Apprentice (Catchment Controller)

Summary

Our apprentices are well looked after, with a generous salary, 26 days of leave (excluding bank holidays), a £500 contribution towards learning to drive, and many more benefits. You’ll have a dedicated mentor and manager to support you every step of the way.

Wage

£19,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

There are lots of perks, including a starting salary of £19,000, which will increase each year based on performance

Training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, shifts TBC.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Wednesday 3 September

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As an Apprentice Catchment Controller, you’ll learn:

to operate, monitor and maintain all catchment assets including, impounding reservoirs, river intakes, aqueducts land, built and natural heritage and any associated infrastructure
to ensure internal, external, statutory and regulatory drivers for reservoir safety, water quality, catchment activities, public access and operational efficiency as well as health and safety are achieved
wildlife legislation on species and habitats
technical understanding of reservoir design and safety and hydraulics and civil engineering
an understanding of the Drinking Water Safety Plan approach to water quality risk management
an understanding of H&S legislation and knowledge of water and land management
how to communicate with the ability to deal effectively at all levels, including internal/external customers and stakeholders
team working skills

Where you’ll work

Oldham Wastewater Treatment Works, The Causeway, Off Gateway Crescent, Broadway Industrial Estate

OL9 9XD

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents

Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.
Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.

Your training plan

Your apprenticeship will last 36 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Countryside Ranger, Level: 4 standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships.

You’ll carry out necessary catchment and reservoir monitoring and recording to protect and preserve our land and assets. To produce a renewal, improvement and maintenance work programme. You’ll perform 48-hour monitoring on impounding reservoirs in accordance with company QA policies and procedures and to ensure compliance with statutory obligations in accordance with the Reservoir Safety Act 1975 and Flood Management Act 2013, ensuring compliance with required regulatory abstraction and compensation conditions.

More training information

We’re looking for someone keen to gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills, and achieve the standards needed to succeed in this role.

You’ll need to have:

5 GCSEs or equivalent, grades A-C or grades 9-4, which must include Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject. Plus a Level 3 qualification (A-levels , apprenticeship or BTEC etc with 48 UCAS points).

During your apprenticeship, you may need to travel to your place of study. If you’re from outside the area, accommodation will be provided by United Utilities during this period (excluding weekends). Please consider travel requirements and staying away from home if applicable.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSEs incl. Maths, English, and Science or Techn (grade A-C or grades 9-4)

A Level in:

Level 3 qualification (grade 48 UCAS points)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative

Other requirements

You will need a full UK driving licence for this role, as you will be required to be mobile across a range of sites. We will carry out a driving licence check at that time alongside the other pre-employment checks before your appointment can be confirmed.

About this company

United Utilities is responsible for water and wastewater services in the North West of England. Our purpose is to provide great water and more for the North West. We deliver 1.8 billion litres of water a day to more than 3 million homes and businesses in the North West, as well as treating all the wastewater which disappears around the U-bend. Keeping the region flowing relies on a vast behind the scenes operation, involving hundreds of reservoirs, treatment works and pumping stations; thousands of kilometres of water pipes and sewers and a 5,000 strong workforce.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Your apprenticeship will last 36 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Countryside Ranger, Level: 4 standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

UUEarlyCareers@uuplc.co.uk

03301754408

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000297506.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Wednesday 19 February)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

If offered a job, pre-employment checks are required before confirmation. Employment with United Utilities is subject to a satisfactory report from Disclosure Scotland/DBS. Apply for one apprenticeship only; you'll need to explain your application. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Contents