Water Operative Apprentice

ENVOLVE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

Bristol, Pontyclun

Closes in 29 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 1 July 2026

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Summary

This Apprenticeship is for anyone who is looking for a career in the water utilities industry. Apprentices will work towards a Level 2 Diploma which will give them first-hand experience in main laying, repair and maintenance and the potential to move into a permanent role at the end of the apprenticeship. 

Wage

£19,760 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Water network operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 17:30, with a half an hour unpaid lunch break each day.

47 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

8

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

  • Main laying of ductile iron pipes
  • Main laying of plastic pipe materials
  • Main laying: butt fusion of polyethylene pipes
  • Main laying: electrofusion of polyethylene pipes
  • Carry out alterations to existing mains
  • Installation of polyethylene service pipes
  • Make service pipe connections, under pressure, using single spindle machines
  • Electrofusion jointing for polyethylene pipes and ferrules in service laying
  • Repair and modification of service pipes
  • Installation of water meters and proprietary boundary box systems

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Envolve Infrastructure, Unit B, St Brendans Court, Bristol, BS11 9FB
  • Envolve Infrastructure, Mwyndy Cross Industries, Pontyclun, CF72 8PN

Training

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

Training provider

UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 9-3)
  • Maths (grade 9-3)

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
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

  • Full Uk driving licence and access to own vehicle is essential
  • Being comfortable working outside in all weather conditions 

About this employer

We build, maintain, and renew the infrastructures that keep our country running, and have done since 1984. Initially specialising in deep clean and wastewater pipelines, our expertise and collaborative approach organically developed the business into a strategic partner of choice, specialising in: Heavy civil engineering Clean & wastewater treatment Clean water pipelines Wastewater pipelines Renovation Trenchless technology Dam safety Reactive/emergency ‘on call’ services Highways Rail Power

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Following successful completion of this apprenticeship, you would progress to join one of our establish mains laying teams as a qualified pipelayer helping to maintain and repair critical infrastructure

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ENVOLVE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

Catherine Turnbull

catherine.turnbull@envolve-infrastructure.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040268.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)