United Utilities has launched an early recruitment drive for new graduates in September 2024 – the company is urging students who have entered or recently completed their final year of university to consider a career with the North West’s water company.

United Utilities has 41 graduate positions to start in September next year, across ecology, engineering, the environment and beyond.

With salaries of £30,000, 26 days’ annual leave, an award-winning pension scheme, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, and a range of other benefits, the company has a lot to offer new graduates.

Graduates embark on a three-year programme with United Utilities, and are supported to achieve industry and professional qualifications related to the sector. They also benefit from the guidance of their manager as well as mentors and buddies. In their first and second years with the company graduates also take on the CEO Challenge, giving them the opportunity to broaden their experience and work with colleagues from other areas as well as external partners to come up with innovative ways to tackle some of the industry’s challenges.

To start in September 2024, the company is looking for:

• Future Leader (x7)
• Financial Accountant (x3)
• Economist
• Ecologist
• Environmental Planner
• Project Manager (x13)
• Network Modelling Engineer (wastewater)
• Network Modelling Engineer (water)
• Process Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Geotechnical Engineer
• Geoenvironmental Engineer
• Civil Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Hydraulics Engineer
• Construction Supervisor
• Rainwater Management (x2)
• Hydrology
• Planner (x2)

Matt Postlethwaite joined United Utilities in 2021 on the Future Leaders graduate scheme, so is now in his final year of the three-year programme. He said:

“I was delighted to be accepted on to the United Utilities Future Leaders graduate scheme after completing my undergraduate degree in geography and a masters in environmental science.

“The past couple of years have allowed me to not only put my learning into practice, but also to explore other areas of the business too. I’ve gained a lot from working with colleagues across different departments, and I’m proud to say I work for United Utilities.”

Sophie Marr started on the graduate scheme in 2020, and after finishing her placement was offered a role as Drainage Performance Manager. She said: “The graduate scheme was an excellent way to start my career after studying physics and gave me lots of different experiences across the whole company.

“I could not recommend the graduate scheme more. The variety of opportunities that the company gives you is incredible. I was not sure what path I wanted my career to go down before joining but all the different placements I did gave me the experience to know which area I wanted to pursue. The business invests a lot into the graduates and there is so much that you can learn and develop as a result. ”

Adrienne McFarland, People Director at United Utilities, commented:

“We’re incredibly proud of our graduate scheme and of all the graduates who join us each year. Their passion and commitment to their work is second to none, and they bring a wealth of fresh ideas and new ways of thinking that help to keep United Utilities at the leading edge of innovation.

“We encourage all those entering their final year of university, or who have recently graduated, to take a look at the roles and consider starting their career with United Utilities as part of a team that is helping to make the North West stronger, greener, and healthier.”

Most of the roles are based at the United Utilities headquarters in Lingley Mere, Warrington, with applications closing on Sunday 22nd October 2023 – click here for more information