United Utilities welcomes 88 apprentices and graduates as class of 2022 embark on their new careers
United Utilities has welcomed its class of 2022, with 88 apprentices and graduates starting roles with the region’s water company this month – the biggest group the company has had for a single intake.
The new employees, 59 apprentices and 29 graduates, were welcomed to the business at a special induction day in Haydock, where they got to know each other and find out more about what United Utilities can offer as they develop their careers.
The new recruits are employed in roles right across the company, and as they develop their careers they’ll be involved in everything from fixing leaks and ensuring treatment works run efficiently, to helping customers with their bills and managing the company’s catchment land.
The 59 apprentices include several in water and wastewater roles such as mechanical field service engineers, process controllers, and process operators, and there are others joining the income and billing and developer services teams, and taking on roles as tanker drivers and data or finance analysts.
The 29 graduates joining the business are heading into roles across finance, project management, engineering, land management, digital services, and water treatment. There are also new graduates joining as Future Leaders across water and wastewater treatment, water network, central operations, bio resources and environment, planning and innovation.
They have already embarked on their first challenge with a residential trip through The Outward Bound Trust. This gave them the chance to get to know each other and take on some leadership and team activities, including hiking to the summit of England’s highest mountain, Helvellyn.
Julie McGovern, Head of People at United Utilities said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new apprentices and graduates and look forward to working with them to deliver great water and more for the North West.
“Our new starters bring a wealth of talent and enthusiasm to United Utilities and have already demonstrated their skills and passion during the recruitment process, so we’re sure they’ll have successful and exciting careers ahead of them.”
Faith Osisanya, a graduate mechanical engineer, said: “I discovered that United Utilities were doing a lot for diversity and inclusion, and that attracted me to the company.
“Everyone was so friendly, and they were willing to show me the whole water process – and that made me interested.”
Graduate Aritra Das commented: “I found out that United Utilities is really inclusive, it takes people from diverse backgrounds, and most importantly, they don’t hire people solely based on their technical abilities.
“United Utilities really consider your personal skills which you can take elsewhere and are transferable towards your life, and that’s what really made me apply to them.”
Apprentices at United Utilities are able to earn while they learn, studying Apprenticeship Standards which are endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and the Department for Education, while also gaining hands-on experience. They get to work across different areas of the business relevant to their role, and benefit from a variety of personal development opportunities. The company also supports Green skills, and e8ight of the apprenticeship schemes are classed as Green apprenticeships.
For graduates, United Utilities offers a tailored programme to provide recruits with the business and technical knowledge required to become future leaders. They benefit from first-class training and support alongside an in-depth understanding of their chosen area and the chance to make a tangible contribution to live projects that are benefiting the entire region.
To find out more about working at United Utilities and see the current vacancies, visit: www.unitedutilities.com/corporate/careers/