Yorkshire Water's Big Move: 27 Graduate Jobs Up for Grabs

Yorkshire Water has just announced something pretty exciting: they’re looking to bring on 27 new graduates—their biggest intake yet. If you’re fresh out of uni and wondering what’s next, this could be your ticket to kickstarting a career in an industry that’s all about the future of water, sustainability, and innovation.

Let’s break down what this is all about, why it’s happening, and why you might want to give it a shot.

Why Yorkshire Water is hiring so many graduates

So, why the big recruitment drive? It’s all part of Yorkshire Water’s preparations for their next five-year investment period. If that sounds like corporate jargon, let’s simplify: they’ve got an £8.3 billion budget approved by Ofwat (the water industry regulator) to tackle some big tasks.

This plan includes:

• Ensuring a reliable supply of clean water for homes and businesses.
• Upgrading their network of pipes to make it more resilient.
• Protecting and improving the quality of rivers and coastal waters.
• Focusing on long-term water resources to address future challenges.

It’s a lot of work, and they need fresh talent to make it happen. That’s where the graduates come in.

What roles are on offer?

The 27 graduate roles span a variety of departments, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re into crunching numbers, cutting-edge tech, or making an environmental impact, there’s a spot for you. Here’s the full list:

• Capital delivery (the people who make big projects happen).
• Finance (budgets, forecasting, and keeping the money flowing).
• Tech (think digital transformation, automation, and innovation).
• Clean water and wastewater (the core of Yorkshire Water’s mission).
• Company secretary (handling governance and compliance).
• Strategy and regulation (shaping the future of the industry).

Oh, and they’re also on the lookout for an industry placement student in the finance team.

What’s it like working at Yorkshire Water?

Ann Stanley, who oversees funded learning at Yorkshire Water, sums it up nicely: “It’s an exciting time to join the industry as a graduate. Anybody thinking of applying can expect to jump straight into delivering a range of projects within whichever area of the business they join.”

And it’s not just Ann who’s singing the company’s praises. Thomas Barraclough, a former graduate turned project manager, shared his experience:

“The graduate scheme provided such a wide range of opportunities for learning and chances to work with different people that it set me up very well for my future career here.”

Thomas now works on rolling out new tech and processes to make Yorkshire Water more efficient. He also points out that professional development doesn’t stop after the scheme ends.

Why you should consider applying

If you’ve just finished uni, you might be wondering if this is for you. Here are some reasons to consider it:

1. Diverse opportunities: You’ll get to work on meaningful projects that affect millions of people.
2. Professional growth: Graduates are supported to develop skills that can take them far in their careers.
3. A greener future: If you care about sustainability, this is your chance to make a real impact.

Plus, it’s not every day a company invests this much in bringing fresh talent onboard.

How to apply

If you’re interested, don’t hang about—applications are open now but close 14 January 2025. Head to mycareers.yorkshirewater.com to apply or find out more.

This could be the start of something big, so why not give it a go? Who knows—you might just become the next Thomas, helping to shape the future of water in Yorkshire and beyond.