Level 2 Water Network Operative Apprenticeship

M J ABBOTT LTD

Wiltshire (SP3 5EB)

Closes in 24 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 6 August 2026


Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity commencing September for someone looking to build a rewarding career under our 'Dean McCormack Apprenticeship Programme'. You will build practical skills and gain recognised qualifications, earning while you learn. You need to be passionate, keen to learn and enjoy working outdoors.

Wage

£19,968 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 to Friday 7am start. Variable hours.

48 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

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

You will be mentored within our Water, Civils, Sewer engineering teams by time served and qualified operatives, who are experts in all things water!

Where you'll work

Bratch Lane
Dinton
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP3 5EB

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

  • You will be trained within our premises and attend sites with experienced operatives and engineers
  • Training at college will be in 6 block weeks of learning

Requirements

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

  • Must be comfortable working outdoors in all weathers

About this employer

MJ Abbott are one of the UKs leading specialist contractors. Having started over 60 years ago in land drainage, we now have large golf course, sport pitches, landscape, water and civil engineering projects across all sectors.

http://www.mjabbott.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

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

  • This is a pathway to gain valuable skills, earn a wage and gain formal qualifications
  • Successful apprenticeships lead to permanent roles where the opportunities within a specialist construction firm are endless
  • This can lead to progressing your qualifications further, promotions and broader responsibilities

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

M J ABBOTT LTD

Jackie Mitchell

hr@mjabbott.co.uk

01722716361

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046815.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)