Business Readiness Industrial Placement

Overview

Are you interested in how large organisations manage change and make sure new ways of working are successfully adopted? At Thames Water, our one year Business Readiness Industrial Placement gives you the opportunity to support the delivery of change across our Retail division, helping to ensure improvements are introduced smoothly for both customers and employees.

You’ll support the successful delivery of change across our Retail division, helping ensure new initiatives are well-planned, clearly communicated, and smoothly embedded into everyday operations. The role focuses on understanding the impact of change and supporting teams to transition confidently into business as usual.

• Supporting the implementation of change initiatives with a strong focus on customer engagement
• Helping assess the impact of changes on both customers and the business
• Working with teams to promote best practice in change delivery and communication
• Supporting capacity planning to ensure changes can be delivered effectively
• Contributing to business readiness planning, governance, and approvals
• Helping ensure a smooth transition from change delivery into the business

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is:

• Working towards a business degree or related discipline
• Interest in change management
• Enthusiastic and curious individuals who enjoy working with others and learning new skills. You’ll be someone who likes sharing ideas, asking questions, and contributing as part of a supportive and diverse team.

• Salary: £23,000
• Location:
  
  Reading, Clearwater Court – Hybrid (with travel to Swindon)
• Duration: 1 year placement, starting September 2026 until August 2027
• 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Access to benefits to support health, wellbeing, and finances – including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers, and life assurance

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.

Note: This description may include information about the company and its values to provide context for applicants.

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 meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and excellent benefits.

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. Real purpose, real support, real opportunities.

Come and join the Thames Water family.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know. We’re here to help and support.

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.