Graduate Programme - Future Leader

Who are United Utilities?

United Utilities is responsible 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 3-year graduate programme will give you first-class training and support, together 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. You might enter our scheme as a graduate, but one thing's for sure, before long you'll be heading into your next role as a technical, operational or people leader.

Working in the North West means there's 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. Ready to flow into your future with us?

The Role

Join our 3-year Graduate Programme at United Utilities as an Operational Future Leader and become an integral part of our innovative Water Services or Wastewater Services teams across the North West region.

This scheme is for those who are looking to develop into key leadership roles within our operational and strategic planning teams so if you see yourself managing some of our treatment works or leading the teams who are focused on planning for a sustainable future, then this is the scheme for you.

At United Utilities we operate across five counties, each with its own unique needs and priorities. As part of the scheme, you’ll gain exposure to these diverse counties by working both on site and in an office setting. Alongside the county locations, our headquarters is based in Warrington, providing a central hub for regional planning and operations.

We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive culture where all team members’ contributions are valued. You will benefit from a robust support network that offers extensive learning and development opportunities. You'll gain a deep understanding of what it takes to lead one of our teams, this includes the operation and maintenance of our assets and the regulatory and legislative framework governing the water industry. Start living your future today!

What will I be doing?

• The scheme offers fantastic learning and development opportunities through structured placements, formal leadership training, creative innovation challenges and a robust support network, helping you build a successful career in a major utility company.
• As an Operational Future Leader, you’ll enjoy structured placements across various areas like Treatment and Network Operations, County System Performance and our Central Integrated Control Centre, giving you a comprehensive view of our operations and preparing you to lead one of our teams.
• You’ll also have the chance to gain experience in our Strategic Planning and Sustainability team, where you’ll contribute to shaping long-term operational strategies and driving our environmental and sustainability goals across the region.
• You will develop excellent communication, leadership, and change management skills, motivating teams to improve performance and meet high service standards.
• You’ll learn to think strategically to drive our organisation’s growth, essential for your future success.

What do I need to be successful?

We require our graduates to have a minimum 2:1 (or 2:2 with Masters) in any relevant technical, scientific, environmental, engineering or business management degree.

You will need to:

• Be motivated, enthusiastic and have the potential to develop excellent leadership, influencing and communications skills.
• Have good written and interpersonal skills.
• Be an excellent team player, possessing ambition and drive.
• Be able to have the ability to work across a matrix organisation to deliver desired outcomes.
• Be able to work in a variety of different teams from site to office based and be willing to travel to multiple locations in the North West. You may also need to be flexible with working hours at times.
• Have a full UK Drivers licence when the scheme starts (Sep 2026)
• Geographical flexibility across the North West is essential as you will need to travel to different sites (Warrington, Manchester, Blackburn, Fazakerley)

Additional Information

Our recruitment process requires you to complete:

• An Online application form
• Online tests
• MS Teams Interview
• An assessment centre, which will take place between 2nd – 5th December 2025 in Leigh, Lancashire. In person attendance is essential.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout your recruitment journey, please let us know. If you are offered a job with us, a number of pre-employment checks need to be carried out before your appointment can be confirmed. Any offer of employment with United Utilities will be subject to a satisfactory checking report from Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland.

Application deadline: 13th October 2025 – please apply early as deadlines are subject to change

Based on current immigration guidelines this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship