This position is no longer open for applications

What is the purpose of the role?
Joining a team in the Labs who are passionate about providing a quality service to our customers you will undergo a formal higher apprenticeship working towards foundation degree level in either chemistry or life sciences through workplace learning. The first three years of this role will work towards foundation degree level, with the opportunity to study for a further two years to honours degree level when you will then be skilled in either analytical chemistry or analytical microbiology. We work with Manchester (Chemistry) and Kent (Life Sciences) universities and the courses are mainly delivered through e-learning. During your apprenticeship you will be working towards the role of a Laboratory Analyst within Thames Water.

What makes this role unique?
This is a chance to train towards a degree whilst working in an analytical laboratory gaining practical experience, giving you the opportunity to earn while you learn, this is a great opportunity for anybody looking to start a career within the water industry. Continuously striving for excellent quality and with a Health and Safety record that all laboratories would be proud of we are giving you the chance to join a leading water organisation who supply an essential service to our 9 million drinking water customers and 14 million wastewater customers. We carry out over 2 million tests a year of which, most will come through our labs in Reading. Providing this essential service is a major responsibility that is already, and will continue to be, challenged by population growth, climate change and new legislation now and in the future.

What will this role involve?
There are two opportunities available, one in analytical chemistry and on in analytical biology. Both vacancies are based in Reading. The tasks in both roles are varied but a real passion to learn and succeed is key. During your apprenticeship the skills you learn will help you work towards a foundation and if successful at this, the potential to work towards an honours degree. The hands on experience in our laboratories will be repetitive and purposeful and will consist of the preparation and analysis of samples, primarily by chemical and/or microbiological techniques, for the determination of chemical and/or microbiological parameters. You will develop a good understanding of, and the ability to satisfy, Drinking Water Inspectorate, EA & UKAS requirements as appropriate and ensure that the service is delivered to time, cost and quality standards during the training whilst providing excellent customer service to everyone involved. . You will be responsible for maintaining and monitoring method performance, system suitability and conducting trend analysis to identify and proactively address issues for assigned analyses, hence minimising repeat analysis. Although the learning curve will be steep, you will be given the opportunity to develop and grow throughout the apprenticeship.

What are we looking for?
There are some minimum education standards we require for the scheme and these include a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades C or above, one of which should be maths. We also require you to have 2 A levels, one of which must be in either Biology or Chemistry depending which degree you intend to take. Whilst qualifications are important, as the ideal candidate you will have a genuine desire and the motivation to drive your own development as well as real passion for analytical chemistry or microbiology and a keen eye for detail. You will have put customers at the heart of everything you do and it is also important that you are a champion for Health & Safety within the work place for both you and your colleagues, helping us keep up our great reputation.

Thames Water information and salary details
This role is based in our Labs in Reading and the starting salary will be £13,000 with studies funded by Thames Water. About Thames Water Thames Water is the UK's biggest water and sewerage company. We provide the essential service at the heart of daily life, health and enjoyment to 14 million customers across London and the Thames Valley. On a typical day we supply 2.6 billion litres of top quality drinking water and our 350 sewage treatment works treat more than 4.2bn litres of wastewater. Our 85,000 miles of water mains and sewers would wrap around the world three-and-a-half times. We have an amazing history, but are equally excited by the future. We already self-generate enough electricity to power a city the size of Oxford, but by 2020 we expect 20 per cent of our power will come from sewage. We also built the UK's first sewage recycling plant on the Olympic Park and understand the importance of speaking to our youngest customers by visiting them at school. We will not compromise on standards which is why we carry out more than 400,000 tests per year on our drinking water. We continue to invest and this year will be spending more than £1 billion to improve our network and infrastructure - our pipes, sewage treatment and clean water treatment plants, which are some of the biggest and most advanced in Europe. Above all this, Thames Water values its staff as number one. The enormous scale of our work means we have to recruit and develop only the most talented candidates. Are you up to the challenge? Our people You would never guess half of the jobs we have at Thames Water. These range from the usual head office roles in customer service, HR and finance as well as specialist water and wastewater roles. Other areas that are not so obvious include our community investment team, sewer flushers, nature reserve rangers and historians. The closing date for applications is 18.05.2014 and all applications must be completed and submitted before this date.