Reservoir Engineering Apprentice West Yorkshire
YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LIMITED
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)
Posted on 19 February 2026
Contents
Summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an Apprentice Reservoir Engineer to join the Water Service Delivery Team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?
- Wage
-
£24,309 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Yorkshire Water offers the Real Living Wage to Apprentices and this continues throughout the Apprenticeship.
- Training course
- Water environment worker (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, a typical working day could be 8.00am - 4.00pm. This role requires travel to remote locations.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 17 August 2026
- Duration
-
2 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 Reservoir Engineering Apprentice, you will be focussing on carrying out Operational Inspections on our Reservoirs and Raw Water Aqueducts to ensure 100% compliance. This includes:
- Health and Safety Perimeter checks of our reservoirs to ensure everything is safe and secure for our customers and teams.
- Monitoring downstream flows from our reservoirs to ensure they are not causing any Environmental impact, or any Health & Safety risks.
- Communicating, helping and offering guidance to our customers and tenants.
- Carrying out maintenance activities such as vegetation removal from our assets using various small plant equipment which you will be trained on, such as Excavators, ATV Gators and many more.
- Carry out maintenance repairs on perimeter fencing and stone walling, learning new skills that can be used anywhere.
- Work closely with our Reservoir Safety Supervisors on checking the civils of our reservoirs, which includes going 20–40 metres down inside our reservoirs for inspections, which is a fantastic opportunity that only a selected few are allowed to do.
- Of course, all this involves working outdoors in some of the most beautiful places in Yorkshire, with plenty of walking and fresh air in all weathers. No day is the same within this exciting role.
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:
- Longwood Water Treatment Works, Holmefield Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4TU
- Western House, Halifax Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2SZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE
Training course
Water environment worker (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely and effectively, identify hazards, assess risk and comply with internal and external control measures. Dynamically assess risk and challenge unsafe activities when carrying out their duties, for their protection and that of others (e.g. contractors, members of the public), and take the necessary actions to minimise potential risks
- Take proactive steps to manage their personal wellbeing, especially when working in high risk environments such lone working, confined spaces, in or near water. Implement lone working device in accordance with own organisation’s procedure.
- Communicate HSW controls and safe working systems that are to be followed by you and others when working outdoors, e.g. pre-briefing before work commences
- Select and use a range of maintenance tools, plant, equipment and resources so that asset maintenance plans can be delivered in safe manner whilst also protecting the environment, e.g. start-up checks, correct use of plant, etc. taking into account the working conditions and water environment status
- Report relevant asset information which contributes to ensuring assets are well maintained in a timely manner
- Apply soft engineering principles and practices to reduce erosion and manage stabilisation and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding watercourses, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics and saving money
- Design, plan and build boundaries and apply sound principles and best environmental practices to preserve the natural environment within the context of the legal framework
- Communicate clearly and effectively with the public, land owners, contractors and colleagues to deliver business outcomes, e.g. explaining their work to a landowner, provide feedback to contractors and colleagues to improve ways of working and responding to queries from members of the public. Vary their communication style to fit differing situations e.g. handling a complaint, describing their work
- Use technology solutions available to communicate with others internally, e.g. email, social media etc.
- Comply with environmental practices and procedures e.g. prevent cross contamination of invasive species, follow sustainability and waste management practices, plan work to adhere to legislation
- Operate in a way which reduces pollution of our waterways and land nearby
- Manage habitats using a range of specialist techniques such as coppicing, hedge laying, river/ stream bank stabilisation and establishing native plants, using appropriate tools and equipment. This could also include new and developing sustainable practices such as using natural materials to manage excessive rainfall (in constructing leaky dams and bale dams) and subsequently manage erosion and flood damage
- Manage vegetation in a range of different situations, for example strimming pathways, using pesticides, managing trees and hedgerows, eradicating invasive species in order to conserve native flora and fauna
- Enhance the organisation’s reputation by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work. Promote the work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
- Plan and deliver projects using best practice project management techniques, including management of risks and resources, time management and value for money and the natural environment, e.g. work on a river bank could also create a habitat for wildlife
- Demonstrate appropriate tool and material selection to carry out their duties safely, taking into account the ground/ working conditions
- Adapt working practices to take account of new, improved ways of working, especially with regard to safe working practices, such as new materials available, lessons learned from health and safety incident reviews, and new environmental practices
- Work with their line manager to develop their performance objectives and supporting activities. Demonstrate evidence towards achieving their objectives, using their organisation's systems and processes
- Actively seek opportunities to develop themselves, seeking feedback from peers, attending training and putting into practice, with evidence-gathering, etc.
