Water Network Operative Apprentice

MESSRS WHATLEY & CO LTD

PEWSEY (SN9 5NZ)

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 31 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 15 August 2025

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Summary

An apprentice will be observing and assisting a lead engineer out on site visits. Making notes and using detection equipment on site. Using a variety of fittings and carrying out installations with the engineers.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary is subject to the minimum apprenticeship wage for the age of the applicant

Training course
Water network operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8.00am until 5.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

1 year 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

  • Fixing leaks, clearing blockages and installing water networks
  • Laying of pipes including digging of trenches and pipe replacement
  • Attending to emergency incidents to deal with burst water pipes and to keep the infrastructure safe and useable

Where you'll work

HIGHTREES
SALISBURY ROAD
PEWSEY
SN9 5NZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Training course

Water network operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.
  • Carry out squeeze off activities.
  • Join materials by fusion techniques.
  • Join materials by mechanical means on clean water assets.
  • Drill and tap clean water assets.
  • Install clean water assets.
  • Conduct disinfection procedures for clean water mains and services.
  • Check the performance of the asset and escalate issues if necessary.
  • Use continuous supply procedures.
  • Repair water network asset.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the clean water network.
  • Use pumping equipment.
  • Follow hygiene procedures.
  • Install or replace waste water assets.
  • Replace and join materials by flexible seals, for example band seals on waste water services.
  • Prepare the site for a no dig team.
  • Carry out excavation and shoring of deep excavations.
  • Repair waste water network assets.
  • Use mitigation methods to maintain flow, for example using pumps, stopping or diverting.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the waste water network.
  • Decontaminate equipment, tooling and PPE.
  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.

Training schedule

  • Training will be provided both in the work place and at college
  • Training will be at the Construction Skills and Innovation Centre, Cannington, Somerset, part of the University Centre Somerset College Group
  • College attendance is 6 x 2 week blocks overf 18 months

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

About this employer

We are a well established Family company and have been operating since 1870 so we know our industry. We operate 5 days a week and have 25 staff throughout the company working on all aspects of the business. Check out our Facebook page (Whatley & Co)

https://www.whatley-pewsey.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

To be established after completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

John Wake

wakej@ucscollegegroup.ac.uk

01823366691

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337491.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 31 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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