Apprentice Water Network Operative
MCANDREW UTILITIES LIMITED
DERBY (DE21 4AB)
Closes in 20 days (Monday 29 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 September 2025
Contents
Summary
McAndrews Utilities are looking to employ 4 new Water Network Operative Apprentices to join their company. You will be working alongside and learning new skills from a two-man team of experienced operatives to carry out reactive and planned maintenance to the water network infrastructure.
- Wage
-
£15,704 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, 07:30 - 17:00
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 20 October 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 3 months
- Positions available
-
4
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
Water network operatives look after the pipes, mains and pumping stations that supply homes and businesses with water.
As a water network operative, you will:
- Conduct site safety risk assessments
- Assist in setting up site safety measures such as safety barriers and signs
- Dig trenches by hand (use of mechanical digging equipment once relevant training and qualifications have been gained)
- Understand and utilise utility drawings and cable avoidance equipment to trace where to dig safely
- Lay and repair water mains and pipes, installing valves, hydrants boundary boxes and meters
- Maintain equipment, recording and reporting any defects identified
- Complete records of completed work
Where you'll work
SUITE 17
CHESTER COURT
ALFRETON ROAD
DERBY
DE21 4AB
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
- You will achieve the Level 2 Water Network Operative Apprenticeship Standard by attending CP Assessments Training Centre in Denaby Main, Doncaster to undertake 6 block-release training sessions (4 days), every 8 - 10 weeks
- The successful candidate will work towards achieving Functional Skills Level 2 in both maths and English if they have not achieved this prior or have an equivalent
- Apprentices will also acquire a Red CSCS card, NRSWA Card (Units 1-3) and an EUSR Water Hygiene Card
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C / 4)
- Maths (grade C / 4)
Other in:
- National Water Hygiene (grade Pass)
- SHEA Water (grade Pass)
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
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Your working environment will be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers. Our works run throughout the midlands.
About this employer
McAndrews Utilities, based in Derby, is the largest water service supplier in the East Midlands, delivering potable water to the Severn Trent Water infrastructure. The expansion and growth of the company has led to the ability to offer customers multi-utility services such as water, gas, electric and communication infrastructure services and McAndrew Utilities now operate across the whole of the UK.
After this apprenticeship
- This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to start their career with a highly reputable and well-established company
- Progression within the organisation with more responsibility is expected on successful completion of the apprenticeship
- In time, you may wish to undertake further qualifications such as Level 3 Occupational Work Supervision to become a team leader or, Level 3 Water Industry Network Technician Apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CONSTRUCTION AND PLANT ASSESSMENTS LTD
Tracey Rowley
tracey.rowley@cpassessments.co.uk
01709868181
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000340710.
Apply now
Closes in 20 days (Monday 29 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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