What you’ll be doing
as a Repair and Maintenance Apprentice:
1. Gain hands-on experience with the water team while being fully supported throughout your apprenticeship
2. Track and repair leaks and bursts; replace valves, hydrants, and stop taps; clear blockages; install and maintain meters and flow devices
3. Set up traffic control and safety barriers; ensure digs and reinstatements are safe and tidy
4. Operate diggers, tools, and other powered equipment
5. Keep accurate job logs and safety records
6. Work outdoors in all weather, across streets, homes, and building sites; shifts, standby call-outs, and physically demanding tasks, sometimes in tight spaces
7. Develop skills in clean-water network operations, safe digging, digital flow monitoring, teamwork, and communication
Where you’ll work:
Location: Croydon, CR0 8YY
Hours: 45-hour week over four working days plus one training day, with a 7:30am start
Start date: May 2026
Training and qualification: You’ll study with Watertrain, one of the UK’s leading water training providers, with 2-day block release training each month at a Thames Water site.
Qualification achieved: Water network operative Level 2 standard
Duration: Permanent contract with a 15-18 month structured programme
What you should bring to the role:
8. Level 1 English and Maths or GCSE grades 1–3 (D–G) or above
9. Aged 18 or above
10. Comfortable with working outdoors in different weather conditions
11. Good communication skills
What’s in it for you?
12. Excellent salary: £22,500 annum
13. Annual Leave: 24 days holiday per year increasing to 28 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
14. Work towards completing Level 2 English and Maths during the programme
15. Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
16. Generous Pension Scheme through AON
17. Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.