I chose Anglian Water because it offered me an opportunity to work in a field that interested me without having to go away to university. After applying to the apprenticeship based on the job role, I did some further research on Anglian Water and discovered lots of great reviews online, such as their award for being the best place to work in the UK. Now that I have worked here for a bit, I can confirm that the reviews are accurate!
There are many benefits to working for Anglian Water as an apprentice. Not only do you get to work for a business that cares about its employees, you also work in a company that is very supportive of apprentices and want to build them up.
There are lots of opportunities within the business to grow your skills and Anglian Water is very supportive of apprentices pursuing these opportunities.
I have taken part in workshops that have covered how to plan my career path, improving my personal resilience and many others.
My day to day varies depending on what projects I have going on at the time. No two projects are the same which is nice as it keep the job varied. Each project brings a new challenge which helps me improve both my technical and soft skills. At college we learn the technical skills needed to work with the data analysis industry, such as how to code in Python and R. As well as this we learn the theory, which gives you a holistic view of the data analysis subject. The projects I get involved in at work are very different but all link back to data. One of the projects that I am currently working on is to do with finding a way to display our 3D models in VR, this project has taught me a lot about how to present findings of my work to external and internal stakeholders to the project. I have also been involved in more traditional Data Analysis projects, like working on creating dashboards for operational staff at Water Recycling Centres that displays data they collect about the assets on their site.
As an apprentice in Anglian Water you receive support from everyone in the business. If you are ever stuck on something, you will find someone who is a subject matter expert that will help you. I have also had the support and encouragement to participate in workshops and courses that help improve soft skills that are not taught at the college like presenting or workload management.
From the apprenticeship I am not only able to learn technical skills for Data Analysis like Power BI, I am also able to develop soft skills like presenting and workload management that will help me in any role I end up going to after the apprenticeship. At college I have learnt how to program in Python and R and have even become Microsoft accredited for those languages through the college, as well as getting a final qualification at the end of my course that is endorsed by the biggest IT charted institute in the United Kingdom.
I would describe the culture at Anglian Water as being friendly and supportive. A really good atmosphere to be an apprentice in. The variety of projects that I am able to work on are the best bit about my role. It allows me to learn what different parts of the business do and allows me to gain a better understanding of the sort of job role I would want to be in after the apprenticeship is finished.
“I’m a Leakage Technician Apprentice currently undertaking a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. It’s been a really good stepping stone for progression within Anglian Water.
Day-to-day, I help to spot potential leakages in our network before they’re visible or cause a disruption to customers. I’ve been given a lot of training with our equipment, so I use those and our resources to complete my tasks. It feels good to know we’re helping customers out.
“Anglian Water is helping me to build a lifetime career.”
My manager, in particular, has always been there to push me in the right direction and has encouraged me to sign up for courses I’m interested in. The business wants you to learn beyond your job and develop. In fact, one of my proudest moments to date was being given the chance to be on the Future Leaders Board at Anglian Water.
Anglian Water is like a big family – there’s always someone there if you need help. Every day is interesting, rewarding and challenging (in a good way!).”
After coming across the apprenticeship online and initially thinking it looked like a great opportunity academically for me, I then looked into Anglian Water’s ethics and reputation which solidified my initial thoughts that it seemed like a great company to work for. The company really places an emphasis on employee wellbeing, progression and benefits and also has great environmental ethics, it outcompetes a lot of other companies in this regard.
Day to day, my workload varies. I have a number of projects working with people from different teams in my business area and I am free to organise my workload for these in a way that best suits me. I can have days where I will be in meetings all day and representing Anglian Water to external companies and on other days I will be able to focus fully on my technical work, working mainly with asset data.
I would recommend Anglian Water because it really is a great company to work for. The culture is relaxed but motivating, they really encourage and support professional growth as well as supporting personal development where they can. This is also why they’re a great company for apprenticeships, they facilitate learning and development and you can ask anyone in the business for help or some guidance and they will happily help you. The work is varied and often tailored to areas where you need more experience, you are given ample support to progress in these areas to become well-rounded for any future role you might take on within the business or beyond. It’s a great way to learn lots of new professional and technical skills whilst also being employed by a great company and making good connections.
For the course, we study Data Analysis in Python and R and the wider context of data analytics within businesses. Our project work is varied. We have multiple projects at any one time and they can be completely different from each other. Some of my projects have involved representing the company to an external software corporation, investigating and configuring their products to assess their suitability for handling AW data, working with one of our alliance partners and leading a working group of subject matter experts to address the issue of data flow, data input and cleansing with our GIS and leading and facilitating a forum for apprentices across digital and data business areas. The variation in projects makes sure that the apprenticeship always remains interesting and means that no two days are the same, making it a great way to try out different areas of work to find out what role and area of the business interests you the most.
The manager of our team is very supportive, she always offers guidance and someone to talk to when needed and takes any feedback or suggestions into account. As an apprentice, my experience has been that you are warmly welcomed and offered any support you need no matter who you go to. The atmosphere with Anglian Water is very friendly and most people who you go to for help will be happy to support and mentor you in areas/topics that are relevant to your projects or development.
