Water boss heads back to work with apprentices

A water boss is going back to the floor for National Apprenticeship Week.
 
Paula Steer, United Utilities' head of property, will be donning her hi-vis jacket and hard hat next week  as she spends a day working alongside apprentices at the company's Piethorne water treatment works in Rochdale. 
 
Ms Steel is one of more than a dozen senior managers from the North West water firm who are rolling up their sleeves to work with apprentices at treatment works, science labs and pipeline schemes during the week.

Ms Steel will be teaming up with budding engineers at the water treatment works. She will pitch in with all the day-to-day tasks at the treatment plant, such as equipment maintenance and water quality monitoring.
   
National Apprenticeship Week, running from 7-11 February, is a week-long campaign to showcase the benefits of apprenticeship programmes, and celebrate the skills and talents of apprentices across the UK. It is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, and features activities organised by employers nationwide. 
 
Ms Steel said: "United Utilities is committed to nurturing new talent. It is essential that we always have a new generation of engineers and scientists ready to pick up the baton when senior employees retire from the business.
   
"The back to the floor exercise is a great opportunity for senior managers such as myself to find out how our current intake of apprentices is getting on.    
 
"These colleagues are the future of our company. By providing them with comprehensive training and support, we can make sure the region's water and wastewater network remains in good hands for many years to come." 
 
Apprenticeships at United Utilities last up to four years. All new apprentices are given a mentor - experienced employees who are experts in their field. They spend the first stage of their apprenticeship shadowing their mentor and taking on small jobs before graduating to more complex tasks.   
 
Their day-to-day role with United Utilities is supplemented by classroom-based learning at colleges and universities with opportunities to gain NVQs, BTECs and Foundation Degrees.   
 
Dave McCorrie, 20, a second-year process controller apprentice at Piethorne water treatment works said: "I've always been the kind of person who enjoys getting their hands dirty, so this apprenticeship is right up my street. You get the best of both worlds - qualifications at college and lots of hands-on experience.
 
"Working at the treatment works is the best job you could have. The work is always interesting and varied, and my workmates are great. Our job is to optimise the treatment process, so that it is cost effective and delivers a great quality final product for the customer. We are also the first line of response if equipment needs fixing or maintaining.
 
"By the end of the month, I should come away with a City and Guilds and a NVQ qualifcation, so I'll be set up really well for the remainder of my apprenticeship. I feel really positive about the future."