Who are United Utilities?

We are known for keeping the taps flowing and toilets flushing throughout the North West, but we also pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service, protecting and enhancing the environment and caring for our communities. We invest in the region to support future growth, address climate change and work in partnership to improve river health.

We are looking for motivated graduates from all backgrounds to help make the North West greener, healthier, and stronger. By joining our graduate scheme, you’ll play a crucial role in securing efficient, reliable water resources for customers across the North West.

Whichever scheme you join, you’ll be at the heart of bringing innovation and positive change to the water industry. Ready to live your future?

Why choose United Utilities for your graduate journey?

Career Progression Opportunities: Our graduate scheme offers clear pathways for advancement, structured programmes, and mentorship to help you develop into an outstanding leader. You’ll receive a tailored development programme, with opportunities for placements in other areas of the business.

Personal and Professional Development: You’ll have the chance to work within a highly motivated team, gaining a wealth of experience and creating a fantastic professional network. From specialist training to mentoring and coaching to internal support networks for LGBTQ+, Gender Equality and Neurodiversity, we’ll support you every step of the way. There is also potential for sponsorship for a master’s or other postgraduate qualifications.

Work-Life Balance: We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our flexible working policies and supportive work environment ensure you can achieve this balance while pursuing your career goals.

Our Reputation and Culture: United Utilities is proud to be one of the UK’s top inclusive employers. We are a responsible business that cares about delivering great customer service, protecting the environment, and investing in the region to support future growth.

Competitive Salary and Benefits: We offer a competitive starting salary of £30,000, 26 days of annual leave (increasing to 30 days after four years), plus bank holidays. Our benefits package includes private healthcare, discounted gym membership, flexible holidays, and an award-winning pension scheme.

About the scheme

Embark on an exciting journey with United Utilities’ 3-year Graduate Programme as a Future Leader in our dynamic organisation. This is your chance to make a real impact, engage with colleagues at all levels, and develop into a future leader. We'll collaborate with you to identify the best route for your career aspirations, ensuring a personalised development journey.

Working across a range of key departments, we are seeking passionate graduates who are ready to drive performance, enhance customer service, and contribute to our ambitious goals in a safe and supportive environment. As part of our team, you’ll benefit from a comprehensive support network and extensive learning and development opportunities, helping you unlock your potential and carve out a successful career path within a leading utility company.

At United Utilities we operate across five counties, each with its own unique needs and priorities. As part of the scheme, you will primarily be based at our headquarters in Warrington but you’ll also gain exposure to our diverse counties by working both on site and in an office setting across the North West.

We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive culture where all team member’s contributions are valued. You'll gain a deep understanding of what it takes to provide central services such as work and resource planning, incident response or planning for how much water or sludge we need to produce or move every week to meet the demands of our customers as well as learning more about water and wastewater services and the regulatory and legislative framework governing the water industry.

Start living your future today!

What will I be doing?

• The scheme offers fantastic learning and development opportunities through structured placements, formal leadership training, creative innovation challenges and a robust support network, helping you build a successful career in a major utility company.

• As a General Future Leader, you’ll enjoy structured placements across various areas like water or wastewater operations, central planning, long term strategy and business change and transformation.

• You will develop excellent communication, leadership, and change management skills, motivating teams to improve performance and meet high service standards.

• You’ll learn to think strategically to drive our organisation’s growth, essential for your future success

What do I need to be successful?

We require our future leader graduates to have a minimum 2:2 in any relevant technical, scientific, environmental, engineering or business management degree.

You will need to:

• Be motivated, enthusiastic and have the potential to develop excellent leadership, influencing and communications skills.
• Have good written and interpersonal skills.
• Be an excellent team player, possessing ambition and drive.
• Be able to have the ability to work across a matrix organisation to deliver desired outcomes.
• Be able to work in a variety of different teams from operational to office based, be willing to travel if required and may need to be flexible with working hours at times.
• Eventually possess a Full UK Driving Licence, however we will contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons to help get you on the road.