Thames Water - anyone work/worked there?
Discussion
I’ve been put through to the final stage of interview process for a Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice.
Having the read the blurb, I’m not completely sure what the role entails, during the 18 month program or once completed.
I do know they’re offering 20k with incremental increases throughout the course.
I’ve literally this week started a new job doing something I don’t want to be doing for the next 25 years (HGV). The interview is next week, this is a separate ballache.
It’s less than half what I’m earning at the moment and had aimed to get back on the property ladder in 12 months time. Obviously I couldn’t if I took the apprenticeship.
Life isn’t all about money and Thames Water seem to be (from what I can see) a good employer but my main question is does anyone know what the salary is like for a qualified Tech in this role? I know there could be prospects to progress/traverse into something else within the company but I’m conscious that I could enter into the apprenticeship and be paid 30k for the foreseeable.
I’m 40 by the way, though presently have no rental or mortgage commitments.
Having the read the blurb, I’m not completely sure what the role entails, during the 18 month program or once completed.
I do know they’re offering 20k with incremental increases throughout the course.
I’ve literally this week started a new job doing something I don’t want to be doing for the next 25 years (HGV). The interview is next week, this is a separate ballache.
It’s less than half what I’m earning at the moment and had aimed to get back on the property ladder in 12 months time. Obviously I couldn’t if I took the apprenticeship.
Life isn’t all about money and Thames Water seem to be (from what I can see) a good employer but my main question is does anyone know what the salary is like for a qualified Tech in this role? I know there could be prospects to progress/traverse into something else within the company but I’m conscious that I could enter into the apprenticeship and be paid 30k for the foreseeable.
I’m 40 by the way, though presently have no rental or mortgage commitments.
Edited by Tekno on Thursday 15th June 21:21
Typically you can enter this role in the water industry without doing an apprenticeship and going straight onto the full time salary.
You will end up with an NVQ 3 in water treatment, which is pretty much standard across the industry now a days. (Assuming this is water production technician and not waste)
It will be an eye opener and a lot of learning, the water treatment process is pretty standard, depending on water source.
A lot of industry specific terminology to get your head around aswell.
Not sure how Thames Water operate, but most water companies have the staff working typical 37 hr weeks with an additional week on standby, depending if the site is manned 24/7, which then becomes shift work.
Having previously worked for a water company as an electrician as part of an MEI department for 15 years, if not on shifts then as a process technician there is the potential for good earnings. A lot of water companies overtime is pensionable. Shifts obviously attract a higher basic with a shift allowance.
Standby retainer, call out fee, overtime rates Typically 1.5x and 2x, call outs not on standby, sleep time after last call out, wasn't unheard of people earning over 60k a year.
It's a very reactive industry as water is produced on demand, and plants are sized accordingly, so whilst in winter you may have too much water at times, in summer it's a constant job to keep up without resorting to tankering to keep service reservoirs in supply.
All plants are fully automated via PLC control, every valve, pump, solenoid, instrument etc..
emergency shutdowns if water is out of compliance which have varying timer amounts depending on what part of the process/severity. Aswell as emergency over rides which require permission from scientific/senior managers to be put on depending on the issue.
It will take you a good 3 to 5 years to be considered competent, and that depends on how many sites you have to learn.
You will learn good fault finding skills, the plant may be all computer controlled but issues occur and can take a bit of headscratching to figure out, as well as the quirks of each site, eg. How they start up etc..
Very interesting industry to work in and not a lot of insight out there as to what actually goes on.
You will end up with an NVQ 3 in water treatment, which is pretty much standard across the industry now a days. (Assuming this is water production technician and not waste)
It will be an eye opener and a lot of learning, the water treatment process is pretty standard, depending on water source.
A lot of industry specific terminology to get your head around aswell.
Not sure how Thames Water operate, but most water companies have the staff working typical 37 hr weeks with an additional week on standby, depending if the site is manned 24/7, which then becomes shift work.
