Getting out in the great outdoors could be something you enjoy in your spare time.

But for Martyn and Rob, spending every day in the beautiful Lake District is all part of the day job. They work for United Utilities and are helping to improve river water quality across Cumbria. 

As two of the company’s river rangers, Martyn and Rob proactively patrol riverbanks to check the company’s pipes and treatment works are working effectively, as well as cleaning litter and debris along the riverbanks and tackling invasive species to help keep the local environment in tip top condition.

(Image: United Utilities)

You can often also find them taking samples along the river to help gain an understanding of river water quality as well has talking to anyone they bump in to on their daily activities about what is going on and the company’s plans for the future.

Alongside these daily tasks the rangers are forging closer links with community groups and organisations. “What I love about this job is being out in the countryside and interacting with lots of people from different backgrounds,” explained Rob.

“No two days are the same as a river ranger. One day we’re joining the West Cumbria Rivers Trust to remove invasive Himalayan balsam from waterways, and then the next we’re attending a Green Careers and Skills Day at Brockhole, inspiring the next generation into an environmental career.”

(Image: United Utilities)

The company has an award-winning apprenticeship programme and launched its largest ever apprenticeship recruitment process in 2024, offering 90 new green apprenticeship roles including scientists, fleet technicians and engineers.

You don’t have to be an apprentice or a river ranger to leave a positive legacy for the environment. The company is looking for talented individuals to help make the North West greener, healthier and stronger across a number of roles. From project managers to engineers and ecologists, United Utilities will be recruiting for new roles over the next five years to help deliver its proposed ambitious plans.

United Utilities has put forward plans to deliver the largest environmental programme in the North West in more than a century. If approved by the regulator, the plan would support 30,000 jobs, of which 7,000 would be new jobs within the company and wider supply chain, bringing investment in skills and opportunities to the heart of our local communities and giving a boost to the regional economy from 2025-2030.

(Image: United Utilities)

United Utilities is already making great strides today for the generations of tomorrow. The company is delivering all its water and wastewater services using only green electricity and has ambitions to reach net zero by 2030.

Pledges to reach this include planting one million trees, switching the company’s entire fleet of vehicles to run on electricity or alternative fuel and restoring 1,000 hectares of internationally important peat bog, which is perfect for capturing carbon.

Andrew Kendall, county business leader in Cumbria, said: “We’re building a strong squad of skills and experience across Cumbria and we’re looking forward to welcoming new colleagues who can help us make a difference to our wonderful county.

“Our creation of more high‑skilled jobs will help develop the green economy and support the Cumbrian community. I’d encourage people to take a look at the opportunities we have on offer.”

Search United Utilities Careers to explore the opportunities on offer in Cumbria: unitedutilities.com/careers