Level 3 Apprentice Process Controller (Water)

United Utilities; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company in the UK is offering a Level 3 Apprentice Process Controller position. This 36-month apprenticeship includes hands-on training in water treatment processes, guaranteed permanent employment upon completion, and an annual salary starting at £20,000. Successful candidates will receive structured support and mentorship as they develop essential skills in a critical industry.

Benefits

Generous salary

26 days of leave

£500 driving lesson contribution

Qualifications

• Willingness to learn and gain understanding of water industry.
• Good personal skills for dealing with suppliers and contractors.
• Ability to manage work/college balance.

Responsibilities

• Operate water treatment systems and equipment under compliance regulations.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Follow site procedures to maximize process efficiency.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Willingness to learn

Education

5 GCSEs including Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject

Job description

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! With a range of award-winning roles on offer, you're sure to find your perfect career here at United Utilities. We'll provide you with industry-leading skills and the experience you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Who are United Utilities?

United Utilities is accountable 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.

Whatever area of our business your interests lie in, our award winning apprentice programme will give you first-class training and support, aligned with an in-depth understanding of your chosen business area – so that you can develop the skills you need to progress your career as you make a real contribution to the communities we serve.

Working in the North West means there's a lot of ground to cover. You could have the opportunity to work in the heart of the Lake District, or you could sample a taste of city life. As well as our main office in Warrington we also recruit for a variety of roles based across the North West; we have 575 wastewater treatment works and 96 water treatment works in areas from Crewe in Cheshire to Carlisle in Cumbria.

Whichever scheme you join, you'll be at the heart of bringing innovation and positive change to the water industry.

Ready to flow into your future with us?

Life as a United Utilities Apprentice

Our apprentices are well looked after, with a generous salary, 26 days of leave (excluding bank holidays), a £500 contribution towards learning to drive, and many more benefits.

You'll have a dedicated mentor and manager to support you every step of the way. All we ask is that you're willing to learn, work well as part of a team, and manage your time and workload effectively.

Start living your future, today!

As a Level 3 Apprentice Process Controller (Water), you'll learn how to:

• make our water treatment processes run smoothly by learning how to operate our systems and the equipment we use to deliver drinking water to our customers, making sure it complies with strict compliance regulations
• work as a team to ensure our water treatment works run smoothly and comply with strict health and safety and compliance regulations
• follow our site procedures and standards to ensure that all the processes that we use are working to their full potential

A bit more about the role

Your apprenticeship will last 36 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Water Industry Treatment Process Technician (water) standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships.

During your first year, you'll spend one working week out of every month, learning new theory and skills at our technical training centre in Bolton. If you're from outside of the area, accommodation will be reimbursed/provided for this period, excluding weekends.

Once you've completed your apprenticeship, you'll be asked to join part of a formal standby rota, which may require you to do some out of hours work. Don't worry, your training will prepare you for this but we do advise that you apply for a vacancy that’s relatively easy for you to get to, as we would need you to travel to the site quickly if you're called out during standby.

You will need to be mobile in this role, we'll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help you on the road!

What we're looking for:

You’ll live and breathe the water industry so it’s important you're willing to learn and gain an understanding of how we provide clean water for our customers.

You could also be dealing with our suppliers and contractors, so you’ll need to have some good personal skills too. We’re looking for someone keen to gain hands‑on experience, develop practical skills, and achieve the standards needed to succeed in this role.

You’ll be expected to:

• Manage a work/college balance.
• Work and communicate within multiple teams/work areas.
• Take responsibility for own learning and workload.

You’ll need to have:

• 5 GCSEs or equivalent, grades A-C or grades 9-4, which must include Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject.

Why choose us to kickstart your career?

• Secure your future - Every apprentice is guaranteed a permanent position at the end of their scheme*
• A springboard to your career - You'll receive structured training, a dedicated mentor, and high‑quality learning to help shape your career
• Inspire the next generation - You'll have the chance to represent United Utilities at key events across the region, engaging with young people to bring careers in the water industry to life
• Reward and benefits - There are lots of perks, including a competitive starting salary of £20,000, which will increase each year based on performance
• Be part of the UU family - You'll have the chance to network, bond, and learn from your colleagues and fellow apprentices

As long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme.

We need fantastic people to help us deliver a great service to the public. We are committed to reaching and recruiting from every community, supporting our employees to achieve their full potential, and ensuring everyone feels valued and included, regardless of gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, or social background.

Additional Information

Please check and ensure that you are comfortable with the following points before you apply:

• It is essential that you live within a reasonable commuting distance of the base location of your apprenticeship.
• 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.

Depending on the role that you are applying for, our recruitment process may require you to complete:

• An online application form
• Online tests
• An in‑person interview (and presentation) or assessment centre
• A technical test

Important Notes

If you are offered a job with us, a number of pre‑employment checks will need to be carried out before your appointment can be confirmed. Any offer of employment with United Utilities will be subject to a satisfactory report from the Disclosure Scotland / the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Please only apply for one apprenticeship role. Part of the assessment process will be to detail why you have applied for your selected apprenticeship vacancy.

Please note that we are unable to offer Visa sponsorship for this role.

You must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years before starting the apprenticeship.