Having previously worked for a water company as an electrician as part of an MEI department for 15 years, if not on shifts then as a process technician there is the potential for good earnings. A lot of water companies overtime is pensionable. Shifts obviously attract a higher basic with a shift allowance.
Standby retainer, call out fee, overtime rates Typically 1.5x and 2x, call outs not on standby, sleep time after last call out, wasn't unheard of people earning over 60k a year.
It's a very reactive industry as water is produced on demand, and plants are sized accordingly, so whilst in winter you may have too much water at times, in summer it's a constant job to keep up without resorting to tankering to keep service reservoirs in supply.
All plants are fully automated via PLC control, every valve, pump, solenoid, instrument etc..
emergency shutdowns if water is out of compliance which have varying timer amounts depending on what part of the process/severity. Aswell as emergency over rides which require permission from scientific/senior managers to be put on depending on the issue.
It will take you a good 3 to 5 years to be considered competent, and that depends on how many sites you have to learn.
You will learn good fault finding skills, the plant may be all computer controlled but issues occur and can take a bit of headscratching to figure out, as well as the quirks of each site, eg. How they start up etc..
Very interesting industry to work in and not a lot of insight out there as to what actually goes on.
I've done a fair bit of management consulting work with a number of water companies in the past (not doing it any more) including Scottish Water, Anglian Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water - plus a bit with UU. My observation is that if you get in when you're young and you're good then the opportunities to progress are pretty good. They don't pay brilliantly but if you get senior enough they pay ok and they're very secure. A good technician can progress into some interesting work but may not get rewarded very well. There is a largely public sector feel to most water companies in terms of working to hours and there are generally some strong politics at play. All easy to navigate if you're used to that kind of thing, but lots of husband/wife/family power play dynamics. The majority of people are great to work with but not hugely ambitious.
There is a hierarchy in the water sector. Thames is not known as a top player. That may not bother you, but may affect future employment opportunities if you want to move at some point.
As you're 40 the opportunities to progress may be limited as water companies tend to value time in service rather than ambition. Others may shoot me down but that's my learned experience. Being radical in your approach is unlikely to make you many friends.
As a sector, water is very safe. We're never going to need less clean water or waste water treatment and the state of the infrastructure means that AI is never going to eliminate much of the workforce. If you can apply some good problem-solving techniques to dealing with repeat failures (for example) you'll make friends. And if you want to progress into capital project delivery there is plenty of opportunity. If you do well and make good industry contacts then one of the engineering consultancies will bite you hand off in the future - but you may be too late in career terms.
Hope that helps - there are better ways to earn money, but it will be interesting and not that hard in intellectual terms if you want some job satisfaction.
There is a hierarchy in the water sector. Thames is not known as a top player. That may not bother you, but may affect future employment opportunities if you want to move at some point.
As you're 40 the opportunities to progress may be limited as water companies tend to value time in service rather than ambition. Others may shoot me down but that's my learned experience. Being radical in your approach is unlikely to make you many friends.
As a sector, water is very safe. We're never going to need less clean water or waste water treatment and the state of the infrastructure means that AI is never going to eliminate much of the workforce. If you can apply some good problem-solving techniques to dealing with repeat failures (for example) you'll make friends. And if you want to progress into capital project delivery there is plenty of opportunity. If you do well and make good industry contacts then one of the engineering consultancies will bite you hand off in the future - but you may be too late in career terms.
Hope that helps - there are better ways to earn money, but it will be interesting and not that hard in intellectual terms if you want some job satisfaction.
I've been through an engineering apprenticeship with them.
When you say "Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice", I'm assuming this is a role as an operator on a sewage site? If so, what that entails is dealing with the monitoring of effluent quality, and plenty of dogsbody work. You'll get covered in s
t (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend.
The actual work life balance is quite good. The job is fairly laid back. Plenty of people have worked there for so long that they're part of the furniture (this can be good and bad). Everyone knocks off at 3.30 on the dot. Plenty of overtime available. Callout roster.
