A Guide to Assessment Centres

Inclusion at Anglian Water

 

We welcome everyone! As an equal opportunity employer, we consider all qualified applicants, no matter their gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We hire and nurture based on merit and a shared passion for making positive impacts. Our commitment is to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and can use every drop of their potential. Our managers and assessors have all undergone a variety of training and development to ensure that the process is fair and to mitigate any unconscious bias. 

 

 

Our Commitment to Inclusion and Belonging

 

At Anglian Water, inclusion isn’t just a policy—it’s part of who we are. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and help us deliver the best service to our customers and communities. That’s why we actively create an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to thrive. 

 

We’re proud to: 

 

Provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure fairness and accessibility. 

 

Offer training for all managers and assessors to reduce unconscious bias and promote equitable decision-making. 

 

Encourage open conversations about inclusion and belonging, because your voice matters. 

 

If you have any questions or need support during your application journey, please reach out to our recruitment team. 

 

We’re here to help every step of the way. 

What is an Assessment Centre?

We know assessment centres can feel a bit daunting, whether this is your first one or you’ve attended a few before. Our guide below is designed to help you understand what to expect, and you’ll also find an example timetable at the end. If you need any support, guidance or adjustments at any stage, please do let us know. We’re here to help.

On the day, you’ll meet a small number of Anglian Water colleagues who will be hosting the assessment centre. If you need extra breaks, adjustments, or support at any time, just let them know, they’ll be happy to help.

During the assessment centre, you’ll take part alongside other candidates and meet a range of people from across Anglian Water. This may include potential managers as well as trained, impartial assessors from different areas of the business.

Our assessment centres can take place at one of our offices, operational sites, or an external venue such as a conference centre. Throughout the day, you may be invited to take part in a variety of activities. These can include individual exercises, interviews, skills-based tasks, group discussions, presentations, teamwork activities and opportunities to network. The exact format will depend on the role you’re applying for.

We’re committed to making our assessment centres as accessible and inclusive as possible. Fidget items and colour overlays will be available on the day, and we encourage you to get in touch in advance if you need any adjustments so we can support you fully.

How to prepare & what to take to an Assessment Centre?

How to Prepare?

 

If you need to prepare anything in advance, such as a presentation, you will be told about this when you receive your assessment centre invitation. If there are no formal requirements, you can still get prepared for your assessment day to give yourself the best chance of acing it! 

 

What to take?

 

If you need to bring anything specific, you will be told about this in advance. If in doubt, here’s our quick checklist for what to bring to your assessment centre: 

 

Any documents you have been asked to provide, such as copies of exam results. 

Photo ID, such as your driving licence or passport. 

Proof of Right to Work documentation, further guidance on accepted documentation will be within your invitation 

Group Activities and Why Teamwork is Important

Teamwork is vital if you want to work well with colleagues and teammates. You will probably have had to work as part of a team in many areas of life; from class projects to planning a family event. 

 

Even if you work well on your own due to great self-management, being a team player is a valued skill for most jobs. 

 

The better you work with others, the more successful your team will be in achieving their goals. Employees often need to collaborate or work with others to complete tasks and projects. Having teamwork skills and experience will make it a much better experience for you and everyone on your team. 

 

Your teamwork skills can help you at work in all sorts of ways. Perhaps you’re working in retail and thinking about the health and safety of yourself and your teammates. Maybe your team has work together to create a report for a client to a tight deadline. 

During the Interview

It’s okay to ask the interviewer to repeat a question or explain something to make sure you understand what you’re being asked. Prepare with notes (and bring them on the day) but don’t read them line for line, they should be a prompt or a talking point 

 

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers – click the button below to visit our careers site for hints and tips

 

Aim to give full answers to questions. Use each question as an opportunity to show the employer why you are right for the job. Full answers help employers understand who you are, and we would encourage you to prepare some examples from different scenarios. These could be from the same job or company. 

 

You can be honest and say how you have learned from mistakes. Employers understand that everyone makes mistakes and it’s okay to make mistakes. They want to see if you have the resilience to learn and improve from mistakes in the past. 

Top Tips for an Assessment Centre

Our assessment centre helps us understand how you work, think and collaborate, while giving you the chance to showcase your strengths in a supportive environment. It’s as much about you getting to know us as it is about us getting to know you.

It’s About How You Work

Assessment activities aren’t about finishing first, but about your approach, attitude and how you work through a task.

Be Yourself

This is your chance to stand out by being you. Play to your strengths and focus on your own performance rather than comparing yourself to others.

Work Well With Others

How you interact really matters. Be friendly, inclusive and respectful, making space for everyone to contribute – this reflects our values of working together, doing the right thing and exploring better ways.

Make the Most of Networking

Use breaks and networking moments to connect. Simple, professional conversations can help you build rapport with both other candidates and Anglian Water colleagues.

Ask Questions and Show Curiosity

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the day. Showing curiosity about the role, the task or Anglian Water demonstrates engagement, interest and a genuine desire to learn.

Take a Breath – We’re Here to Help

Relax, smile and let your skills shine. If you need support before or on the day, just let us know, we’re happy to help.

Top Tips for an Assessment Centre

Our assessment centre helps us understand how you work, think and collaborate, while giving you the chance to showcase your strengths in a supportive environment. It’s as much about you getting to know us as it is about us getting to know you.

Assessment activities aren’t about finishing first, but about your approach, attitude and how you work through a task.

This is your chance to stand out by being you. Play to your strengths and focus on your own performance rather than comparing yourself to others.

How you interact really matters. Be friendly, inclusive and respectful, making space for everyone to contribute – this reflects our values of working together, doing the right thing and exploring better ways.

Use breaks and networking moments to connect. Simple, professional conversations can help you build rapport with both other candidates and Anglian Water colleagues.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the day. Showing curiosity about the role, the task or Anglian Water demonstrates engagement, interest and a genuine desire to learn.

Relax, smile and let your skills shine. If you need support before or on the day, just let us know, we’re happy to help.