IT Generalist - Student Placement

About the Trust

We’re one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We’re looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Along with our waterways, we also manage museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: IT Generalist – Student Placement

12-month placement from September 2026. Joining our IT team as a student placement means you won’t just be watching from the sidelines - you’ll be right in the middle of real work that matters. From day one, you’ll get hands-on experience across three key areas of our IT function, discovering how technology powers a modern charity with national reach. You’ll help design and test digital tools, support the systems that keep the organisation running, and contribute to exciting new innovations that make a real difference for our colleagues and the communities we serve.

You won’t just be learning how IT works - you’ll see how IT creates impact: improving staff efficiency, helping teams respond to the public, and shaping tools that support wildlife conservation, heritage protection, and visitor experiences. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore different pathways in tech, build confidence, and develop skills that will set you up for your future career.

Our Student IT vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the regional waterway network will also be expected to enable attendance of meetings and to shadow colleagues as part of our buddy system. The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage.

Relevant Hub: Birmingham

Main areas of placement:

• Solutions Team: Work alongside a dynamic team dedicated to developing and building low-code/no-code solutions, as well as supporting business teams with a wide range of software requirements, including off-the-shelf products. Gain experience with cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence and proof-of-concept innovation. The student will actively contribute to solution development and technology innovation projects.
• IT Operations Team: Develop a practical understanding of how IT systems, services and devices are maintained and continuously improved. Collaborate with internal customers and external suppliers to support the delivery and enhancement of IT services, learning about incident resolution, problem management, system monitoring, and process improvement in a live environment.
• Project Team: Participate in the management of IT projects, gaining exposure to project planning, business analysis, and software testing. Learn how projects are initiated, structured, and delivered, and understand the importance of clear communication and effective stakeholder management.

Placement Plan

The student will report directly to the IT Business Relationship Manager and will receive guidance and mentoring throughout the placement: Approximately equal 3 way split between teams (Solutions, Operations and Projects). Technical / hard skill development.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the Solutions team in developing and testing new digital tools and solutions.
• Assist IT Operations with day-to-day service support activities and process improvements.
• Contribute to project delivery by undertaking tasks related to project management, business analysis, documentation, and software testing.
• Engage with a range of stakeholders, including business users and external partners.
• Attend team meetings and participate in knowledge sharing and training sessions.

About You

The successful candidate will be working towards gaining their IT, Technology, Computer Science or related degree and will:

• Have an interest in technology innovation and digital transformation.
• Apply their IT knowledge to develop effective solutions/ proof of concept, support continuous improvement and project management.
• Be self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Efficiently manage their own workload and prioritise effectively.
• Communicate well with people at all levels of our organisation.
• Positively represent the Trust to members of the public.
• Be flexible with their working hours and locations.
• Be keen to learn new skills to meet the unique demands of the Canal & River Trust and will be confident in dealing with colleagues in the IT team.

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

In addition to our competitive apprenticeship wage of £24,780, we can offer:

• High quality qualifications including training on top of the apprenticeship.
• Fantastic experience with hands-on training gives you a real chance to put your skills into practice and helping you to gain more confidence in a supportive working environment.
• Opportunities to take part in exciting projects around England and Wales.
• The chance to meet other apprentices, making friends for life.
• Disability Confident and Time to Change (mental health support) Employer.

Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community. We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes. All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception – are made by our hiring managers.