Level 3 Apprentice Field Service Engineer – Mechanical (Water) in Bolton

Are you ready to live your future? Do you want to be part of building a greener, healthier, and stronger North West? Come and join us! With a range of award‑winning roles on offer, you’re sure to find your perfect career here at United Utilities. We’ll provide you with industry‑leading skills and the experience you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Who are United Utilities? United Utilities is accountable for water and wastewater services in the North West of England. From 2025‑2030 we will undertake the largest investment in water and wastewater services in the North West in 100 years – that’s more than £13 billion worth of projects. Now, more than ever, we need inspiring future talent to help make the North West stronger, greener, and healthier.

Whatever area of our business your interests lie in, our award‑winning apprentice programme will give you first‑class training and support, aligned with an in‑depth understanding of your chosen business area – so that you can develop the skills you need to progress your career as you make a real contribution to the communities we serve.

Working in the North West means there are a lot of ground to cover. You could have the opportunity to work in the heart of the Lake District, or you could sample a taste of city life. As well as our main office in Warrington we also recruit for a variety of roles based across the North West; we have 575 wastewater treatment works and 96 water treatment works in areas from Crewe in Cheshire to Carlisle in Cumbria. Whichever scheme you join, you’ll be at the heart of bringing innovation and positive change to the water industry.

Life as a United Utilities Apprentice: Our apprentices are well looked after, with a generous salary, 26 days of leave (excluding bank holidays), a £500 contribution towards learning to drive, and many more benefits. You’ll have a dedicated mentor and manager to support you every step of the way. All we ask is that you’re willing to learn, work well as part of a team, and manage your time and workload effectively.

As a Level 3 Apprentice Field Service Engineer – Mechanical (Water), you’ll learn how to:

• maintain, refurbish and replace our mechanical equipment, ensuring our water assets are available and functioning correctly, helping to keep services running smoothly for our customers;
• work as part of a dedicated team focused on ensuring our plants continue to operate at maximum efficiency;
• work with a wide range of equipment, identify faults and carry out routine maintenance, following the company’s rigorous health and safety standards;
• schedule maintenance activities and organise your workload effectively.

A bit more about the role: Your apprenticeship will last 48 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Water industry asset maintenance technician (mechanical) standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships. During your first year you’ll spend three days per week over an eight‑month duration at the Bolton Technical Training Centre. If you do not live near, accommodation will be reimbursed or provided by United Utilities during this period, excluding weekends. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship you’ll be asked to join part of a formal standby rota, which may require you to do some out‑of‑hours work. Don’t worry your training will prepare you for this, but we advise that you apply for a vacancy that’s relatively easy for you to get to, as we would need you to travel to the site easily. You will need to be mobile in this role, we’ll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help you get on the road!

What we’re looking for:

• Manage a work/college balance.
• Work and communicate within multiple teams/work areas.
• Take responsibility for your own learning and workload.

You’ll need to have:

• 5 GCSEs or equivalent, grades A‑C or grades 9‑4, including Maths, English and a Science or Technology subject.

Why choose us to kickstart your career?

• Secure your future – Every apprentice is guaranteed a permanent position at the end of their scheme.
• A springboard to your career – You’ll receive structured training, a dedicated mentor, and high‑quality learning to help shape your career.
• Inspire the next generation – You’ll have the chance to represent United Utilities at key events across the region, engaging with young people to bring careers in the water industry to life.

Reward and benefits – There are lots of perks, including a competitive salary and additional benefits such as flexible working arrangements and a wellbeing programme.