Apprentice (Water Network)

Summary

Want to be part of building a greener, healthier & stronger North West? We’ll provide you with industry leading skills & the experience you’ll need to succeed in your career. Join us as a water network apprentice you'll learn to operate & look after all of the kit we use to produce, treat & deliver water to homes & businesses across the North West.

Wage

£19,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Annual increase

Training course

Water industry network technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.

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 Water Network Technician, you’ll learn how to:

Operate and look after all of the kit we use to produce, treat and deliver water to homes and businesses across the North West
Resolve customer queries
Respond to water quality complaints
Support the business during incidents and events
Look after all our pipes, mains and pumping stations

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

UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED

Your training course

Water industry network technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Comply with (water or wastewater) industry regulations and procedures.
Complete risk assessments: identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace. Apply control measures.
Comply with health and safety regulations, and safe working and security practices and procedures.
Set out and remove signing, lighting, and guarding.
Conduct vehicle checks.
Conduct and assess impact of activity for example, environmental, cost, reputation, safety, and health. Apply control measures.
Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements . For example, safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
Apply principles of sustainable development. For example, in choice of materials.
Trace and locate network services.
Collect mitigation data or evidence.
Check technician tools and equipment. Conduct maintenance for example, calibration.
Identify issues. Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques: identify root cause. Resolve faults.
Consider, identify, and promote areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
Use information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
Interpret digital mapping systems and update.
Complete work documentation: enter and record data and information using digital technology for example, hand-held devices.
Read and interpret written information. For example, work instructions, and service level agreements.
Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, equipment, traffic management, and personnel.
Prioritise work activities.
Communicate verbally and in writing. For example, with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. Use water industry terminology where appropriate.
Identify and escalate issues.
Provide advice and guidance to customers.
Liaise with, negotiate with, and handle conflict in individual or group environments.
Apply and enforce water fittings regulations to customer installations for example, rainwater harvest systems and solar panels.
Read and interpret technical data for example, flows and pressures.
Install pressure gauges.
Conduct flow and pressure measurements.
Identify different valve types. Operate multiple valves, hydrants and washouts including isolation and recharging of mains.
Follow hygiene practices for example, disinfect equipment.
Select and use water quality testing equipment to test for water quality for example, chlorine, turbidity, taste, odour, and clarity.
Sample for chemical and micro-biological analysis.
Set up temporary loggers (flow and pressure).
Carry out network optimisation activity. For example, PRV, PSV, and air valve maintenance.
Select and use leakage detection tools and methods to identify source of leakage. For example, step testing, acoustic and electronic, data logging ground microphones, and correlators.
Inspect and check network assets for example, air values, PRV, critical values, fire hydrant. Identify action.
Select and use equipment to complete planned preventative maintenance. For example, conduct high velocity mains cleansing and low turnover flushing.
Conduct step testing using valves.
Set up temporary loggers (flow and pressure).
Select and use initial leakage detection equipment and methods. For example, acoustic and electronic, data logging, ground microphones, and correlators.
Use specific leakage detection equipment and methods to identify leakage pin-point for example, network or customer side.
Conduct targeted DMA (district metered area) survey.
Read and interpret technical data for example, flows and pressures.
Access, download, and interpret data from pressure and flow loggers.
Test and assess application of innovative leakage equipment.
Apply maintenance practices to meters and loggers. Identify and arrange repairs.
Trace or locate drain or sewer.
Complete visual inspection to check assets for example, combined sewer overflow, non-return valves, flow control devices, and storage tanks. Identify action.
Use dye testing to trace and investigate cross or illegal connections.
Use digital inspection equipment for example, CCTV to check assets. Identify action.
Use sonde equipment.
Select and use blockage removal equipment for example, rods and jetting equipment.
Select and use equipment to apply first line maintenance techniques for example, replace seals, lubricate, de-silt, and de-scale.
Follow alarm response procedures.
Comply with (water or wastewater) industry regulations and procedures.
Complete risk assessments: identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace. Apply control measures.
Comply with health and safety regulations, and safe working and security practices and procedures.
Set out and remove signing, lighting, and guarding.
Conduct vehicle checks.
Conduct and assess impact of activity for example, environmental, cost, reputation, safety, and health. Apply control measures.
Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements . For example, safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
Apply principles of sustainable development. For example, in choice of materials.
Trace and locate network services.
Collect mitigation data or evidence.
Check technician tools and equipment. Conduct maintenance for example, calibration.
Identify issues. Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques: identify root cause. Resolve faults.
Consider, identify, and promote areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
Use information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
Interpret digital mapping systems and update.
Complete work documentation: enter and record data and information using digital technology for example, hand-held devices.
Read and interpret written information. For example, work instructions, and service level agreements.
Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, equipment, traffic management, and personnel.
Prioritise work activities.
Communicate verbally and in writing. For example, with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. Use water industry terminology where appropriate.
Identify and escalate issues.
Provide advice and guidance to customers.
Liaise with, negotiate with, and handle conflict in individual or group environments.

Your training plan

Your apprenticeship will last 36 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Water Industry Network Technician, Level 3 Standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships
For the first two years of your apprenticeship, you'll spend your time learning the ropes as a water network delivery apprentice
After this time, you'll be assigned to a specific water network role, as a water network technician or a water customer technician, enabling you to become an expert in your field

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 be expected to:

Manage a work/college balance
Work and communicate within multiple teams/work areas
Take responsibility for own learning and workload

Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship, you’ll be asked to join part of a formal standby rota/shift pattern, which may require you to do some out of hours work.

Don’t worry, your training will prepare you for this, but we do advise that you apply for a vacancy that’s relatively easy for you to get to, as we would need you to travel to the site easily.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Must include Maths, English and Science or Tech (grade 5 GCSEs, grades A-C or 9-4)

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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

You will need to be mobile in this role, we’ll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help to get you on the road! *As long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme.

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.

https://www.unitedutilities.com (opens in new tab)

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

Water Industry Network Technician

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED

UUEarlyCareers@uuplc.co.uk

03301754408

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000297529.

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

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