Our year 13 learners were visited by Leigh from Thames Water for interactive careers talk about the apprenticeship opportunities available at the company, as well as a masterclass on CV applications and interview skills. Thames Water are a sponsor of LDE, and their continued support of the college has been integral in helping our learners gain the skills they need in industry.
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Thames Water serve 16 million customers which is 24% of the UK population. Thames Water maintain 85,000,000 miles of water mains and sewers which is enough to wrap around the world 3.5 times. |
Leigh began the session by sharing talking about the amazing work Thames Water does to keep the water flowing in London. Some pipes in the city are over 112 years old which means it’s an engineering feat to replace them whilst keep water running for Londoners.
Our visitor then moved onto to share apprenticeship opportunities at the company and what Thames Water look for in an apprentice. Thames Water have six values and behaviours that encourage employees to take care, take ownership and be passionate about the work they do. Leigh spoke about the importance of following the values and behaviours of the company to foster an aspirational and productive working environment.
Thames Water offer apprenticeships from students finishing their GCSEs all the way up to master's degree apprenticeships. They offer these opportunities in a range of roles, including Mechanical Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Customer Service. Lee then outlined details about the Technical Apprenticeship Programme at Thames Water. He spoke about the progression through the four-year course and the key role apprentices play in delivering essential services to customers. With only 20-30 apprentices hired in Thames Valley and London per year, there is an extraordinary level of competition for these roles.
After informing learners about the application process, Leigh offered a helpful recap on what should go on a CV. As Leigh tested our learners’ knowledge on what should go on a CV and how it should be presented, they rose to the challenge and confidently answered all his questions. Our visitor also shared CV do’s and don'ts and outlined the importance of a personal profile which includes who you are, what you can offer, and your career aims. Finally, Lee offered invaluable interview advice from the experience of having conducted multiple interviews during his time at Thames Water.
Thanks to Leigh for delivering an engaging and informative talk!
