Instrumentation, Control & Automation Level 6 Degree apprentice
THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
Hampton (TW12 2ES)
Closes in 20 days (Friday 6 March 2026)
Posted on 11 February 2026
Contents
Summary
Join as an Instrumentation, Control & Automation (ICA) Engineering Apprentice and gain hands-on experience supporting the UK’s largest water and wastewater provider. Work with skilled engineers to develop advanced skills in electrical engineering, control systems, and automation.
- Wage
-
£23,500 a year
- Training course
- Control systems engineer (degree) (level 6)
- Hours
-
Hours: 36-hour week over four working days, plus one training day, Monday - Friday.
36 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
What you’ll be doing as an ICA Engineering Apprentice:
- Design, maintain, and optimise ICA systems, including sensors, actuators, and control loops for water and wastewater treatment.
- Work on electrical installations, fault diagnosis, and maintenance of control panels, PLCs, and SCADA systems.
- Use advanced control technologies to monitor plant performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement improvements.
- Contribute to engineering projects, including upgrades and new installations, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
- Learn to integrate smart technologies and automation solutions to improve operational efficiency.
- Apply Thames Water’s safety protocols and champion best practices in electrical and ICA work.
Where you'll work
Lower Sunbury Road
Hampton
TW12 2ES
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Training course
Control systems engineer (degree) (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Translate conceptual designs or technical specifications into operational process control systems.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and fishbone diagrams.
- Select the best method for collating and conveying complex information using a range of data sources and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic diagrams, project plans, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data and or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as safety, quality, cost and performance criteria. Apply techniques and processes for project or programme management including escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements including supporting safety risk assessments and mitigating any risks identified within the control systems environment.
- Identify resources required to complete control system projects, project tasks or programmes of work, with consideration to factors such as cost, quality, safety, security, environmental impact as applicable to the activity.
- Create a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking control system engineering activities such as system design, integration, operational simulation, installation, testing, pre commissioning, commissioning and maintenance of control systems.
- Ensure that all instrumentation has been correctly configured and calibrated before use.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities such as improving safety, quality, technology solutions, operational processes, training and development, equipment performance or cost key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Perform checks on control systems documentation to ensure it meets organisational compliance and traceability requirements. Report any non-conformances using the appropriate processes and procedures.
- Interpret key performance indicators and utilise improvement techniques or processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness such as lean or six sigma.
- Translate conceptual designs or technical specifications into operational process control systems.
- Select, use and apply approved problem-solving methods to solve complex problems and determine appropriate solutions such as Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and fishbone diagrams.
- Select the best method for collating and conveying complex information using a range of data sources and supporting documentation.
- Interpret and produce technical documentation such as schematic diagrams, project plans, fault reports or data analytics using company documentation systems and guidelines.
- Observe, record and draw accurate and auditable conclusions from data and or developmental or test evidence.
- Manage assigned projects or programmes of work, taking into account factors such as safety, quality, cost and performance criteria. Apply techniques and processes for project or programme management including escalation, audit or risk management and risk mitigation.
- Comply with statutory and organisational safety standards and requirements including supporting safety risk assessments and mitigating any risks identified within the control systems environment.
- Identify resources required to complete control system projects, project tasks or programmes of work, with consideration to factors such as cost, quality, safety, security, environmental impact as applicable to the activity.
- Create a project or work programme plan and develop activities in a logical process embedding mechanisms for adapting to changing circumstances or requirements.
- Demonstrate leadership when undertaking control system engineering activities such as system design, integration, operational simulation, installation, testing, pre commissioning, commissioning and maintenance of control systems.
- Ensure that all instrumentation has been correctly configured and calibrated before use.
- Identify areas for improvement and lead continuous improvement activities such as improving safety, quality, technology solutions, operational processes, training and development, equipment performance or cost key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Perform checks on control systems documentation to ensure it meets organisational compliance and traceability requirements. Report any non-conformances using the appropriate processes and procedures.
- Interpret key performance indicators and utilise improvement techniques or processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness such as lean or six sigma.
Training schedule
-
Knowledge, skills and behaviours as set out in the Level 6 Apprenticeship Standard in Control Systems.
- BEng Applied Professional Engineering
- You’ll study with Warwick University, one of the UK’s leading engineering training providers. Your training combines online learning with on-campus block release, 2.5 days, four times per term over 12 weeks.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level in:
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
Other requirements
Travel required to Thames Water sites.
About this employer
Who are we? We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come
https://careers.thameswater.co.uk/our-roles/early-careers/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance targets.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances.
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
Permanent contract with a 48-54 month structured programme.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014653.
Apply now
Closes in 20 days (Friday 6 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.