Project Engineer Apprentice

Thames Water; Witney; On-site; GBP 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water and wastewater provider in the UK is seeking a Project Engineer to support the delivery of mechanical, electrical, civil, control, and instrumentation projects. Responsibilities include managing project scopes, ensuring health & safety compliance, and overseeing commissioning. The ideal candidate must have GCSE Maths and English, 64 UCAS points, and a passion for learning. The role offers an excellent salary of £22,500, generous leave, and various benefits.

Benefits

Annual leave: 24 days increasing to 28

Performance-related pay plan

Generous Pension Scheme

Access to health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Must have GCSE Maths and English (grade 9-4 / A-C).
• Require 64 UCAS points from any combination of acceptable level 3 qualifications.
• Passionate about learning aligned with Thames Water's goals.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of projects up to £5m.
• Work with teams to scope and cost solutions.
• Draft and review project plans and commissioning documents.
• Oversee commissioning and handover to operational teams.

Skills

GCSE Maths

GCSE English

Strong learning passion

Driving with own vehicle

Education

64 UCAS points from acceptable qualifications

Job description

Overview

Start your Project Engineer career with Thames Water. Kick‑start your future supporting the UK’s largest water and wastewater provider. You’ll help deliver a portfolio of small to medium capital projects and learn how engineering solutions keep our services running for millions of customers.

What you’ll do

• Support delivery of mechanical, electrical, civil, control, and instrumentation projects up to £5m.
• Work with operations and contractors to scope, specify, and cost value‑for‑money solutions.
• Promote a zero‑compromise approach to health & safety and ensure CDM compliance.
• Collaborate with delivery partners to keep projects on time and reduce business risk.
• Draft and review RAMS, project plans, CPPs, and commissioning documents.
• Oversee commissioning and handover to operational teams.
• Ensure training, test certificates, and as‑built drawings are completed and provided.

Where you will work

Location: Witney OX28 5JH

Hours: 36 hours a week across four working days plus one off‑the‑job training day. Working hours vary and are predominantly 7.30am–3.30pm.

Start date: Sept 2026

Training and qualification

You’ll study with University of Built Environment, one of the UK’s leading training providers. Your training includes virtual sessions each week, as well as live seminars and recordings; tasks and learning resources are set on the VLE.

Qualification: Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor Standard – Certificate of Higher Education Construction & Built Environment

Duration: Permanent contract with a 42‑month structured programme

What you should bring to the role

• Has GCSE Maths and English (grade 9‑4 / A‑C)
• 64 UCAS points from any combination of acceptable level 3 qualifications
• Drive with own vehicle and business use car insurance will be needed
• Is passionate about learning and aligned with Thames Water’s goals for the future

What’s in it for you?

• Excellent salary: £22,500
• Annual Leave: 24 days holiday per year increasing to 28 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to benefits to help with health, wellbeing, and finances – including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance

Find out more

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.