CURRENT pupils or school leavers have been urged to join an apprentice scheme for Severn Trent Water.

Anyone with at least five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades A* - C , including Maths and English, or who is expecting to achieve those grades this year, can apply.

There are 16 places for either a two-year operational technician apprenticeship or a four-year advanced apprenticeship in electrical, maintenance or instrumentation skills.

Kayleigh Bessim is an apprentice operations and maintenance technician for Severn Trent Water .

She said: “I was working in a pub and saw an advert on the apprenticeship website and applied for a role in engineering.

"I was told about another role in operations and maintenance that sounded really interesting – so applied for that one as well.

"There was lots of outdoor work and it's very hands on, which I like."

More information is available at severntrent.com/apprentices. The closing date is in early March and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.