Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland.
Ready to own your future? Why choose between work and study when you can have both? With our Graduate Apprenticeships, you’ll get hands-on experience, a salary, and a degree - all at once. Work full-time in a real role, while studying towards your qualification. It’s the best of both worlds.
Join us as a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice, and in 4 years' time you’ll be graduating debt-free with a BSc (Hons) with 4 years of work experience under your belt. It’s an incredible way to start your career.
You’ll join our Waste Water Service Strategy team from August 2025, working to protect public health and the environment by ensuring Scotland’s wastewater network operates efficiently and sustainably.
What does a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice do?
As a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice in our Waste Water Service Strategy team, you’ll play a key role in maintaining and improving Scotland’s wastewater infrastructure. You’ll work on projects that ensure wastewater is safely collected, treated, and returned to the environment - helping to protect public health and Scotland’s natural resources.
Over four years, you’ll gain experience in:
* Designing and maintaining wastewater networks and treatment facilities
* Conducting site assessments and inspections to improve infrastructure
* Using engineering software to model and analyse wastewater systems
* Working on real projects that contribute to sustainable water management
* Ensuring compliance with environmental and industry regulations
You’ll work alongside experienced engineers and industry professionals, applying what you learn at university directly to real-world challenges.
By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a degree, four years of practical experience, and the technical expertise to launch a successful career in civil engineering.
Your Journey with Us
Graduate Apprenticeships offer the incredible opportunity to combine an academic degree qualification at a Scottish University with up to four years of hands-on work experience. Our Graduate Apprentices split their time between university and work, learning to apply their knowledge and skills in real time.
Over four years, you’ll receive dedicated training to become a fully qualified Service Planner, gaining the skills and confidence to make a real impact.
This is your chance to earn as you learn, working with industry-leading teams to help deliver services that are essential to the daily lives of the people of Scotland.
What’s in it for you?
You’ll be challenged and given the opportunity to grow. We’re committed to helping you unlock your full potential with top-notch training, ongoing support, and a significant investment in your personal and professional development.
Earn while you learn. You’ll start on £23,840, with clear, scheduled pay increases as you reach key milestones as you work towards your degree. As you apply your learning directly to your role, your studies will gain real-world relevance and impact. You’ll also be eligible for an annual bonus and a great pension scheme.
Qualification. You’ll earn a Civil Engineering BSc (Hons).
Real-world experience. Skip the theory and dive straight into dynamic, hands-on projects. You’ll build practical experience that not only enhances your learning but also accelerates your career.
Unmatched support. You’ll have a dedicated team of mentors at your side, guiding you through every step of the journey and ensuring you have everything you need to succeed.
Career growth. Upon completing the programme, you’ll be well-positioned to secure a permanent role, with both a degree and invaluable hands-on experience in your field.
Make a difference. You’ll be providing a vital service to Scotland and your local community, helping to protect the natural environment and make a positive impact.
And the best part? You’ll be part of a supportive, close-knit team that truly cares about your success - and who make every day at work enjoyable and rewarding.
What you’ll need
Civil Engineering is a challenging specialism, and you’ll be studying at undergraduate level. So, it’s important that you meet the university’s entry requirements:
You’ll need one of the following:
* 4 SQA Highers at BBBB including Mathematics or;
* A-Levels at BBC including Mathematics or;
* Int. Baccalaureate 28 points or;
* SQA HNC in an engineering discipline with Engineering Mathematics 1 & 2 (or equivalent).
We will also accept relevant Foundation Apprenticeships which will be treated as equivalent to one SQA Higher at Grade B.
You will need to be fully committed to gaining your degree. Some of your learning will happen on campus. Some of it will happen at work. Both are equally important.
A driving licence would be useful – but we know that lessons and tests are expensive. If you haven’t had the chance to pass your test, we can provide support to help you get your licence during your first year with us.
A Note to Women Considering an Apprenticeship
We’re proud to see more women joining our apprenticeship programmes every year - but we know there’s still work to do. Women are underrepresented in some of these roles, and we’re committed to changing that.
If you’re reading this and wondering if an apprenticeship is right for you, here’s the answer: it is. Don’t let outdated ideas about who belongs in certain jobs hold you back.
Apprenticeships are for anyone with curiosity, drive, and a willingness to learn. If that sounds like you, we’d love to see you apply.
At Scottish Water, you’ll find a supportive network of women and men who’ve got your back. Whether you’re out in the field, in the lab, or in the office, you’ll be part of a team that’s here to help you grow, succeed, and feel like you belong - because you do.
The not-so-small print
We’re accepting applications until midnight on Sunday 6 April 2025.
There will be some fun (no, honestly!) online assessment activity during late April. Interviews will happen during May. And we’re aiming to get all our new apprentices started on the 4 August.
For more information on our apprentice programmes and applications please visit our website: www.scottishwater.co.uk/apprentice
Start your career in Scotland’s Water Sector
Interested in learning more about apprenticeship opportunities that make a real difference? Explore hands-on roles across leading employers in Scotland’s water sector. Make an impact on communities, the environment, and public health while securing a sustainable future for Scotland. Visit www.watercareers.scot today.
A few final things worth knowing…
Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out!
Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We're also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.
As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you'll need to commit to moving here within your first three months.
Finally (finally!), candidates who haven’t submitted an application in the last 12 months will have their records removed from our recruitment database. You won’t need to do anything. Your data will be automatically deleted.
We’re here to help. Ask us anything at SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk
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