Level 3 Apprentice Assistant Planning Manager

United Utilities

Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington (WA5 3LP)

Closes in 22 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

Posted on 30 January 2026

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Summary

Are you ready to live your future? Do you want to be part of building a greener, healthier, and stronger North West? Come and join us! We’ll provide you with industry-leading skills and the experience you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Wage

£20,000 a year

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Reward and benefits – There are lots of perks, including a starting salary of £20,000, which will increase each year based on performance 

Training course
Project controls technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 2 September 2026

Duration

3 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

As a Level 3 Apprentice Assistant Planning Manager, you’ll learn how to:  

  • Assist in the development and maintenance of project schedules under guidance from Assistant Planners / Planning Managers / Senior Planning Managers with the inputs gathered from Project Delivery Teams 
  • Work as part of a dedicated regional PMO team focussed on delivering best practice and ensuring our projects are deliver to time, cost and quality  
  • Collaborate with PMO colleagues to ensure consistency and accuracy in schedule data   
  • Maintain records of schedule changes and assist in tracking impacts  

Where you'll work

Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington
WA5 3LP

Training

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

Training provider

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

Training course

Project controls technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Develop work breakdown and coding structures to meet the scope laid out in the projects’ technical information and specification, ensuring that the controls will monitor project progress and performance accurately.
  • Manage data: source, retrieve, check, edit, format, record and analyse data – using it to create relevant time, cost and resource reports.
  • Estimate: develop cost estimates for defined scopes of work, create appropriate benchmarks, analyse quotes from sub- contractors and suppliers, and input to tenders and the early stages of projects.
  • Schedule and plan: break down the scope into activities to create a logical linked control schedule to input to the development of outline and integrated plans and baseline schedules; identify critical milestones; gather accurate progress data for controlling the schedule; and monitor progress.
  • Cost engineer and control: prepare control budgets, carry out cost control activities, gather and interpret cost data, monitor progress on a regular basis, interpret trends and forecasts; keep in line with contractual requirements, maintain baselines; ensure accurate reporting and control.
  • Monitor progress/performance and analyse data: associated with milestones, schedules, progress, manpower, resource and costs; undertake earned value analysis, create progress reports and identify variances from plan and likely consequences if no corrective action is taken.
  • Use computer based technology: model potential trends and resource use etc. using the right software package for the right task.
  • Problem solve: recommend early corrective actions to reduce variances, identify issues and risks, present and maintain related action plans and contingencies.
  • Effectively communicate: with good interpersonal skills and share the right information with the right people in an appropriate format to enable effective project control.
  • Input to project closeout: generate key benchmarks and outturns including lessons learnt.
  • Observe and apply professional ethics, and maintain a duty of care.
  • Apply safety in the context of the role: comply with relevant national and international health, safety and environmental requirements.
  • Work in accordance with company management systems, policies and procedures: especially those relating to quality, data security, risk, change and document management.

Training schedule

Day release (1 day a week delivered online)

More training information

As part of your induction, you will attend a five-day residential trip to the Lake District.  This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in a beautiful setting with your fellow apprentices.  Accommodation and boarding will be provided.
During your apprenticeship, you may need to travel to your place of study. If you’re not local to your place of study, accommodation will either be provided or reimbursed by United Utilities during this period (excluding weekends).

Please consider travel requirements and staying away from home if applicable.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • 5 GCSE's minimum or equivalent (grade A-C or 9-4)
  • Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject (grade A-C or 9-4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

About this employer

United Utilities is responsible for water and wastewater services in the North West of England. From 2025-2030 we will undertake the largest investment in water and wastewater services in the North West in 100 years - that's more than £13 billion worth of projects. Now, more than ever, we need inspiring future talent to help make the North West stronger, greener, and healthier. 

https://www.unitedutilities.com/corporate/careers/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • 26 days of leave (excluding bank holidays), a £500 contribution towards learning to drive, and many more benefits. 

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

Every apprentice is guaranteed a permanent position at the end of their scheme. (As long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme).

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

T3 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011641.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

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