United Utilities starts search for new apprentices

Date published: 07 February 2012

United Utilities is bucking the economic trend by starting the search for 40 new apprentices.

The company, which provides water and wastewater services for more than seven million people in the North West, is seeking to fill a range of roles across the region.

Would-be trainees are being invited to apply now for positions that will start in September.

The closing date for applications is the end of February.

Roles are based at a range of locations including United Utilities’ nerve centre in Warrington, Manchester, Workington, Carlisle, Kendal, Preston, Blackburn, Wigan, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, Bolton and Stockport.

There are jobs up for grabs across the business in areas including process maintenance, asset records, water and wastewater network operations, alarm management, science, transport services and telemetry support among others.

Managing Director Steve Fraser said: "We’ve got a proud track record of working with young people through our apprenticeship scheme and our ever-increasing network of partnerships with schools, colleges and universities across the N orth West.

"Apprenticeships offer an attractive alternative to university, allowing school leavers to earn while they learn. There’s a real chance to progress within the business, too.

"We have staff going all the way up to director level that began life at United Utilities as an apprentice.

"From our point of view, it allows us to tailor and train people to meet the skills we need but it’s also good for the people we already have in place at the company. Our experienced staff act as mentors to the apprentices and they find that work very rewarding.”

United Utilities, which employs more than 5,000 people in the North West, is holding a series of events for its current apprentices to celebrate National Apprentice Week, which began on Monday (February 6).

More than 70 apprentices will attend an Oscars-style event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester when a string of awards including Apprentice of The Year, Mentor of The Year and Manager of The Year will be presented.

And senior staff including Chief Executive Steve Mogford will spend a day shadowing apprentices as part of a ‘Back to the Floor’ event.

For more information about apprenticeships at United Utilities see:
www.unitedutilities.com/Apprenticeships