Scottish Water
Modern Apprenticeship 2026 – Water Network Operations (Ayrshire)
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Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland.
Ready to own your future? At Scottish Water, our Modern Apprenticeships aren’t about just sitting in classrooms all day. They’re designed to get you out there, hands-on, learning real skills from the start. You’ll earn while you learn, gain industry-recognised qualifications, and build a career that actually matters.
Fresh out of school? Ready for a career switch? Whatever your story, we’ve got opportunities that challenge you, support you, and help you grow.
Join our Water Network Operations team in Ayrshire.
What does a Water Network Operations Modern Apprentice do?
As a Water Network Operations Modern Apprentice, you’ll dive straight into the action, tackling everything from burst pipes to valve shut offs, all while learning how our water network works behind the scenes. You’ll work alongside experts, getting hands-on experience with maintaining pumping stations, keeping the water flowing, and fixing problems as they arise.
No two days will be the same. You’ll jump in to help gather important data, solve customer queries, and pitch in to make sure the network keeps running smoothly. As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility - helping to manage on-site tasks, keeping everything safe and compliant, and making sure communities always have clean, reliable water.
Safety comes first. You’ll be fully kitted out with PPE and trained to carry out risk assessments. Over time, you'll learn how to ensure compliance with regulations, including carrying out sampling on mains, bursts, and customer complaints.
This is your chance to learn, grow, and play a key role in delivering safe, fresh water to communities across Scotland - while helping us set standards that go beyond what’s expected.
Your Journey with Us
Modern Apprenticeships combine on-the-job learning, with the opportunity to complete professional qualifications. Supported by our in-house Skills Academy team, each apprentice has both a day-to-day line manager, and a personal assessor who supports them through their qualification and ensures their training is of the highest standard.
Over four years, you’ll receive dedicated training to become a fully qualified Network Service Operator, gaining the skills and confidence to make a real impact.
- How to maintain and repair water and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring everything runs smoothly
- How to monitor and inspect key network assets like pipes, valves, and pumping stations
- How to identify and respond to network faults, including burst pipes and leaks
- How to collect and record data on network performance, helping to identify areas for improvement
- How to use the tools and technology to track, manage, and report on network operations
- How to work in a way that keeps you and your colleagues safe and healthy
A lot of your time will be spent outdoors. But in Scotland we all know that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. So, we’ll make sure you’re kitted out for whatever Mother Nature throws at us.
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You’ll be part of an expert, experienced team who will support you to develop your skills and knowledge while working towards a nationally recognised qualification. This is your chance to earn as you learn, working with industry-leading teams to help deliver services that are essential to the daily lives of the people of Scotland.
Once you’ve reached a certain point in your training, you’ll be included in our Out-of-Hours rota. That means you might occasionally be called into work outside your normal hours to investigate or fix a problem. You’ll earn some extra money each month for this, whether you’re called in or not.
What’s in it for you?
- You’ll challenge and stretch yourself. We’re here to help you make the most of your skills and abilities with first-class training, support, and a big investment in your development.
- You will qualify with a Water Industry SVQ at SCQF Level 5/6. From your 2nd year, you’ll get the option to do an HNC in Water Operations. And be supported through your qualification by trainers and assessors from our in-house Skills Academy.
- Earn as you learn. You’ll start on £25,312, with clear, scheduled pay increases as you reach key milestones throughout your training. You’ll also be eligible for an annual bonus and a great pension scheme.
- Job security. The vast majority of our apprentices choose to stay with us after completing their programmes. Many people even spend their entire careers with us! Some go on to become team leaders or managers, while others focus on honing their technical expertise.
- You’ll be providing an essential service to Scotland and your local community, helping to protect our natural environment.
- And the best bit? You’ll be working as part of a friendly, close-knit team that genuinely wants to see you succeed - and who make coming into work fun.
What you’ll need
- You need to be at least 17 years old.
- A responsible attitude to learning and work is essential. You’ll be someone people can trust and rely on.
- Ideally, you’ll have five National 4 or 5s (or similar). English, Maths and Science are particularly helpful, but they aren’t a dealbreaker.
- A driving licence would be useful - especially in some of our more remote locations - but we know that lessons and tests are expensive. If you haven’t had the chance to pass your test, we can provide support to help you get your licence during your first year with us.
A Note to Women Considering an Apprenticeship
We’re proud to see more women joining our apprenticeship programmes every year - but we know there’s still work to do. Women are underrepresented in some of these roles, and we’re committed to changing that.
If you’re reading this and wondering if an apprenticeship is right for you, here’s the answer: it is. Don’t let outdated ideas about who belongs in certain jobs hold you back.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Apprenticeships are for anyone with curiosity, drive, and a willingness to learn. If that sounds like you, we’d love to see you apply.
At Scottish Water, you’ll find a supportive network of women and men who’ve got your back. Whether you’re out in the field, in the lab, or in the office, you’ll be part of a team that’s here to help you grow, succeed, and feel like you belong - because you do.
The not-so-small print
- We’re accepting applications until midnight on Friday the 21st of August.
- For more information on our apprentice programmes and applications please visit our website: www.scottishwater.co.uk/apprentice
- Start your career in Scotland’s Water Sector
- Interested in learning more about career opportunities that make a real difference? Explore hands-on roles across leading employers in Scotland’s water sector. Make an impact on communities, the environment, and public health while securing a sustainable future for Scotland. Visit www.watercareers.scot today.
A few final things worth knowing…
- Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out!
- Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We're also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.
- As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you'll need to commit to moving here within your first three months.
Candidates should be aware that a valid UK driving licence is required for driving on Scottish Water business and claiming business mileage expenses.
Please note, Scottish Water takes the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues and customers very seriously and as such you may be subject to Drug & Alcohol testing in line with our policy.
Finally (finally!), candidates who haven’t submitted an application in the last 12 months will have their records removed from our recruitment database. You won’t need to do anything. Your data will be automatically deleted.
We’re here to help. Ask us anything at SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk
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