Thames Water welcomes its 2022 summer interns 

• Thames Water welcomes twenty interns who will gain experience of working in the water industry through its Summer internship programme
• Thames Water is working with the 10,000 Black Interns programme and Care Leavers Covenant to expand opportunities for employment for those from a range of social and economic backgrounds
• Second year of the programme to build a pipeline of talent from the communities it serves 

The UK’s largest water company has opened its doors to twenty young people to help them gain experience of engineering, operational, science and technology careers in the water industry. 

The interns will work at Thames Water for eight weeks, earning the real Living Wage as part of its Summer Internship programme.

The programme is running for a second year to help Thames Water build a pipeline of talent from the communities it serves and support those from different social and economic backgrounds into the business.

Thames Water has been working with the 10,000 Black Interns programme since 2021 and is supporting 10 placements as part of its internship programme. Other candidates who have also secured an internship were referred to the company by the Care Leavers Covenant and Unite Foundation.

Karima Khandker, Head of Resourcing, Skills and Emerging Talent at Thames Water, said: “The water industry is a fantastic place to work with multiple roles and careers on offer to help us deliver life’s essential service. We want to ensure we have a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents the customers we serve, and our Summer Internship programme is a great way to provide workplace experiences to people who’ve not had the same employment opportunities.”

Julie Quist-Therson, Programme Manager at 10,000 Black Interns, said:  "The 10,000 Black Interns Programme supports members of the Black student and graduate population to access amazing internships across the country. In doing this, the Programme is both broadening the prospects of thousands of young black people, and making the workplaces of the UK much more reflective of the wider world.

“Thames Water is a founding partner of the Programme in its latest iteration and joined our inaugural Careers Fair, showcasing both their own opportunities and the breadth of career possibilities available in the water industry and wider Utilities and Infrastructure sectors. Our partnership with Thames Water works so well due to the dedicated colleagues who understand the Programme's aims and want to effect real change and long-lasting impact."

Last year, Thames Water hosted 15 placements who all said they would want to return to Thames Water after finishing their future studies. One candidate so far has graduated and is now working full time at the company.

Thames Water is helping to remove barriers to recruitment within the water industry by applying fair access employment policies, such as the Ban the Box campaign, to ensure everyone no matter their background or education level has the opportunity to access employment. The company has also created further training and learning opportunities through a shared apprenticeship scheme with its suppliers and internal apprenticeships. 

Find out more about Thames Water careers and apprenticeships.