Apprentice Water Network Operative
Avove Utilities
Role is available in the North West (WA5 8WD)
Closes on Sunday 25 January 2026
Posted on 19 December 2025
Contents
Summary
An Apprentice Water Network Operative role is all about learning how to build, maintain, and repair water network infrastructure. You’ll be hands-on with the practical tasks needed on-site, working as part of a team. You’ll learn by doing, supported by experienced colleagues and guided by your team leader or site manager.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
- Training course
- Water network operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday.
40 hours per week.
Start and finished times to be decided.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 2 March 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
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
- Learn by doing: You’ll help build, maintain, and repair water network infrastructure, working alongside skilled operatives who will guide and support you
- Support your team: You’ll carry out tasks on site as directed by your team leader, contributing to real projects and gaining hands-on experience
- Stay safe and work smart: You’ll learn how to follow Avove’s Health & Safety, Quality, and Environmental policies, and understand our “Work Together, Safe Together” approach
- Speak up and stay aware: You’ll be shown how to report good practices, close calls, and near misses using our safety system, and how to raise concerns if you spot anything unsafe
- Get to know the tools: You’ll learn how to safely use equipment and machinery, and work towards gaining the certifications you need
- Be professional and respectful: You’ll build positive relationships with customers and always represent Avove in a friendly and professional way
- Understand the rules: You’ll learn about Streetworks regulations and how to follow them correctly
Where you'll work
Role is available in the North West
WA5 8WD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CONSTRUCTION AND PLANT ASSESSMENTS LTD
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
Water Network Operative Level 2.
You will attend training on a block placement pattern. You will go to the training provider's centre for one week every 6-8 weeks.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C or above)
- Maths (grade 4/C or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
This opportunity would be a great fit if you’re confident using digital tools like Microsoft Office and enjoy working with others. We’re looking for someone who communicates clearly, stays organised, and pays attention to detail. You’ll need to be comfortable working in a team and able to take initiative when working independently. If you’re motivated, eager to learn, and interested in developing leadership skills, we’d love to hear from you!
About this employer
At Avove, we design, build, and maintain the UK’s utilities infrastructure—helping to keep water flowing, lights on, and people connected. We deliver sustainable engineering solutions and work with leading utility providers including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Scottish Power, and Northern Ireland Water. We’re proud to be a responsible, agile partner, committed to improving communities and protecting the environment.
http://www.avove.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
24 days holiday plus bank holidays, Apprentice bonus scheme, Support with paid driving lessons for those apprentices eligible, Company pension scheme, Life assurance, A selection of lifestyle benefit options.
After this apprenticeship
- Fully qualified operative
- Team leader
- Site supervisor/manager
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CONSTRUCTION AND PLANT ASSESSMENTS LTD
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000006050.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 25 January 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.