Apprentice Water Operative
United Infrastructure
Washington (NE37 1HB)
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 7 June 2026)
Posted on 21 May 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for Apprentice Water Operatives to join our water business division who are a national provider of infrastructure and non-infrastructure water and wastewater services to UK water utility companies. Day-to-day, you will work with our mobile site teams who work on our water project sites.
- Wage
-
£19,968 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Water network operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.
48 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 July 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
15
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
As a vital member of the team, some of your key responsibities will include:
- Excavate holes using safe digging methods to avoid damage to underground utility apparatus
- Move materials, plant and equipment
- Install pipes and fittings to the appropriate standards, ensuring, in particular, that good jointing and hygiene practices are followed
- Maintain site, vehicle, plant and equipment tidiness and security.
- Carry out safety checks and inspections on vehicles, plant, equipment and sites and maintain safety, environmental and quality records.
Where you'll work
12 Parsons Road
Parsons Industrial Estate
Washington
NE37 1HB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WATERTRAIN LIMITED
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
As a apprentice with United Infrastructure, you’ll be given a real job from day one where you will gain hands-on industry experience, and the knowledge required to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. You’ll get a generous holiday allowance, Christmas shutdown, and a tailored benefits portal that allows you to choose the right benefits for you.
In order to fully develop in your role, you will be enrolled onto the Level 2 Water Network Operative apprenticeship qualification with our training partner WaterTrain. You will attend classroom-based workshops at our office in Washington, approximately every other month in addition to one-to-one support from your tutor. They will also meet regularly with you and your line manager to ensure you are progressing through your programme.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE 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
- Administrative skills
- Logical
- Team working
Other requirements
- Good level of physical fitness and able to work outdoors in all weather
- Valid UK driving licence (preferred, those without MUST be able to obtain within 6 months of starting)
- 18+ as you will be working on our live project sites.
About this employer
United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects, across the utility and social infrastructure sectors.
Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.
Our company is split into two business areas:
- Utility Infrastructure – Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure, for the UK’s largest network owners and operators.
- Social Infrastructure - Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.
https://www.unitedinfrastructure.com/ (opens in new tab)
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
You will be fully supported to continue your professional development upon completion of this programme.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
United Infrastructure
Rebecca Harrison
earlycareers@unitedliving.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032976.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 7 June 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.