The skills/knowledge that I am gaining from this apprenticeship are countless. I have gained a lot of confidence in facilitating and leading groups of people, networking, project management and have learned all about data and analytics through my apprenticeship.
Very friendly, relaxed but can be slightly faster-paced at times, supportive of progression but encouraging of work-life balance. A great working culture.
The variation in the projects that we do really keeps the role interesting, and for me, the real benefit of this comes from all of the different people I meet as a result of this. Everyone I have come across has been super friendly and helpful, and have been very knowledgeable in their area and it has been great to work with some of these people and gain knowledge from them.
I am currently working from home. It has been amazing to see the utilisation of technology to support us throughout the pandemic. I am often seeing people that I may not have seen at all prior to this. Knowing that people genuinely care about your wellbeing.
I chose to join Anglian Water to be part of a company with great core values and be part of their bigger mission whilst using my skills in technology. In my apprenticeship programme I can explore different teams within our Information Services department. This means that I can try out different areas to work out what I like but also what I do not like. Whilst trying these out I am also developing technical and soft skills that will help me grow. This means that my day to day work is often quite different and not one day is the same and for me I love that.
I originally thought I always wanted to be a software engineer and wanted to develop into that career, however, by joining Anglian Water I realised that there were so many other career paths that I didn’t know existed but excited me even more!
I honestly believe the opportunities are endless here and there is something for everyone. I also get to work with different schools to host workshops around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), different technology skills and I get to share my experiences as an apprentice.
My apprenticeship is equivalent to Computer Science with the added benefit of learning more business skills to give me a broader understanding which is great because it becomes easy to apply what you are learning into the job straight away. A lot of the projects I have worked on involve improving processes and efficiency by using technology. This requires an understanding of the current business process and limitations and then have a wider understanding of what technology is out there to solve that challenge and build a solution. I also had the chance to run Anglian Water’s Open Data project and host an international hackathon collaborating with other water companies.
It is undeniable the amount of personal and career growth I have experience since starting the apprenticeship. I have achieved things that I would never thought I would do and moulding my career towards my goals by developing my skills and knowledge. I also get support from my line manager and leadership team mentor who stays with me throughout the programme (4.5 years) and then I also have a placement manager for each placement I go to, to support me in gaining all the skills I need in that area.
I have lots of different support networks and everyone is always willing to help should I need it. I feel like my voice is always listened to and I have the freedom to unleash my creativity as long as I meet the end goal that was given to me.
“Anglian Water first stood out to me because it’s rated the best company to work for in the UK. It felt like the kind of place I could see myself staying at for a long time and progressing, rather than just a stepping stone. It’s proven to be everything I thought and more.
I’m undertaking a Digital and Technology Degree Apprenticeship, which means I’m also going to Aston University alongside working.
“My apprenticeship has been highly rewarding – you can learn in a way that suits you, while exploring different business areas.”
My first placement is with the Digital Services team who develop solutions to tackle problems and make improvements within the business. They’ve given me real responsibility from day one. In fact, I’ve been asked to research DevSecOps and how Anglian Water could progress with it.
The business always supports us with workshops, courses and activities to ensure we’re getting a valuable experience. They understand that apprentices are important – bringing fresh minds full of potential allows Anglian Water to continue being innovative.”
I had heard lots of great things about Anglian Water. When leaving school, I knew that I wanted to do an apprenticeship with a reputable company that was going to give me great opportunities long term and that’s exactly what Anglian Water has done.
I am an Operational Technology Field Apprentice working within the Operational Technology Department. My role enables me to support and monitor the telemetry networks that control operational processes within the business to ensure they run as smoothly as possible.
Having a passion for electrical engineering and networking will benefit you in this role.
However, I started my apprenticeship having done a GCSE in Electronic Products and knew very little about networking and I have enjoyed my time in my apprenticeship, learning lots of new things along the way. Anglian Water are always supportive in any courses or workshops that you want to get involved in.
After my apprenticeship, I plan to continue in my role within Anglian Water to gain a deeper knowledge of the telemetry networks. Eventually, I would like to do an Electrical Engineering HNC to further my studies and have a broad range of knowledge.
My advice for someone applying for an apprenticeship at Anglian Water would be to just be yourself! Show a willingness to learn and grow within your role. Anglian Water don’t always want the best but someone who has a positive attitude for new opportunities and shows good potential.
The best thing about my role is that I am able to earn while I learn and cease new opportunities to progress within the company.
My job is stimulating and challenging which gives great variety in what I do from day-to-day. No two days are the same!
Health and safety is paramount at Anglian Water and this has certainly been reflected during the Coronavirus pandemic. I was asked to stay home during the first lockdown but on return to work I have felt safe and supported in the decisions I have taken to keep myself well and healthy at work. Regular business bulletins have helped me to stay up to date with the changes that are being made across the business.
