Environmental Scientist Apprentice

Summary

Interested in rivers, flooding and how water moves through the environment?

As an Environmental Scientist Apprentice, you'll gain hands-on experience, earn a salary and work towards a fully funded Environmental Science degree with Keele University while helping to protect water resources and the environment.

Wage

£24,454.04 a year

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Training course

Environmental practitioner (Degree) (level 6)

Hours

37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Flexible working is available. The role is mainly office-based, with opportunities for site visits and fieldwork across Great Britain. University attendance and study time will form part of the working week.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 21 September 2026

Duration

5 years

Positions available

1

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

• Support the monitoring and assessment of rivers, rainfall, flooding and surface water systems across Great Britain
• Assist with collecting environmental data, water samples and monitoring information from sites
• Help inspect and maintain hydrological monitoring equipment
• Analyse environmental and hydrological data using specialist software and tools
• Support investigations into water movement, flooding and environmental impacts
• Assist with the preparation of technical reports, maps, presentations and project documentation
• Work alongside experienced hydrologists and environmental scientists on environmental protection and water management projectsTake part in site visits, fieldwork and surveys to better understand water systems and catchments
• Contribute to projects that help protect communities, water resources and the environment
• Gradually take ownership of your own work and projects as your skills and experience develop

Where you'll work

200 Lichfield Lane
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 4RG

Training

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

Training provider

UNIVERSITY OF KEELE

Training course

Environmental practitioner (Degree) (level 6)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Apply complex environmental principles and methods to projects that integrate with the built or natural environment.
• Design, develop or manage safe and sustainable environmental solutions, be able to identify challenges these solutions pose, and assess the opportunities to deliver practical solutions that integrate with the built or natural environment.
• Balance views of potentially conflicting drivers related to environmental, social and financial constraints, and demonstrate critical analysis in the design, development or management of environmental projects.
• Apply and comply with policies and regulations, including those relating to the environment, health and safety, legal, planning and equality and diversity, and with their organisation’s formal procedures and practices.
• Determine and manage the collection, analysis, and evaluation of data used in the development or delivery of environmental solutions drawing appropriate conclusions and making practical recommendations.
• Apply, analyse and evaluate a broad range of environmental methods (utilising appropriate software and digital solutions), to inform and enable decision making within the development or delivery of environmental solutions. This includes assessing data suitability, validity, quality, and accuracy relative to its intended application.
• Effectively and safely manage tasks or projects, within environmental, legal, contractual and statutory requirements, to agreed time and resource budgets, and to agreed quality standards, through the application of appropriate project management tools and techniques.
• Deliver high quality accurate, well-structured documents and recommendations for the work for which they are responsible and are appropriate to those for whom they are intended.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with stakeholders and colleagues and support and guide team members to enable them to achieve the team’s objectives as well as their own. Actively seek and provide feedback, support decision making processes, and manage any conflicts that may arise in their work with integrity, fairness and consistency in decision making.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing in both formal and informal contexts, and with a variety of stakeholders. Listen actively to ensure the views of others are considered appropriately.
• Manage their own work independently within the limits of their ability, authority and responsibility, making use of support and specialist expertise when appropriate. Seek feedback on their performance, looking for ways to improve it.
• Develop their own professional competence, regularly updating and reviewing their CPD records and develop an extended network to support their professional development and maintain the required standard of, ethical behaviours and codes of conduct, associated with the environmental profession.
• Apply complex environmental principles and methods to projects that integrate with the built or natural environment.
• Design, develop or manage safe and sustainable environmental solutions, be able to identify challenges these solutions pose, and assess the opportunities to deliver practical solutions that integrate with the built or natural environment.
• Balance views of potentially conflicting drivers related to environmental, social and financial constraints, and demonstrate critical analysis in the design, development or management of environmental projects.
• Apply and comply with policies and regulations, including those relating to the environment, health and safety, legal, planning and equality and diversity, and with their organisation’s formal procedures and practices.
• Determine and manage the collection, analysis, and evaluation of data used in the development or delivery of environmental solutions drawing appropriate conclusions and making practical recommendations.
• Apply, analyse and evaluate a broad range of environmental methods (utilising appropriate software and digital solutions), to inform and enable decision making within the development or delivery of environmental solutions. This includes assessing data suitability, validity, quality, and accuracy relative to its intended application.
• Effectively and safely manage tasks or projects, within environmental, legal, contractual and statutory requirements, to agreed time and resource budgets, and to agreed quality standards, through the application of appropriate project management tools and techniques.
• Deliver high quality accurate, well-structured documents and recommendations for the work for which they are responsible and are appropriate to those for whom they are intended.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with stakeholders and colleagues and support and guide team members to enable them to achieve the team’s objectives as well as their own. Actively seek and provide feedback, support decision making processes, and manage any conflicts that may arise in their work with integrity, fairness and consistency in decision making.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing in both formal and informal contexts, and with a variety of stakeholders. Listen actively to ensure the views of others are considered appropriately.
• Manage their own work independently within the limits of their ability, authority and responsibility, making use of support and specialist expertise when appropriate. Seek feedback on their performance, looking for ways to improve it.
• Develop their own professional competence, regularly updating and reviewing their CPD records and develop an extended network to support their professional development and maintain the required standard of, ethical behaviours and codes of conduct, associated with the environmental profession.

Training schedule

You will complete the Level 6 Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (Hydrology pathway) with Keele University while working within our Technical Services team.

Training will be delivered through a combination of:

• On-the-job learning and practical experience at the Mining Remediation Authority
• Online and face-to-face teaching delivered by Keele University
• Block release attendance at Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG
• Independent study supported by both university tutors and workplace mentors
• You will receive dedicated support throughout the apprenticeship and will spend at least 20% of your working time on off-the-job training and study

More training information

The apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with Keele University over five years. Learning is structured through a combination of workplace experience, independent study and university attendance.

You will be supported throughout the programme by a dedicated workplace mentor and university tutor. University attendance will include a mixture of online learning, campus-based teaching and block release activities, scheduled in advance to support both study and work commitments.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English Language (grade Grade 4/C)
• Mathematics (grade Grade 4/C)

A Level in:

• any Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (grade 3 at grade BBC or above)
• any Geography, Environmental Science, Biology (grade 3 at grade BBC or above)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Willingness to travel across Great Britain for site visits, fieldwork and university attendance.

Ability to work outdoors in a range of weather conditions when undertaking fieldwork.

Must be able to meet the entry requirements for Keele University's Level 6 Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship.

A full UK driving licence would be advantageous but is not essential at the start of the apprenticeship.