Each year we offer several 12-month placements for undergraduate and graduate students, in a variety of different areas in order to ensure our customers have clean, fresh running water whilst providing great customer service, protecting the environment, and supporting local communities.
Our placement scheme allows students to gain a yearlong experience from September within NWL, either during or after their university degree. During the placement year the students will get involved in projects specific to their chosen area, this will provide students with the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience which will contribute to their chosen career path.
During this placement we will also provide our undergraduate students with a development programme, called ‘critical skills’. This programme will include a series of internal and external workshops where topics such as mindset, networking, emotional intelligence, and communication will be covered.
Students will gain several transferable skills from this programme to assist them in their future career path.
Please visit our 'Careers' section of our website to see the opportunities we have available.
Meet some of the current year in industry students
Eleanor Lowe – Sewerage Pollution Advisor
My job title is Sewerage pollution advisor, which is situated within the North pollution team. This team is split into 3 groups: proactive pollution, reactive pollution, and pollution incidents and within this I mostly work in the proactive team. My role includes a wide range of tasks, such as raising work orders for crews, compiling data reports such as on bathing water quality or SOAF (Storm overflow assessment framework) and assisting on projects. I am completing this role as a placement year as part of my BSc geography degree at Northumbria university.
I’ve really enjoyed my placement and would definitely recommend it to anyone completing a similar degree. I have learnt so much within my placement about the water industry and I’ve learnt invaluable skills for my future career. There are also many opportunities given through the year in industry programme such as learning how to network, leadership opportunities and CV writing skills, which have been really helpful alongside the day to day roles of my placement.
Bridget O’Neill – Data Report Analyst Placement
My role at NWG is a Data Analyst and Reporter within the Wastewater Performance team. I graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc in Physical Geography in the summer before I started this role. The Year in Industry opportunity was perfect to gain experience in the water industry and prepare myself for a graduate role as I was unable to do so during my degree due to the pandemic.
The role has entailed helping pull together flooding reports, managing the data collection for monthly reporting, learning new Business Intelligence tools, and getting stuck in with the team for ad hoc data analysis tasks. My manager has actively supported and encouraged me to get the most out of this year at NWG. Through pushing me to learn skills from the whole team and allowing me to gain experience from other areas in the business in preparation for my future plans. We have regular catchups to discuss tasks I’m working on, tasks I’d like to involve myself in, and how I’m feeling in my placement.
I would recommend the Year in Industry with NWG as from the day I started I’ve had opportunities to immerse myself in the company and explore my own interests. I’ve been given responsibility allowing me to grow in confidence, I’ve had time to work autonomously as well as be fully supported in tasks I’m new too, and I’ve gained valuable experience and knowledge of the water industry.
Reece Ford - Placement Technical Policy Advisor
My role at NWG is a Technical Policy Advisor, I work in the Strategic Planning team, we prepare for the future of the business. Prior to this role I graduated as a BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Northumbria University, I feel this role has given me the opportunity to begin a successful career in the industry.
This placement has allowed me to work on projects such as DWMP (Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan) and WINEP (Water Industry National Environment Programme) to support the water company periodic review. These are both huge projects, which has allowed me to develop technical knowledge in the water industry. The role is perfect for those whom like a challenge and are eager to learn. Vital skills can be learnt from this role such as, advanced Excel skills, QGIS skills, report writing and small doses of project management.
The year in industry has given me the opportunity to explore an industry that is not often recognised (there is more than meets the eye). My confidence is growing as I progressively learn and take ownership of my own work and responsibilities. The Strategic Planning team is full of knowledge and a great way for anyone to take a route into a utility career. NWG have allowed me to explore and manifest what I am interested in so that working retains enjoyment while developing knowledge.
Maria Johnson – Placement Engineer
I am currently completing my placement year at NWG, which is a requirement of my environmental science degree which I am currently completing at Newcastle University. My role at NWG is an Undergraduate Placement Engineer, this predominantly consists of the initial data collection for the HazRev programme. HazRev was introduced at NWG as a response to a notice from the Drinking Water Institute (DWI) which highlighted deviations from best practice within water treatment processes.
I would definitely recommend becoming a placement student at NWG, as the business offers such a wide range of roles, and the skills I’ve developed during my placement year will be transferrable to multiple different career pathways in the future. I have found NWG encourage their placement students, so that not only the students get the best out of their placement year, but NWG are also getting the best out of the student.