Modern Apprenticeship 2026 – Multifunctional Water Operator (Skye)

Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland. Ready to own your future? At Scottish Water, our Modern Apprenticeships aren’t about sitting in classrooms all day. They’re designed to get you out there, hands‑on, learning real skills from the start. You’ll earn 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 Water Treatment team in Skye from August 2026.

As a Multifunctional Water Modern Apprentice, you’ll learn how we keep Scotland’s water safe, clean, and reliable. You’ll work with an experienced team, gaining hands‑on experience in treating and maintaining water supplies from reservoirs to taps. You’ll help monitor and maintain water quality at our treatment works. From calibrating monitors to adjusting mechanical and chemical processes, you’ll make sure everything runs smoothly. You’ll learn to record and review water quality results – checking pH, chlorine, aluminium, and phosphate levels – and spot anything that needs attention. Safety comes first. You’ll be fully kitted out with PPE and trained to carry out risk assessments. Routine inspections of plants, reservoirs and dams will be part of your day, along with following strict health and safety protocols.

This is your chance to learn, grow, and play a key role in delivering safe, fresh water to communities across Scotland – while helping us set standards that go beyond what’s expected.

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 three years, you’ll receive dedicated training to become a fully qualified Multifunctional Water Operator, gaining the skills and confidence to make a real impact.

• How to effectively treat high volumes of water to make it safe
• How to monitor assets like reservoirs and drainage systems
• How to collect and test water samples
• How to monitor and analyse readings from the meters and gauges on site and spot malfunctions
• How to use the software, apps and technology we use to monitor the water supply
• How to work in a way that keeps you and your colleagues safe and healthy.

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.

Once you’ve reached a certain point in your training, you’ll be included in our Out‑of‑Hours rota. That means you might occasionally be called into work outside your normal hours to investigate or fix a problem. You’ll earn some extra money each month for this, whether you’re called in or not.

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‑knitted 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 2026. A responsible attitude to learning and work is essential. You’ll be someone people can trust and rely on. 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 is required.

In terms of requirements? That’s it. But here’s the thing: We get lots of applications for our apprentice roles each year. What makes the best candidates stand out?

• 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 under‑represented 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 2026. 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. For more information on our apprentice programmes and applications please visit our website: www.scottishwater.co.uk/apprentice. For any additional queries regarding your application, feel free to contact us at EarlyCareers@scottishwater.co.uk.

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 and as such you may be subject to Drug & Alcohol testing in line with our policy.

Finally (finally!), candidates who haven’t submitted an application in the last 12 months will have their records removed from our recruitment database. You won’t need to do anything. Your data will be automatically deleted. We’re here to help. Ask us anything at SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk.