Drainage – Apprentice
IPSUM WATER (ENGLAND & WALES) LIMITED
Haydock Saint Helens (WA11 9UX)
Closes in 8 days (Friday 21 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 13 August 2026
Contents
Summary
Start building your future with Ipsum. As a Drainage Apprentice, you’ll develop practical skills, work on real projects, and learn from experienced crews in a supportive team environment - all while earning and progressing your career.
- Wage
-
£19,117.80 a year
- Training course
- Water network operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, working hours to be confirmed.
45 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 24 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
10
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
Due to the nature of our business, flexibility is essential. Our operations run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the role may involve early starts, weekend working, and occasional out-of-hours work at locations across the UK. You will need a full UK driving license.
Working as part of a busy operational team, you will assist with site-based activities, support project delivery, and help ensure work is completed to the highest standards. You will receive guidance and training from experienced colleagues while building confidence in taking responsibility for your own tasks and development.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Support Engineers and Technicians in completing site-based work safely and efficiently.
- Follow all Health & Safety, Quality, and Environmental procedures and regulations.
- Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
- Report site incidents, hazards, or near misses promptly and accurately.
- Assist in identifying and resolving problems before they escalate.
- Contribute to the production of accurate reports, feedback, and project documentation.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, clients, and customers.
- Follow internal and external escalation processes when required.
Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and a positive attitude as an active member of the team.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking an individual who is eager to learn, enjoys practical work, and can work effectively as part of a team. You should have strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to delivering excellent service. Most importantly, you should be willing to learn, take direction from experienced colleagues, and show respect and professionalism when working with customers and stakeholders.
This apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity to gain valuable industry experience, develop recognised skills and qualifications, and build the foundations for a rewarding long-term career.
Where you'll work
Units 6 7 Haydock Cross Industrial Estate
Kilbuck Ln
Haydock Saint Helens
WA11 9UX
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
- Water Process Operative Level 2
- Training will take place at Construction Skills and Innovation Centre, Cannington via block weeks, as well as online. There will be a requirement to stay in accommodation which will be arranged by the employer
More training information
- There will also be the opportunity to enter into a bespoke 2-week work academy to understand more about the skills required for the role, and information about working for Ipsum
- Details to be supplied once shortlisted
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C and above)
- Maths (grade 4/C and above)
Knowledge 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
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Time Management
- Mature Mindset
- Positive Attitude
- Self-Motivation
- Adaptability
- Respectful Behaviour
- Equipment Care
- Willingness to learn
Other requirements
Full clean driving licence.
Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
About this employer
We are committed to delivering outstanding customer service every job, every day.Customer Focus:
- Championing ‘The Ipsum Way’ Guiding Principles
- Always do the right thing and never compromise on safety
- Always take ownership and have real pride in what you do
- Never ignore a problem – if we get it wrong, we will always fix it
- Always clarify and never make assumptions
- Always keep everyone informed at all times
- Always check with the customer that the job has gone well
- Above all else, make sure the customer knows and feels you are entirely trustworthy, knowledgeable, and really care.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful apprentices may progress into permanent operational roles, specialist drainage positions, or further qualifications and leadership opportunities within the business.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048023.
Apply now
Closes in 8 days (Friday 21 August 2026 at 11:59pm)