Economist Apprentice - Level 6

Job title: Economist Apprentice - Level 6 Ref 39863
Division: Strategic Resources
Location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB
Contract type: Permanent Full/Part-time Apprentice
Salary: Offering a starting salary of £21,500 per annum
Job grade: A
Closing date: 04/03/2025

We are recruiting for an Economist Apprentice to join Thames Water in September. As a successful candidate, you will get to develop your knowledge in all things economics and regulation which will be complemented by your studies.

As an apprentice, you will be supporting the Economic Regulation team and are accountable for the following critical activities for Thames Water:

• Annual Tariff setting process.
• The Price Review process (business plan submission to Ofwat once every 5 years).
• Engagement and building a relationship with the economic regulator Ofwat.
• Holding the business to account for regulatory deliverables.

Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.

Base Location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court Vastern Rd, Reading RG1 8DB.
Working hours: 36 hours Monday - Friday.
Training provider details: University of Kent.

Entry Requirements: Five GCSEs including Mathematics at grade B or 6 or above and English at grade 4 or above. And 120 UCAS points at A level (equivalent to three Bs).

Don’t worry if you don’t have your grades yet; if you are due to sit your exams this year, we still want to hear if your predicted grades meet our requirements.

Application Process:

1. Step one: Click apply and you will be asked to complete a short online application where we ask for basic information about yourself, your current qualifications/predicted grades, and why you want to apply for this apprenticeship. (We do not ask for CVs at this stage).
2. Step two: You will be sent a short online assessment; please make sure you are in a quiet environment and have given yourself enough time to complete it.
3. Step three: You will be sent a link to book a telephone call with a member of our Resourcing Team; this is a chance for us to get to know you better and where we will check if you are eligible for the apprenticeship.
4. Step four: If you are successful in our screening process, you will be invited to an in-person assessment which will include a group exercise and a competency-based interview.

Assessment Centre Dates: Assessments will be held in April and you will be invited for a morning or afternoon session.

What you will be doing as an Economist Apprentice - Level 6:

• Supporting with analysis – both financial and non-financial – looking at the internal performance of the business, the relative performance to the business and how the regulator may interpret that performance.
• Assisting with macroeconomic reporting and the impact on Thames.
• Helping to build a robust evidence base – asset, financial and economic – to underpin the PR29 business plan.
• Supporting the wider team with ad hoc analysis, query responses, consultations and other work as it arises.
• Programme delivery will consist of 3x12-week semesters each year; weekly online learning includes lecture recordings and assignments released on Monday, with a live webinar every Friday. Semesters 2 & 3 have two face-to-face seminars in London & Leeds.

What you should bring to the role:

• Have a real drive and motivation to manage your learning and working life.
• Be a logical thinker and have a passion for technology and finding out how things work.
• Be focused, well-organised, have excellent time management skills and have the dedication to succeed.
• Have great teamwork skills but also be able to work independently, putting customers at the heart of everything you do.
• Communicate effectively and be able to challenge when a problem arises.
• Be a champion for Health & Safety within the workplace for both you and your colleagues, helping us maintain our great reputation.
• Be ready to apply everything you learn in your day-to-day role and any projects outside of this.

Why become an Apprentice at Thames Water?

We are offering training, qualifications, real-life experience and the opportunity to "Earn while you learn” on top of:

• Competitive starting salary of £21,500.
• Annual Leave: 24 days holiday increasing to 28 days with length of service (Plus bank holidays).
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% - 2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• GymPass: a free fitness plan and access to several well-being apps for you and up to three family members.
• Cycle to work scheme: always on and up to £3,000 save money, get fit and help protect the environment.
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

The real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support you.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.