Graduate placements

Because we see our graduates as the future leaders of Thames Water, we'll ensure your placements give you a good understanding of the whole business, so you can clearly see how decisions in one business area might impact on another.

We believe that there are no shortcuts or substitute for practical experience, so to give you the best possible grounding in your chosen area, we like to give you a new challenge every few months.

Engineers at our Beckton site in east London

We aim to provide you with great experiences to achieve your aspirations and goals.

Operations Graduate Programme overview

Working with in the Operations department you will be placed on an 18 month structured programme that will give you the opportunity to work within one of the dedicated teams at the heart of the business. From fixing leaks to supplying millions of customers with drinking water of the highest quality and recycling it safely to the environment. The scope and variety of activities in the Operations department is extensive.

There are eight key areas of business within Operations; Health, Safety & Environment, Capital Delivery, Water Services, Wastewater Services, Supply Chain, Operational Support, Field Operations and Strategic Projects. Each team is committed to working together as one operational team to deliver Operational Excellence.

Operations Programme format

Structured City and Guilds Diploma in Water Engineering
Structured Foundation Leadership Programme
Multiple placements across the department
Knowledge bursts
On-the-job training / shadowing site personnel
Specific project work

Programme prerequisites

Minimum 2:1 in any science or engineering degree.

Finance Graduate Programme overview

Finance is an extremely important part of the business. Everything that we do has a cost and the finance function exists to manage the money that we need to run our business. Working within the finance department you will be placed on a 36 month structured programme that will give you an opportunity to rotate amongst the different finance teams looking after accounting, financial reporting, planning and regulatory accounting, monthly reporting as well as results submission to external sources such as our regulator and the Inland Revenue.

Programme format

Opportunity to study towards CIMA or ACCA accreditation
Structured Foundation Leadership Programme
Multiple placements across the department
Knowledge bursts
On-the-job training / shadowing site personnel
Specific project work

Programme prerequisites

Minimum 2:1 in any degree with a high numerical capability.

Strategy and Regulation and Asset Management Programme overview

Strategy and Regulation set the overall business strategy and objectives, and negotiate the business requirements with our regulators and other stakeholders. They effectively set and agree the plan for the way Thames Water conducts its business. Asset Management is responsible for looking after the company assets, the nuts and bolts of our business - everything from reservoirs, treatment works, pumping stations to vans, pipes and computers and their key role in Thames is to 'beat the plan' that has been set by Strategy and Regulation.

The Strategy and Regulation and Asset Management graduate placement is a combined 18 month programme across the two departments. The programme design will ensure that graduates obtain a breadth of experience covering all areas of the business including business strategy, regulatory management, investment planning, engineering design, project management, performance management.

Programme format

Structured Foundation Leadership Programme
Multiple placement's across the Strategy and Regulation and Asset Management departments
Knowledge bursts
On-the-job training / shadowing site personnel
Specific project work