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 award winning apprentice programme will give you first-class training and support, together with an in-depth analytical 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’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?
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.
Start living your future, today!
As a Level 2 Apprentice Credit Controller, you’ll learn how to:
*interact with our customers with the aim of stopping them falling into debt, and help those who have fallen into arrears get back up to date with their payments
*provide ’best in class’ customer service, supporting customers facing financial hardship and get them the help they need
*take ownership for complex queries and issues, following these through to resolution
*contribute to team targets
*Diagnose customer issues and investigate and interpret data held on a number of different systems
*Accurately record and process a variety of customer enquires both verbal and written
*Manage customer expectations as well as set and agree timescales for actions to be performed
*Promote United Utilities products and services
A bit more about the role
Your apprenticeship will last 18 months, and successful apprentices will achieve a Level 2 Credit Controller and Collector standard, endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Your learning will be at your workplace with ad hoc day release for study.
What we’re looking for:
We’re looking for someone keen to gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills, and achieve the standards needed to succeed in this role and kick-start their career in credit management. We’ll support your journey and map out your career path with us from apprentice to a fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management and ultimately, into a career with United Utilities.
The work you will do is vital for our business. You’ll be dealing with people so communication will be key to succeed in this role, and you will deal with queries quickly and efficiently. Don’t worry, we will teach you everything you need to know.
You’ll need to have:
*2 GCSEs or equivalent, grades A-C or grades 9-4 in Maths and English
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 starting salary of £20,000, which will increase each year based on performance
*Be part of the UU family – You’ll have the chance to network, bond, and learn from your colleagues and fellow apprentices
*As long as you meet all necessary standards and behaviour criteria throughout the programme.
Additional Information
Please check and ensure that you are comfortable with the following points before you apply:
*It is essential that you live within a reasonable commuting distance of the base location of your apprenticeship
*As part of your induction, you will attend a five day residential trip to the Lake District. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in a beautiful setting with your fellow apprentices. Accommodation and boarding will be provided
*Duringyour apprenticeship, you may need to travel to your place of study. If you’re not local to your place of study, accommodation will either be provided or reimbursed by United Utilities during this period (excluding weekends). Please consider travel requirements and staying away from home if applicable
Determined by the role that you are applying for, our recruitment process may require you to complete:
*An Online application form
*Online tests
*An in-person interview (and presentation) or assessment centre
*A technical test
Important Notes
Please only apply for one apprenticeship role. Part of the assessment process will be to detail why you have applied for your selected apprenticeship vacancy.
Please note that we are unable to offer Visa sponsorship for this role.
You must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years before starting the apprenticeship.