Drainage - Apprentice

Summary

Start building your future with Ipsum. As a Drainage Apprentice, you’ll develop practical skills, work on real projects, and learn from experienced crews in a supportive team environment - all while earning and progressing your career.

Wage

£19,117.80 a year

Training course

Water network operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday, working hours to be confirmed.

45 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 24 September 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

10

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Due to the nature of our business, flexibility is essential. Our operations run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the role may involve early starts, weekend working, and occasional out-of-hours work at locations across the UK. You will need a full UK driving license.

Working as part of a busy operational team, you will assist with site-based activities, support project delivery, and help ensure work is completed to the highest standards. You will receive guidance and training from experienced colleagues while building confidence in taking responsibility for your own tasks and development.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Engineers and Technicians in completing site-based work safely and efficiently.
• Follow all Health & Safety, Quality, and Environmental procedures and regulations.
• Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Report site incidents, hazards, or near misses promptly and accurately.
• Assist in identifying and resolving problems before they escalate.
• Contribute to the production of accurate reports, feedback, and project documentation.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, clients, and customers.
• Follow internal and external escalation processes when required.

Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and a positive attitude as an active member of the team.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking an individual who is eager to learn, enjoys practical work, and can work effectively as part of a team. You should have strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to delivering excellent service. Most importantly, you should be willing to learn, take direction from experienced colleagues, and show respect and professionalism when working with customers and stakeholders.

This apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity to gain valuable industry experience, develop recognised skills and qualifications, and build the foundations for a rewarding long-term career.

Where you'll work

Units 6 7 Haydock Cross Industrial Estate
Kilbuck Ln
Haydock Saint Helens
WA11 9UX

Training

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

• 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.

Training schedule

• Water Process Operative Level 2
• Training will take place at Construction Skills and Innovation Centre, Cannington via block weeks, as well as online. There will be a requirement to stay in accommodation which will be arranged by the employer

More training information

• There will also be the opportunity to enter into a bespoke 2-week work academy to understand more about the skills required for the role, and information about working for Ipsum
• Details to be supplied once shortlisted

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4/C and above)
• Maths (grade 4/C and above)

Knowledge in:

Basic knowledge of Health and Safety principles (grade Good)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Time Management
• Mature Mindset
• Positive Attitude
• Self-Motivation
• Adaptability
• Respectful Behaviour
• Equipment Care
• Willingness to learn

Other requirements

Full clean driving licence.

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.