News

This National Apprenticeship Week (7-13 February), Severn Trent is celebrating what apprenticeships mean to businesses, individuals and communities across the region. 

The water and waste company has over 130 new apprenticeship and graduate opportunities currently on offer, ranging from level two intermediate (equivalent to GCSE’s) to level six and seven higher apprenticeships (equivalent to a degree).

Over 160 apprentices are currently on board at Severn Trent, and the company is inviting applications for its latest intake of new talent, with apprenticeship opportunities on offer being split into operational and office-based roles across 41 different locations.

National Apprenticeship Week comes as Severn Trent’s Academy in Coventry is celebrating its first birthday. During the past year, 17,000 learners have passed through the doors, with the £10m facility aiming to deliver 100,000 hours of employability training.

Andrew Dickinson, from Sutton Coldfield, started working at Severn Trent in August 2021 as an apprentice Health, Safety and Wellbeing Analyst. The 34-year-old said: “Before starting at Severn Trent, I was working for the Salvation Army in its music department developing community projects. I was looking for a career change, hoping to join a company that would support me in developing new skills whilst utilising those I already had. 

“The Severn Trent apprenticeship scheme appealed because it offered opportunities to grow into a new role. As a mature apprentice I would say the apprenticeship route is an excellent way to take a change in direction career wise. Having a good balance between learning theoretically as well as practically is big incentive as you are putting into practice what you have been studying. 

“The people I have worked with so far have been brilliant, everybody is happy to help and offer support in whatever way they can. The chance to meet and work with so many different people is terrific. The opportunity to learn from other people’s skills and experiences is not to be underestimated.”

Jade Pearson, New Talent Manager at Severn Trent, said: “Apprenticeships are a great way to bring talented individuals into a company, with the apprentice themselves developing valuable skills for life which will set them up for their future career.“

At Severn Trent we're passionate about creating life chances and meaningful job opportunities in our region, which is reflected through our social mobility credentials.“We’ve also been excited to launch our largest ever offering of new talent programmes, and this National Apprenticeship Week, we would encourage anyone interested to take a look at the fantastic opportunities we have on offer.”

Severn Trent has also been recognised as one of the country’s top performing companies for improving social mobility. It claimed a place in the top 10 in the latest Social Mobility Employer Index for the third year running, coming in fifth.The Index ranks Britain’s employers on the actions they’re taking to ensure they’re open to accessing and progressing talent from all backgrounds.

Questions about any of the graduate scheme or apprenticeships can be sent to potential@severntrent.co.uk.