About the Role

This Apprenticeship is for anyone who is looking for a career in the water utilities industry. Apprentices will work towards a Level 2 Diploma which will give them first-hand experience in main laying, repair and maintenance and the potential to move into a permanent role at the end of the apprenticeship.

Wage

• £19,760 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training Course

• Water network operative (level 2)

Hours

• Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 17:30, with a half an hour unpaid lunch break each day.
• 47 hours 30 minutes a week

Start Date

• Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

• 1 year 6 months

Positions Available

• 8

What You'll Do at Work

• Main laying of ductile iron pipes
• Main laying of plastic pipe materials
• Main laying: butt fusion of polyethylene pipes
• Main laying: electrofusion of polyethylene pipes
• Carry out alterations to existing mains
• Installation of polyethylene service pipes
• Make service pipe connections, under pressure, using single spindle machines
• Electrofusion jointing for polyethylene pipes and ferrules in service laying
• Repair and modification of service pipes
• Installation of water meters and proprietary boundary box systems

Where You'll Work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• Envolve Infrastructure, Unit B, St Brendans Court, Bristol, BS11 9FB
• Envolve Infrastructure, Mwyndy Cross Industries, Pontyclun, CF72 8PN

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training Provider

• UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP

Training Course

• Water network operative (level 2)

What You'll Learn

• Course Contents
  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.
  • Carry out squeeze off activities.
  • Join materials by fusion techniques.
  • Join materials by mechanical means on clean water assets.
  • Drill and tap clean water assets.
  • Install clean water assets.
  • Conduct disinfection procedures for clean water mains and services.
  • Check the performance of the asset and escalate issues if necessary.
  • Use continuous supply procedures.
  • Repair water network asset.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the clean water network.
  • Use pumping equipment.
  • Follow hygiene procedures.
  • Install or replace waste water assets.
  • Replace and join materials by flexible seals, for example band seals on waste water services.
  • Prepare the site for a no dig team.
  • Carry out excavation and shoring of deep excavations.
  • Repair waste water network assets.
  • Use mitigation methods to maintain flow, for example using pumps, stopping or diverting.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the waste water network.
  • Decontaminate equipment, tooling and PPE.
  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.