Who are United Utilities?

United Utilities is accountable for water and wastewater services in the North West of England. From 2025-2030 we will undertake the largest investment in water and wastewater services in the North West in 100 years - that's more than £13 billion worth of projects.

Whatever area of our business your interests lie in, our award winning apprentice programme will give you first-class training and support, aligned with an in-depth understanding of your chosen business area – so that you can develop the skills you need to progress your career as you make a real contribution to the communities we serve.

Working in the North West means there's a lot of ground to cover. You could have the opportunity to work in the heart of the Lake District, or you could sample a taste of city life. As well as our main office in Warrington we also recruit for a variety of roles based across the North West; we have 575 wastewater treatment works and 96 water treatment works in areas from Crewe in Cheshire to Carlisle in Cumbria.

Life as a United Utilities Apprentice

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. All we ask is that you’re willing to learn, work well as part of a team, and manage your time and workload effectively.

As an Apprentice for Rainwater Management, you will:

• Develop a high-level knowledge and understanding of environmental legislation, environmental practices, technical principles, and the fundamentals of infrastructure design. Gain insight into how water companies interact with the natural environment, using analytical tools and building expertise in environmental modelling to support our multi-million-pound enhancement programme. Your work will help protect and improve the land, rivers, and seas across the North West.
• Collaborate within a team to manage and analyse large datasets, identifying opportunities that deliver maximum value for both customers and the environment.
• Contribute to project delivery by preparing reports and presentations and play an active role in creating sustainable rainwater solutions. You’ll work alongside our specialist Rainwater Management team, developing skills in strategic planning, technical feasibility, project management, and delivery.
• Support Technical Leads in designing and implementing rainwater management systems and specialist drainage solutions. Gain hands-on experience with real-world water management projects, learning how we plan, monitor, and optimise rainwater systems to achieve environmental and operational goals.

A bit more about the role

Your apprenticeship will last 60 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a level 6 qualification endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships. This will be a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science (Practitioner) degree. There will also be technical (engineering) training delivered in house to support your degree studies.

Your training will be at your workplace and block release at the university. If you do not live near, accommodation will be reimbursed/provided by United Utilities during this period, excluding weekends.

What we’re looking for:

• Great team-working skills – demonstrate the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, valuing the contribution of others.
• Good communication skills - both verbal and written
• Good time management – work towards deadlines and adapt to change when new priorities come in.
• Innovative/Creative problem solving – challenge traditional ways of working and find creative but practical solutions to overcome problems.
• Good analytical skills and numerate skills– To be comfortable working with data, maps, spreadsheets etc.
• Interest in environmental issues - A passion for overcoming environmental challenges with sustainable solutions and an eagerness to learn more about solving surface water challenges using rainwater management.
• Commitment to the completion of the Degree
• Curiosity & Willingness to Learn - Open to new knowledge, asks questions, and shows enthusiasm for developing technical skills.
• Positive Attitude & Resilience - Approaches challenges with optimism, adapts to change, and doesn’t give up easily.
• Strong Work Ethic & Reliability - Punctual, dependable, and committed to completing tasks safely and on time

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) totalling 112 UCAS points
• A driving license will be advantageous but NOT mandatory

Why choose us to kickstart your career?

• Guaranteed permanent role after your apprenticeship*
• Structured training, mentoring, and career support
• Great benefits, including £21,000 starting salary with yearly increases

*As long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme.

Additional Information

Please check and ensure that you are comfortable with the following points before you apply:

• It is essential that you live within a reasonable commuting distance of the core location of your apprenticeship
• As part of your induction, you will attend a residential trip in the Lake District. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in a beautiful setting with your fellow apprentices. Accommodation and boarding will be provided
• Duringyour apprenticeship, you may need to travel to your place of study (Keele University). If you’re not local to your place of study, accommodation will be provided by United Utilities during this period (excluding weekends). Please consider travel requirements and staying away from home if applicable

Important Notes

You must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years before starting the apprenticeship.