Thames Water has announced the arrival of a fresh group of apprentices at the utility company.
The latest recruitment drive attracted an unprecedented 9,908 candidates competing for 145 available apprenticeship positions.
Applications became available during National Apprenticeship Week in February, generating the most substantial response the organisation has ever recorded.
Karima Khandker, who holds the position of director of resourcing, skills, learning, and EDI at Thames Water, expressed satisfaction with the September intake.
According to Khandker, the record number of applicants, combined with top-ten national rankings for both apprenticeship and graduate programmes in The JobCrowd 2026/27 survey, demonstrates the strength of the company’s early careers offerings and the importance people attach to earning while learning and building a career with purpose.
Khandker noted that as Thames Water undertakes the largest infrastructure upgrade in 150 years, investment extends beyond pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities to include the skilled workforce required to deliver these improvements for decades ahead.
The apprenticeship positions span numerous areas, encompassing engineering, project management, finance, communications, data, and repair and maintenance roles.
These programmes constitute an essential element of Thames Water’s strategy to commit more than £20 billion toward network upgrades across the next five years.
Jaden, a water network operative apprentice who commenced in May, described the opportunity as transformative.
Having previously been without employment, Jaden stated that the position represents something significant not only for personal prospects but also for family members and future ambitions.
The apprentice emphasised that the opportunity has provided clear goals and professional aspirations in a field he looks forward to developing.
Upon successful completion, participants in Thames Water’s apprenticeship schemes receive qualifications recognised throughout the industry along with guaranteed employment.
Positions are accessible from entry level through to degree-equivalent standard.
The company’s five-year apprenticeship completion rate stands at 82 per cent, climbing to 91 per cent for Level 3 engineering apprenticeships.
Both figures substantially exceed the national average of 65 per cent.
Lily, a communications apprentice beginning in September, explained that transitioning directly from A-level studies to an apprenticeship role at Thames Water has been rewarding.
Lily noted that queries throughout the application process and interactions with colleagues have been met with helpful responses.
The apprentice had chosen the apprenticeship route rather than university attendance, and finds employment with an organisation providing essential services fulfilling given the tangible impact of the work performed.
Thames Water continues prioritising apprenticeship development to build a skilled workforce capable of meeting future infrastructure demands.