth around £30m annually in revenue. Orbit had previously signed a five-year contract extension with Mears in 2022. The Coventry-based landlord appointed a new procurement director in February, who is overseeing new repairs and maintenance contracts expected to be worth £225m over five years. The tender process opened last October, with appointments expected to be made next month. An Orbit spokesperson told Inside Housing: "Our current repairs and maintenance contracts are due to expire in March 2027. "We recently completed a business-as-usual competitive re-procurement process for these services in line with public procurement regulations, with new arrangements expected to take effect from April 2027." Many landlords have been upping their spending on existing stock in the face of new legislation and regulatory scrutiny. Orbit spent £142m on maintenance and upgrading its homes in its last financial year, although this was £7m less than the previous year, according to its annual results published on 5 August. On the same day, it also announced that it is seeking contractors for £1.6bn of safety works and upgrades. In its half-year update, Mears revealed it had signed new contracts with seven landlords in 2026, including Livin Housing, Cross Key Homes, Moat Homes and Rooftop Housing. The firm has also signed or retained contracts with Birmingham City Council, Leeds City Council and Thurrock Council. The contracts are expected to be worth nearly £1.5bn in revenue for Mears. The Gloucester-based firm reported an 18% increase in half-year pre-tax profits, to £38m, despite broadly flat revenue of £560m. Mears' order book has reached a record £4.2bn, it reported. The firm employs around 5,500 staff across the UK. Inside Housing's Asset Management newsletter brings you comprehensive in-depth news, comment, insight and analysis of how affordable housing providers are managing their homes. Taking place on 24-25 November at Excel London, HOMES UK brings together the people responsible for delivering, improving and managing homes across the UK. From planning and development to building safety, asset management, retrofit, maintenance and operational performance, this event connects the entire housing ecosystem in one place. Explore how we can create safer, warmer, more sustainable homes and deliver better outcomes for residents and communities.
Mears Group shortlisted for five UK Social Mobility Awards 2026 categories. Published: July 20, 2026 Mears Group, a leading provider of housing services across the UK, has been recognised as a finalist in five categories at the UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMO) 2026. The SOMO Awards celebrate organisations, teams, and individuals who are working to improve social mobility through initiatives that support recruitment, progression, skills development, and community impact. Mears have been shortlisted for: * Community Project of the Year * Mentor of the Year - Will Drayson * Organisation of the Year * Leadership of the Year * Rising Star - Deniz Horoz The shortlist reflects the commitment of colleagues across Mears who are helping to create opportunities, remove barriers, and support people to achieve their potential. Lucas Critchley, CEO of Mears Group, said: "Mears Group is incredibly proud to see colleagues and teams recognised as finalists at the UK Social Mobility Awards. Being shortlisted across five categories is a fantastic achievement and shows the dedication, passion, and impact of its colleagues, who are creating opportunities and supporting people to progress. "Social mobility is about giving people the chance to thrive, and it's inspiring to see the work taking place every day to make a positive difference for our colleagues, customers, and communities." The winners will be announced at the UK Social Mobility Awards ceremony in October 2026.
Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester delivers nationwide Mears Group rebrand with Drytac. July 16, 2026 Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester recently partnered with Mears Group to deliver a nationwide rebranding program, using Drytac media to transform office environments with vibrant interior and exterior graphics. One of the UK's leading providers of bespoke signage, graphics and visual communications, Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester managed the project from initial consultation and site surveys through to production and installation. The objective was to implement Mears Group's new visual identity consistently across multiple locations while minimizing disruption to day-to-day operations. The extensive rollout included large-format wall graphics, reception branding, interior and exterior window graphics, privacy graphics and wayfinding elements. Each location required detailed site surveys to accurately assess installation requirements and adapt the branding to suit the unique layout of each building. A key challenge was maintaining consistency across numerous sites while working within live office environments. Careful planning, standardized production processes and close coordination between surveying, production and installation teams ensured each location was delivered to the same high standard while keeping disruption to a minimum. For the project, Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester selected Drytac ReTac(R) Smooth 150, a 6 mil (150μ) white polymeric PVC film featuring Drytac's permanently peelable ReTac adhesive technology, for interior wall graphics and branding elements. The repositionable adhesive allowed installers to accurately position large-format graphics while making installation faster and more forgiving without compromising long-term performance. For glass and window graphics, the company chose Drytac Polar(R) Grip, a 3.2 mil (80μ) white polymeric PVC film with a high coat weight permanent grey adhesive, engineered to provide exceptional adhesion on challenging surfaces while delivering outstanding print quality and long-term durability. Together, the two products offered a versatile solution capable of delivering a consistent, premium finish across a wide range of interior and exterior branding applications. Across the UK + Ireland, Drytac products are distributed exclusively by Premier. All graphics were produced using HP Latex printing technology, delivering vibrant colour reproduction, excellent durability and water-based inks well suited to occupied office environments. "The project required materials that could deliver consistent performance across a wide range of applications while maintaining the same premium appearance from one site to the next," says Ben Walker, Director of Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester. "ReTac Smooth 150 gave our installers the flexibility to accurately position large graphics thanks to its permanently peelable adhesive, which was particularly valuable on large wall installations. Polar Grip also performed exceptionally well on glass, providing excellent adhesion and a premium finish. Combined with HP Latex printing, the materials delivered vibrant colours, sharp detail and consistently high-quality results across every location." The completed installations have created cohesive, engaging workspaces that reinforce Mears Group's refreshed brand identity for employees, visitors and customers alike. The consistency achieved across multiple locations has strengthened brand recognition while helping communicate the company's values and culture throughout its estate. The success of the program has resulted in an ongoing partnership, with Signs Express Bristol & Gloucester continuing to support Mears Group as the nationwide rollout expands to additional locations.
Mears Group share lessons from industry-leading retrofit and decarbonisation partnerships. Published: July 02, 2026 Mears Group shaped the conversation at Housing 2026 (23-25 June) with industry experts joining panel discussions throughout the event. Mark Fenton-Smith, Regional Director - Planned and Retrofit for Mears Group, joined a panel alongside representatives from Historic England, Gentoo and the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter. Discussions centred around how innovative, cross-sector partnerships are driving successful housing retrofit programmes that deliver warmer, healthier, and lower-carbon homes. Mark explained how Mears is partnering for purpose to shape social housing for a sustainable future. By delivering end-to-end retrofit solutions across the UK, Mears have already delivered retrofit solutions to almost 5,000 homes, with plans in place to make a further 2,329 homes warmer and kinder to the environment by 2028. Mark summarised Mears Group's approach as an understanding that good retrofit delivery starts with strong partnerships and trust with both residents and clients. Hear Mark's key take aways from the session in the video, below: