Level 3 Surveying Technician Apprentice

Job summary

Our fully funded Surveying Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship is an integrated programme of work and learning to ensure you get the right mix and breadth of experience required to complete your apprenticeship. We are particularly interested if you don't already hold a degree and you're currently in school or college or looking to kickstart your career in surveying.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. As one of the largest employers of surveyors in the country, our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue. This goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales.

With opportunities to drive your own development and growth, we empower our colleagues to succeed by ensuring support at every step of their career journey. At the VOA, we embrace different perspectives to tackle complex problems, promote innovation, and deliver stronger decision-making. Make a real impact and help shape the future with us!

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, subject to available roles, you will be offered advancement to EO grade. Our full-time EO annual salary is currently minimum £30,674 (national) and minimum £35,457 (London).

Job description

As a Level 3 apprentice, your key responsibilities would include:

• Property research and inspection, producing and recording digital surveys.

• Valuing properties for Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rating, Rent Officer Function or District Valuer Services.

• Preparing case notes and deciding outcomes within set guidelines and supervision.

• Responding to ratepayer enquiries on the telephone, on site and in writing.

• Managing your time and working with others to deliver work promptly and accurately.

• Completing the Level 3 Surveying Technician Apprenticeship.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Successful candidates will need to:

• Be committed to undertake and complete the Level 3 Surveying Technician Apprenticeship.

• Have an interest in and desire to learn more about surveying, property and valuation.

• Be able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.

• Be able to work with others to deliver aims and objectives.

• Have strong organisation skills to manage a diverse workload, delivering to deadlines.

• Be self-motivated, flexible and prepared to work across a range of duties.

• Be willing to travel on a regular basis, including potential overnight stays.

Successful candidates will need to meet the following qualification requirements.

• GCSE Grade C /4 or above or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics as defined by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Please note that if you are awaiting results, we will accept your application, but you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility by 31 August 2026.

Further important information regarding eligibility:

• During the recruitment process you will need to provide certificates for the above. A statement of results from your exam board will suffice initially if you are awaiting certificates, however you will need to provide certificates as part of the onboarding and enrolment.
• You cannot already hold a qualification at the same level or above in the same subject area as the apprenticeship or an RICS accredited degree or masters in any discipline. If you hold a property related qualification and are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact the Development Team developmentteam@voa.gov.uk for advice.
• For the duration of the apprenticeship, you cannot undertake any other formal qualifications at the same time.
• You cannot undertake any part of an apprenticeship whilst on a sandwich placement as part of a degree programme.
• Successful candidates must meet certain residency and visa requirements. These are set out in the candidate pack at the bottom of this advert. Candidates who do not meet the qualifications, residency and visa requirements are not eligible to apply. Please note, this applies to allcandidates, including UK Nationals.

We will accept applications from candidates holding qualifications from outside of the UK and progress through initial sift stage, however you will be asked to apply for a statement of comparability to continue through the selection process. If your certificate is not deemed comparable, your application will not progress to the next stage of selection. Please be aware you will be required self-fund this statement.

Eligibility for the Apprenticeship

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must be able to complete the full apprenticeship programme within the time available to you (36 months, starting from 05 October 2026). This means we can only offer employment to successful candidates whose residency and Right to Work in the UK will cover the entire duration of the apprenticeship.

If your current immigration permission will expire before the programme ends, you would need to be eligible to extend your stay. If you would not be able to complete the full programme within the required timeframe (for example, due to a visa expiry with no eligible extension route), we are unfortunately unable to progress your application under the apprenticeship funding rules.

Visa Sponsorship

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this role. The salary for this position (national minimum £27,841 and London minimum £31,324) does not meet the current Home Office minimum salary threshold required for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for either new entrants or experienced workers

Full information on the role, eligibility and selection process can be found in the candidate pack at the bottom of this page.

In addition to the candidate pack, we are holding two live events via Microsoft Teams for candidates to find out about more.Click here to view the details and sign up. These events are a great opportunity to find out more about our Level 3 Surveying programme and how to apply. Please note booking will close at mid-day the day before each event. On the day of the event, you will receive a joining link by 09:00am to access the event.

Qualifications

•GCSE Grade C /4 or above or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics as defined by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Please note that if you are awaiting results, we will accept your application, but you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility by 31 August 2026

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• As part of the interview you will be asked some technical questions to assess your technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,841, Valuation Office Agency contributes £8,065 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We offer a range of flexible working options, a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days (increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days) and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. We also offer:

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Family friendly policies including 26 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme offering comprehensive wellbeing support.
• To learn more about the extensive benefits we can offer you as a VOA employee please download our Benefits Booklet: VOA_benefits_booklet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

If you can meet our person requirements above, we are keen to hear from you.

To apply for this post, you must complete the first stage of the application. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete an online Civil Service Numerical Test followed by a Caseworker Skills Test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 13 March 2026 . If you fail to complete the online tests before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

If you successfully pass both tests you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please note the vacancy closes on 13 March 2026 you will need to complete both tests and the final stage of the application by this deadline.

If you are successful, you will be invited to complete an online application with the following:

A Personal Statement (maximum 500 words in total ) please outline your suitability and alignment to the role.

• Please name and describe a specific building in your local area and what factors might be considered when inspecting and valuing it.

• Explain why you are interested in becoming a Valuation Surveying Technician Apprentice at the VOA

Please refer to the job description, Person Specification – Essential Criteria and your own research when writing your personal statement.

Sift 16 - 25 March Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your On Line Tests , Qualifications and Personal Statement.

Should a large number of applications be received it may be necessary to increase the pass mark for our online tests.
Even if you have been notified you passed the test, the pass mark may later be raised, and you may be sifted out at this stage.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews 13 - 21 April Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. These will be confirmed should you be invited to interview.

Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview.

We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Strengths and Technical skills.

At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.

Behaviours

The distinguishing Behaviours (the required skills, knowledge and behaviours) for this role are set out in the Civil Service Behaviours Framework 2018 (Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and should be referred to when making this application.

You are required, under the Behaviours approach, to describe how you have dealt with a specific situation.

You must give evidence of your knowledge, skills and behaviours and how you have applied this, such as what you did or said and how you interacted with other people.

When you are giving your examples, do not spend too many words on description and background information. Avoid using general or unspecific statements. Instead say what the situation was, what you did what your thought process was and so on.

Application Hints and Tips

For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk).

Further Information

You will be joining the department during the transition of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) into HMRC. For this reason, the role will start on VOA terms and conditions for a temporary transition period. After this, your employment will move to HMRC Terms and Conditions.

Working Pattern Whilst we try take personal circumstances into account wherever possible, successful candidates must be willing and able to work at least 30 hours per week to meet the requirements of the programme.

Locations

As part of the application process you will be asked to tell us which of the locations available you can work in. You will be able to specify up to 2 options. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

You should only select locations that you can commit to working in long term. Details of our office locations can be found at the top of the advert. There will be a merit list per location with the 1st candidate from each list offered a role, starting with the highest scoring individual, until the number of required roles are met. If you accept a role in one of the locations, you will automatically be removed from any other merit list.

Successful candidates must select one of the locations noted in this advert as their base office and will be expected to undertake regular travel to this location under the Agency’s hybrid working policy.

London Locations

Due to the way the CS Jobs system is set up, when choosing your preferred locations, you will find that the Wembley & Canary Wharf locations will not appear on the list of options.

Should you wish to choose Wembley as a location then please select Harlesden.

Should you wish to choose Canary Wharf as a location then please select Tower Hamlets

This post is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish Citizen, under the EU settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for this post in relation to the Skilled Worker Visa route before applying.

To be eligible for sponsorship you will usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of £38700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.

Ensure you are eligible before applying for this post.

You can also contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk for further support.

Any move to VOA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

The VOA is an office-based organisation that supports flexible working. By default, everyone in the VOA is a hybrid worker with options to work in the office, at home or out and about, depending on the work they’re doing that day and where it’s best done.

VOA employees only: If you are currently in receipt of DTA as a result of a VOA office closure/restructure and it is agreed for you to take up this role in your current location, you may continue to receive DTA for the remainder of the period you can claim for. Please check with the Vacancy Holder on preferred locations for this role before you apply.

Pre-employment Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustment

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application please

• Click here for more information: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
• Contact voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Terms & Conditions

Voluntary terms apply.

Reserve Lists

If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 6-month reserve list.

During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order.

Starting Work

All candidates will be notified of the outcome and successful candidates will be made an offer as soon as possible. Successful candidates will be expected take up their post on 5 October 2026

Applying

All applications for these vacancies must be made online. There are limited exceptions to this. Paper applications will only be considered if you have a disability that will prevent you from applying online. If this is the case, please email voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished and answered all the relevant questions.

Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Concerns/Complaints

The Valuation Office Agency’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address: resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint you have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Development team
• Email : developmentteam@voa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Attachments

Early Talent - Candidate Pack Level 3 Surveying Technician - Feb 2026 (5) Opens in new window (pdf, 1056kB)