Chemical Engineering Degree Level 6 Apprentice

THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED

Reading (RG1 8DB)

Closes in 21 days (Friday 6 March 2026)

Posted on 11 February 2026


Summary

Join us as a Level 6 Chemical/Process Engineering Apprentice and you’ll gain hands-on experience supporting the UK’s largest water and wastewater provider. Work with skilled engineers and earn a Level 6 Science Industry Process and Plant Engineering degree, opening the door to a long-term career. 

Training course
Science industry process and plant 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

5 years

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 a Chemical/Process Engineering Apprentice:  

  • Assist in designing and optimising water and wastewater treatment processes to meet regulatory and environmental standards.
  • Provide operational support by monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and implementing improvements. 
  • Contribute to multidisciplinary project teams with planning, risk assessment, and technical documentation. 
  • Collect and analyse operational data to ensure compliance and identify efficiency opportunities.
  • Follow Health, Safety & Environment protocols, aligning work with CDM regulations and sustainability goals. 

Where you'll work

Clearwater Court
Vastern Road
Reading
RG1 8DB

Training

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

Training provider

TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY

Training course

Science industry process and plant engineer (degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Ensure the control, within own area of responsibility, of major accident hazards, health & safety, to statutory, mandatory and environmental standards.
  • Ensure that targets are met and maintained, within own area of responsibility, whilst complying with defined company procedures and legislative requirements
  • Prepare for and perform process/plant engineering tasks using the appropriate techniques, procedures and methods
  • Support the evaluation, submission, planning, installation and commissioning of capital, maintenance and revenue projects to improve process performance
  • Work autonomously to analyse, interpret and evaluate engineering data, presenting the results and problem solving approach clearly and concisely in written and oral form, using technology where appropriate to assist with and evaluate activies
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques and support existing manufacturing principles to drive effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Manage and/or support the introduction of new technologies and practices
  • Use creative thinking and problem solving to challenge assumptions, innovate, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
  • Plan and prioritise process/plant tasks using project planning tools, review and evaluate progress against objectives and investigate alternative scenarios

Training schedule

  • Knowledge, skills and behaviours as set out in the Level 6 Science Industry Process and Plant Engineer Degree.

  • You’ll study with Teesside University, a leading UK engineering training provider, through fully online delivery with a 3-day block at the start of each semester, weekly 2-hour online sessions, and optional bi-annual industry days on campus in Middlesbrough. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSE including Maths and English (grade 9-4 or A-C)

Other in:

A-Level or BTEC Engineering Unit 7- Calculus (grade A-C/Pass/Merit/Distinction)

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 across Thames Water sites required.

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

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 60 month structured programme. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000014650.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Friday 6 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.