Apprentice Water Treatment Works Controller

Apprentice Treatment Works Controller

Full time – 37 hours per week

Fixed term apprenticeship up to 2 years

Salary – £24,243

Location – Langford, Essex

Please note recruitment days will take place 22nd and 23rd September

Start date October 2025

About the role

We have a great opportunity to join our Water Supply team as an Apprentice Water Supply Operator/ Apprentice Water Treatment Controller. Our Water Supply operators ensure we deliver the correct quantity of high-quality drinking water for our customers.

During your apprenticeship you will be working towards a Level 3 Water Industry Process Technician qualification. This qualification will provide you with the knowledge and skills to ensure safe and efficient operations as you take on your new role.

You’ll learn how we monitor water quality at multiple stages of the treatment process. You’ll be working with chemicals in the role to ensure we are treating and disinfecting the water effectively to make sure it leaves the site at the right quality.

You’ll be outside a lot of the time using laboratory testing equipment and recording results for auditing which supports the successful operation and maintenance of the site. You’ll support with site maintenance

You’ll learn about our water control system, SCADA to operate, monitor and adjust the treatment process whilst responding to trends, alarms and alerts. This means you’ll develop skills in communication, teamwork and time management.

This role offers full training to support the successful candidate to complete the various technical aspects of this role. This means we’re seeking someone with an interest in the environment, which would allow them to develop into this position.

About you

If you’ve got an eye for trends and love tackling problems hands-on, you’ll be right at home with us.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive and adaptable to meet a varied workload. You’ll be comfortable working alone and outdoors with minimal supervision.

The important stuff is that you’re a great team player with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and ready to learn. If that’s you, we want to hear from you.

You will work towards a Level 3 Water Process Technician apprenticeship. This is a specific programme developed for individuals working in the water industry. Apprentices will gain practical skills, technical knowledge and learn the right behaviours to ensure efficient and safe operations on our water treatment sites.

It is essential you will have Maths and English at a grade 4 or above.

Due to the nature of this role we would ask that you also have a Full UK Driving licence.

For the duration of this placement you will be employed by our apprenticeship partner ATA.

Here at Northumbrian Water/Essex & Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.

Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.

We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.

NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.

About us

Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.

We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply

NWG at a glance:

Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.

We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.

We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.

Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

Please note:

This role has been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test. Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.

Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.

Please note this role requires a DBS to be completed prior to employment.

NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) provides water and sewerage services to 2.7 million people in the North East of England as Northumbrian Water, and water services to 1.5 million people in the South East of England as Essex & Suffolk Water.

We are proud to serve our customers and we're committed to delivering great service, putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.