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
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
Water industry asset maintenance technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday during training period. 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. Exact shifts TBC
37 hours a week
Start date
Wednesday 2 September 2026
Duration
4 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 Field Service Engineer – Mechanical (Water), you’ll learn how to:
* maintain, refurbish and replace our mechanical equipment. Therefore, ensuring our water assets are available and are working correctly, helping to keep services running smoothly for our customers
* work as part of a dedicated team focussed on ensuring our plants continue to operate at maximum efficiency
* work with a wide range of equipment, be able to identify any faults and carry out routine maintenance, following the company’s rigorous health and safety standards
* schedule maintenance activity and organise your workload effectively
Where you'll work
Sweetloves Water Trestment Works
Astley Bridge,
Bolton
BL1 7EB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED
Training course
Water industry asset maintenance technician (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Work in line with water industry standards and regulatory requirements.
* Plan maintenance work, taking into consideration: process safety and following process risk assessments; the impact work has on the environment and on water treatment or wastewater recycling.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks, with consideration for process, cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
* Follow health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards, including PPE.
* Comply with sustainability principles. Segregate waste for recycling, reuse or disposal.
* Select, check store and maintain equipment and tools.
* Restore the work area on completion of the activity.
* Communicate in writing and record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and legal reporting requirements.
* Collect, interpret and use data and information using information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Apply equity, diversity and inclusion policies and practices.
* Apply teamworking principles.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Communicate with and provide support, technical advice, work updates and information to technical and non-technical colleagues and other stakeholders.
* Carry out and record learning and development activities.
* Comply with security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
* Electrical: Install, commission and decommission cabling and electrical equipment.
* Electrical: Apply electrical theories and principles.
* Electrical: Apply repair and maintenance practices and techniques.
* Electrical: Modify electrical circuits.
* Electrical: Interrogate information displayed on different types of intelligent control equipment. To include, PLCs, HMIs, Intelligent Starters, Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).
* Electrical: Carry out fault finding and rectification techniques using aids and diagnostic equipment.
* Electrical: Use tools, equipment, resources and components for installation, repair and maintenance.
* Electrical: Isolate equipment in preparation for maintenance work, including permits, safe isolation policies and lock off systems.
* Electrical: Inspect and test electrical installations and equipment.
* Electrical: Use electrical drawings.
* Electrical: Install different cable types and terminate to their specifications and applications.
* Electrical: Use mathematical theory.
* Electrical: Identify a problem, investigate problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution.
* ICA: Apply electrical theories and principles.
* ICA: Install, commission and decommission ICA equipment.
* ICA: Configure instrumentation and control devices.
* ICA: Calibrate and monitor open and closed loop systems.
* ICA: Use tools, equipment, resources and components for installation, repair and maintenance.
* ICA: Configure field instrumentation, communication devices and equipment used in system and process control.
* ICA: Apply repair and maintenance practices and techniques to instrumentation and control equipment, control systems and cabling.
* ICA: Carry out fault finding techniques for instrumentation and control equipment. Use diagnostic equipment.
* ICA: Inspect and test ICA equipment.
* ICA: Interpret and use design specifications, plans, drawings and manufacturer's instructions.
* ICA: Calibrate ICA equipment.
* ICA: Use mathematical theory.
* ICA: Isolate equipment in preparation for maintenance work, including permits, safe isolation policies and lock off systems.
* ICA: Install different cable types and terminate to their specifications and applications.
* ICA: Test telemetry signals and configure outstations.
* ICA: Use software to produce programs to be used within the control system.
* ICA: Assess condition of equipment. Identify action required.
* ICA: Identify a problem, investigate problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution.
* ICA: Analyse and monitor data to make evidence based changes if required.
* Mechanical: Carry out commissioning and decommissioning tasks on mechanical equipment.
* Mechanical: Assemble, position and install mechanical equipment or components.
* Mechanical: Disconnect and remove mechanical equipment or components.
* Mechanical: Apply repair and maintenance practices and techniques.
* Mechanical: Use tools, equipment, resources and components for installation, repair and maintenance tasks.
* Mechanical: Isolate plant and equipment in preparation for maintenance work, including permits, safe isolation policies, lock off systems and depressurisation of pressurised systems.
* Mechanical: Inspect and test mechanical systems and components.
* Mechanical: Carry out fault finding and rectification techniques using aids and diagnostic equipment.
* Mechanical: Carry out inspection and monitoring of mechanical systems and equipment.
* Mechanical: Identify a problem, investigate problem to identify the underlying cause. Identify a solution.
* Mechanical: Interpret and use manufacturer’s instructions, design specifications, plans and drawings.
* Mechanical: Apply basic fabrication, welding and thermal cutting processes for mechanical components and structures.
* Mechanical: Apply bench fitting techniques.
* Mechanical: Use machinery. For example, lathes, pillar drills, milling machine, threading machine, mechanical saws.
* Mechanical: Apply mechanical theories and principles.
* Mechanical: Use mathematical theory.
* Work in line with water industry standards and regulatory requirements.
* Plan maintenance work, taking into consideration: process safety and following process risk assessments; the impact work has on the environment and on water treatment or wastewater recycling.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks, with consideration for process, cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
* Follow health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards, including PPE.
* Comply with sustainability principles. Segregate waste for recycling, reuse or disposal.
* Select, check store and maintain equipment and tools.
* Restore the work area on completion of the activity.
* Communicate in writing and record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and legal reporting requirements.
* Collect, interpret and use data and information using information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
* Apply equity, diversity and inclusion policies and practices.
* Apply teamworking principles.
* Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
* Communicate with and provide support, technical advice, work updates and information to technical and non-technical colleagues and other stakeholders.
* Carry out and record learning and development activities.
* Comply with security procedures. For example, site access, document classification, and securing assets.
Training schedule
* During your first year, you’ll spend 3 days per week over a 8-month duration during term time at the Bolton Technical Training Centre
* If you do not live near, accommodation will be reimbursed/provided by United Utilities during this period, excluding weekends
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 provide
* 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