- Handle media requests for information in accordance with policy and procedures
- Work collaboratively, ensuring everyone involved follows safe working practices at all times, such as using safe winching techniques to remove obstructions, and driving four wheel drive vehicles safely off the public highway on agricultural land
- Work effectively, safely and sustainably on the local priorities defined by the asset maintenance schedule
- Work with other teams to help develop condition assessments and a work programme allied to maintenance standards
- Review the impact of the ‘recovery phase’ of incident response and identify when an asset reaches the correct status
- Identify work which could improve habitats at the same time as improving assets
- Plan for volunteer involvement on-site
- Effectively contribute to a successful volunteer recruitment campaign
- Manage day to day requirements for volunteers involved on site
- Contribute to the delivery of sustainable volunteering offer, based on volunteer’s skills and interest areas
- Able to effectively communicate with volunteers
- Able to assess the task and identify the required Volunteering resource to deliver the task effectively
- Plan work activities for a wide range of volunteer groups and different tasks
- Carry out risk assessments for a wide range of tasks carried out by volunteers, including working close to water
- Sensitive to the needs of the group including recognising the volunteers as customers. Takes personal responsibility to ensure that they have a great experience
- Able to plan tasks as volunteering "events" for corporate groups by applying knowledge of resource requirements for each task
- Assess heritage value. Plan & execute work appropriately to context. Take advice from appropriate colleagues & stakeholders
- Follow technical advice and guidance in Environmental/ Heritage Assessments
- Improve the organisation's reputation, with particular reference to their conservation standards and credentials, by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work
- Promote the conservation work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
- Apply best practice to the safe use of a range of maintenance tools, plant and equipment specific to heritage conservation and appropriate for heritage materials (including Stone Masonry Tools & Chisels)
- Select and carry out minor repair work using the correct equipment and materials appropriate to heritage conservation (for example materials used to protect completed work)
- Demonstrate decision making that includes heritage value
- Identify and implement safe systems of work to deploy interventions in a timely manner
- Collate or report accurate data which ensures assets are well maintained in a timely manner
- Explain the purpose of managing water levels and watercourses in the context of organisational objectives, powers and responsibilities
- Operate individually or as part of a team to manage welfare of self and others in all weather conditions and times of day
- Take readings and interpret information from relevant technology such as gauge board, on-line telemetry, internet weather forecasts
- Take optical level survey to establish fixed datum for installation of water level monitoring equipment e.g. gauge board or telemetry site
- Record and present information to inform operational decisions e.g. water level diary or spreadsheet
- Appreciate risk of different types of livestock in rural settings and adapt working practices to accommodate those risks
- Work safely and effectively, identify hazards, assess risk and comply with internal and external control measures. Dynamically assess risk and challenge unsafe activities when carrying out their duties, for their protection and that of others (e.g. contractors, members of the public), and take the necessary actions to minimise potential risks
- Take proactive steps to manage their personal wellbeing, especially when working in high risk environments such lone working, confined spaces, in or near water. Implement lone working device in accordance with own organisation’s procedure.
- Communicate HSW controls and safe working systems that are to be followed by you and others when working outdoors, e.g. pre-briefing before work commences
- Select and use a range of maintenance tools, plant, equipment and resources so that asset maintenance plans can be delivered in safe manner whilst also protecting the environment, e.g. start-up checks, correct use of plant, etc. taking into account the working conditions and water environment status
- Report relevant asset information which contributes to ensuring assets are well maintained in a timely manner
- Apply soft engineering principles and practices to reduce erosion and manage stabilisation and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding watercourses, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics and saving money
- Design, plan and build boundaries and apply sound principles and best environmental practices to preserve the natural environment within the context of the legal framework
- Communicate clearly and effectively with the public, land owners, contractors and colleagues to deliver business outcomes, e.g. explaining their work to a landowner, provide feedback to contractors and colleagues to improve ways of working and responding to queries from members of the public. Vary their communication style to fit differing situations e.g. handling a complaint, describing their work
- Use technology solutions available to communicate with others internally, e.g. email, social media etc.
- Comply with environmental practices and procedures e.g. prevent cross contamination of invasive species, follow sustainability and waste management practices, plan work to adhere to legislation
- Operate in a way which reduces pollution of our waterways and land nearby
- Manage habitats using a range of specialist techniques such as coppicing, hedge laying, river/ stream bank stabilisation and establishing native plants, using appropriate tools and equipment. This could also include new and developing sustainable practices such as using natural materials to manage excessive rainfall (in constructing leaky dams and bale dams) and subsequently manage erosion and flood damage
- Manage vegetation in a range of different situations, for example strimming pathways, using pesticides, managing trees and hedgerows, eradicating invasive species in order to conserve native flora and fauna
- Enhance the organisation’s reputation by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work. Promote the work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
- Plan and deliver projects using best practice project management techniques, including management of risks and resources, time management and value for money and the natural environment, e.g. work on a river bank could also create a habitat for wildlife
- Demonstrate appropriate tool and material selection to carry out their duties safely, taking into account the ground/ working conditions
- Adapt working practices to take account of new, improved ways of working, especially with regard to safe working practices, such as new materials available, lessons learned from health and safety incident reviews, and new environmental practices
- Work with their line manager to develop their performance objectives and supporting activities. Demonstrate evidence towards achieving their objectives, using their organisation's systems and processes
- Actively seek opportunities to develop themselves, seeking feedback from peers, attending training and putting into practice, with evidence-gathering, etc.
Training schedule
- Water Environment Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:Bridgwater & Taunton College delivers this apprenticeship on a blended learning programme through regular webinars, self-directed learning and on a block release basis.
- This includes staying away from home, which is paid for by the company.
More training information
Bridgwater & Taunton are the leading experts in this topic and are the only training provider offering this apprenticeship standard.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4)
- Mathematics (grade C/4)
Other 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
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Physical fitness
- Driving licence
Other requirements
This role requires travelling to remote locations to which a 4X4 is provided, as well as working in a confined space. Apprentices will need a Full UK Driving Licence to apply.
About this employer
Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.
We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.
New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Our People team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.
https://www.yorkshirewater.com/careers/early-careers-and-work-experience/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Attractive pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an extra wellness day! Life assurance cover Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!
After this apprenticeship
Upon completion of the Apprenticeship, the Apprentice will move into their Substantive Resource Engineer role which comes with its own progression plan including developmental opportunities and pay increases.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016576.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 8 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.