If you can stomach occasionally having to deal with the inlet side of the works, the rest will be a walk in the park. Your immune system will be better than its ever been. I rarely get ill now. But on a couple of occasions I was violently spewing from both ends simultaneously after working on the sttier parts of site.
When you say "Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice", I'm assuming this is a role as an operator on a sewage site? If so, what that entails is dealing with the monitoring of effluent quality, and plenty of dogsbody work. You'll get covered in s
t (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend. The actual work life balance is quite good. The job is fairly laid back. Plenty of people have worked there for so long that they're part of the furniture (this can be good and bad). Everyone knocks off at 3.30 on the dot. Plenty of overtime available. Callout roster.
If you can stomach occasionally having to deal with the inlet side of the works, the rest will be a walk in the park. Your immune system will be better than its ever been. I rarely get ill now. But on a couple of occasions I was violently spewing from both ends simultaneously after working on the s
ttier parts of site. Edited by goldar on Friday 16th June 01:14
I haven’t long moved out of Welsh Water. Overall it depends of what you value in life, I moved out because hard work, being better than peers isn’t really valued that much, it’s a big company and everyone on the ground gets paid the same regardless, and the sickness policy is taken advantage of by the grifters. It can get you down.
I’ve moved into the private sector and I seem to be appreciated more and can negotiate better pay a lot easier!
You will be an Operator, they made an ‘apprenticeship’ scheme to pay less during training and to hit government targets. Not sure if your on waste of clean, I was on waste water, you get used to it but it is absolutely filthy on occasions. There’s nothing really that hard about the job, cleaning site, taking samples, driving to other sites for the same, some operational duties and reporting. The guys who stay generally are happy to plod along in a simple life, get used to yes men moving up the ranks and telling you what to do, same as most jobs I imagine but worse in the water boards.
I’ve moved into the private sector and I seem to be appreciated more and can negotiate better pay a lot easier!
You will be an Operator, they made an ‘apprenticeship’ scheme to pay less during training and to hit government targets. Not sure if your on waste of clean, I was on waste water, you get used to it but it is absolutely filthy on occasions. There’s nothing really that hard about the job, cleaning site, taking samples, driving to other sites for the same, some operational duties and reporting. The guys who stay generally are happy to plod along in a simple life, get used to yes men moving up the ranks and telling you what to do, same as most jobs I imagine but worse in the water boards.
Apparently, the CEO’s salary is okay. While the £2.3m package isn’t good enough for a PH Director, I suppose somebody would get out of bed for it.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/14/t...
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/14/t...
goldar said:
When you say "Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice", I'm assuming this is a role as an operator on a sewage site? If so, what that entails is dealing with the monitoring of effluent quality, and plenty of dogsbody work. You'll get covered in st (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend.
You're confusing wastewater treatment (aka sewage) with water treatment - getting reservoir/river water and treating it to go into the drinking water network. t (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend. otherman said:
goldar said:
When you say "Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice", I'm assuming this is a role as an operator on a sewage site? If so, what that entails is dealing with the monitoring of effluent quality, and plenty of dogsbody work. You'll get covered in st (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend.
You're confusing wastewater treatment (aka sewage) with water treatment - getting reservoir/river water and treating it to go into the drinking water network. t (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend. PorkInsider said:
otherman said:
goldar said:
When you say "Water Treatment Process Technician Apprentice", I'm assuming this is a role as an operator on a sewage site? If so, what that entails is dealing with the monitoring of effluent quality, and plenty of dogsbody work. You'll get covered in st (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend.
You're confusing wastewater treatment (aka sewage) with water treatment - getting reservoir/river water and treating it to go into the drinking water network. t (well, sludge), and you'll have to work the odd weekend. 
BigGingerBob said:
As a resident of Brixham, I wholeheartedly agree.
Brixham’s situation is what happens when the water companies don’t pay their managers a decent wage:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13426201/...
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