Modern Apprenticeship 2026 – Water Leakage (Ayr) in Kilbirnie

Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland. Ready to own your future? At Scottish Water, our Modern Apprenticeships are about getting you out there, hands-on, learning real skills from the start. You’ll learn while you learn, gain industry-recognised qualifications, and build a career that actually matters. Fresh out of school? Ready for a career switch? Whatever your story, we’ve got opportunities that challenge you, support you, and help you grow.

Join our Leakage team in Ayr from August ****. What does a Water Leakage Modern Apprentice do? As a Water Leakage Apprentice, you’ll be at the forefront of ensuring Scotland's water supply is reliable and efficient. This isn’t your typical desk job - you’ll be out in the field, gaining hands-on experience in monitoring and assessing water systems. You’ll be identifying leaks, managing them, and reducing water loss to ensure everything runs smoothly for our customers. It’s more than just fixing leaks. You’ll be using the latest technology to monitor systems and spot potential issues before they escalate. Your training will equip you with the skills to troubleshoot, repair, and optimise our water systems, helping us deliver top-quality service to communities across Scotland.

Safety comes first. You’ll receive full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and training on how to perform risk assessments and follow health and safety protocols when working out in the field. This is your chance to learn, grow, and play a key role in the operation of Scotland's water supply – while helping us set standards that go beyond what’s expected.

Your journey with us: Modern Apprenticeships combine on-the-job learning, with the opportunity to complete vocational qualifications. Supported by our in-house Skills Academy team, each apprentice has both a day-to-day line manager and a personal assessor who supports them through their qualification and ensures their training is of the highest standard. Over four years, you’ll receive dedicated training to become a fully qualified Water Leakage Technician, gaining the skills and confidence to make a real impact.

• How to use advanced technology and equipment for leak detection and monitoring
• How to maintain and improve water systems to minimise leakage and waste
• How to conduct regular inspections and surveys of water pipes and infrastructure
• How to follow strict health and safety procedures to protect yourself and your team

A lot of your time will be spent outdoors. But in Scotland, we all know that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. So, we’ll make sure you’re kitted out for whatever Mother Nature throws at us. You’ll be part of an expert, experienced team who will support you to develop your skills and knowledge while working towards a nationally recognised qualification. This is your chance to earn as you learn, working with industry-leading teams to help deliver services that are essential to the daily lives of the people of Scotland.

What’s in it for you? You’ll challenge and stretch yourself. We’re here to help you make the most of your skills and abilities with first-class training, support, and a big investment in your development. You will qualify with a Water Industry SVQ at SCQF Level 6. From your 2nd year, you’ll get the option to do an HNC in Water Operations. And be supported through your qualification by trainers and assessors from our in-house Skills Academy. Earn as you learn. You’ll start on £24,352, with clear, scheduled pay increases as you reach key milestones throughout your training. You’ll also be eligible for an annual bonus and a great pension scheme.

Job security. The vast majority of our apprentices choose to stay with us after completing their programmes. Many people even spend their entire careers with us. Some go on to become team leaders or managers, while others focus on honing their technical expertise. You’ll be providing an essential service to Scotland and your local community, helping to protect our natural environment. And the best bit? You’ll be working as part of a friendly, close-knit team that genuinely wants to see you succeed - and who make coming into work fun.

What you’ll need: You need to be at least 17 years old by 1 August ****. A responsible attitude to learning and work is essential. You’ll be someone people can trust and rely on with good problem-solving skills and technical ability. Ideally, you’ll have five National 4 or 5s (or similar). English, Maths and Science are particularly helpful, but they aren’t a dealbreaker. A driving licence would be useful, especially in some of our more remote locations, but we know that lessons and tests are expensive. If you haven’t had the chance to pass your test, we can provide support to help you get your licence during your first year with us.

In terms of requirements? That’s it. But here’s the thing: We get thousands of applications for our apprentice roles each year. What makes the best candidates stand out? Here are a few things we love to see:

• CVs that tell us more than what qualifications you have gained. Show us what you love. What are your aspirations?
• Cover letters that tell us why you’re interested in Scottish Water (and in this role particularly). We recommend including cover letters in the same document as your CV.

A note to women considering an apprenticeship: We’re proud to see more women joining our apprenticeship programmes every year, but there’s still work to do. Women are underrepresented in some of these roles, and we’re committed to changing that. If you’re reading this and wondering if an apprenticeship is right for you, here’s the answer: it is. Apprenticeships are for anyone with curiosity, drive, and a willingness to learn. If that sounds like you, we’d love to see you apply. At Scottish Water, you’ll find a supportive network of women and men who’ve got your back. Whether you’re out in the field, in the lab, or in the office, you’ll be part of a team that’s here to help you grow, succeed, and feel like you belong - because you do.

The not-so-small print: We’re accepting applications until midnight on Sunday 22 March ****. There will be some fun (no, honestly) online assessment activity in April. Interviews will happen during May and June. And we’re aiming to get all our new apprentices started in August.

A few final things worth knowing... Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway. We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out. Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters). We’re also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.

As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you’ll need to commit to moving here within your first three months. Please note, Scottish Water takes the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues and customers very seriously.