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Higher education has long been viewed as the traditional route to success, but higher apprenticeships offer a compelling alternative. By combining academic learning with real-world work experience, they allow you to gain advanced qualifications equivalent to a foundation degree while developing practical skills on the job. Earn while you learn, without the burden of student debt.
Drainage engineers provide efficient and effective management of domestic and commercial drainage issues. These professionals are at the heart of our services and on the front lines of our operations. At Lanes, we have several types of drainage engineer roles, but each has the fundamental responsibility of using our state-of-the-art equipment, as well as providing great customer service to our clients.
Finding a job that truly fits can feel like a challenge. If you’re in the middle of exploring your options, it’s likely you’re looking for something more than just a pay cheque. You might be after work that feels rewarding, a role where you can develop useful skills, or even a chance to be part of a team that makes a positive difference.
Building a workplace where employees feel valued is about more than just boosting morale - it directly influences productivity, job satisfaction and retention. A workforce that feels recognised and appreciated is more likely to go above and beyond, contributing to a positive and engaged workplace environment.
Recently, recognition of the importance of gender diversity within industries traditionally dominated by men, such as utilities and engineering, has increased. These sectors play a key role in powering our infrastructure and innovation, yet they continue to face significant challenges in attracting and retaining female talent, leading to low female representation in a high-demand area.
The field of engineering has long been shaped by remarkable individuals who have pushed boundaries and paved the way for future generations. Among them are extraordinary women who have overcome significant barriers to leave an indelible mark on the profession.
As the largest privately owned drainage contractor in the country, we at Lanes Group understand that our success is built on the skills and commitment of our people. Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing talent, providing individuals with a clear pathway to rewarding careers while supporting businesses in building a skilled workforce.
Managing work-life balance is essential for improving personal wellbeing and professional performance. It is about finding the right balance between work responsibilities and personal time. A healthy work-life balance boosts productivity and overall mental and physical health.
An apprenticeship offers the practical experience needed to thrive in a specific industry. For graduates looking to gain hands-on skills and a clear career pathway, apprenticeships can be an excellent choice.
Drainage engineers maintain and repair drainage systems, ensuring that wastewater flows properly and that blockages or damage are managed effectively. Proper drainage supports public health and safety by preventing waterborne diseases and protecting communities from flooding.
The utilities sector is responsible for delivering essential services like water, energy and waste management. For those considering a career change, utilities offer stable employment and diverse roles that fit a range of skills and interests. Shifting into utilities can appeal to people looking for dependable work that contributes to public infrastructure.
Apprenticeships offer flexibility when it comes to start dates, which can vary depending on the industry, the employer, and the apprenticeship level. Unlike traditional academic programmes, apprenticeships can begin throughout the year, providing multiple entry points for individuals looking to gain practical skills and experience.
Apprenticeships provide practical skills and qualifications through a combination of work and study. In the UK, they are a popular alternative to traditional education, offering hands-on training across various industries. This path suits individuals at different career stages, whether starting out, changing careers, or upskilling.
Apprenticeships are a valuable pathway for gaining practical skills and knowledge while earning a salary. Unlike traditional full-time education, apprenticeships blend on-the-job training with classroom learning, offering a hands-on approach to developing expertise in a specific field.
In recent years, apprenticeships have become an increasingly attractive pathway for those seeking to combine hands-on work experience with structured classroom-based learning. This approach offers the best of both worlds: practical skills gained in the workplace and theoretical knowledge acquired through formal education.
At Lanes Group, we place a strong emphasis on training and development. This makes our apprenticeship programmes a valuable stepping stone for those looking to build a long-term career in the drainage sector.
Embarking on an apprenticeship is an exciting and potentially life-changing decision. It’s a journey that blends practical, hands-on experience with structured learning, providing you with the skills and knowledge to build a successful career.
For many young people, the idea of leaving school at 16 can be daunting, but there are plenty of opportunities available to those who wish to study and work in a specialised area. Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines hands-on work experience with structured learning, allowing you to begin building a career.
Beginning an apprenticeship is making an investment in your future. You’ve decided to mix the theoretical and practical to kickstart your career, unafraid to get hands-on with planning your future. But what happens next? After receiving confirmation of successful enrolment, you need to make the most of the opportunity before you. This is where goal-setting and plans will take you from a novice into a seasoned professional.
It couldn’t be easier to apply for an apprenticeship with Lanes Group. We have streamlined the application process for apprenticeships, making it efficient and straightforward to apply through our online system. Prospective apprentices can easily apply online, simplifying the initial steps towards a promising career.
There are more options than ever for carving out a career path that will fulfill you and help you to achieve your long-term goals. Traditional university degrees, once considered the gold standard for career preparation, are no longer touted as the only option to a high-paying career. Increasingly, apprenticeships are emerging as a compelling alternative, offering a unique blend of hands-on experience and classroom learning.
The drainage sector has traditionally been dominated by men, leading to a significant gender imbalance that persists today - only 19% of energy and utilities sector staff members are female, compared to a UK average of 48% across all trades. However, the landscape is changing, and we want to help. Apprenticeships provide a valuable pathway for women to gain the skills and experience needed to thrive in technical roles, contributing to a more diverse workforce.
Despite their many advantages, apprenticeships are often misunderstood. Misconceptions about apprenticeships can prevent people from considering them a viable alternative to traditional education routes like university - and this means that many people who might otherwise strongly benefit from an apprenticeship opportunity will simply miss out.
In today's professional landscape, diversity and inclusion are not just desirable; they are necessary to create a vibrant, dynamic and productive workforce.
All organisations bear a responsibility to provide an inclusive, equal working environment for all employees, regardless of their identity or background. Diverse teams bring a wealth of perspectives, skills and experiences that can drive innovation and success.
When searching for a career, it's natural to want to find a workplace that supports your development and offers you the ability to grow professionally. A company's proactivity in optimising staff satisfaction and relationships can have a lasting impact on job satisfaction and growth. This blog outlines how to build trust in the workplace, helping you identify a positive environment where the company culture and priorities align with mutual trust.
A modern apprenticeship in the drainage sector offers a perfect blend of hands-on experience and classroom learning, providing an excellent pathway to a rewarding career.
Employee wellbeing is vital for a productive and positive workplace. When employees feel supported in their mental and physical health, including employee mental health, they are more engaged and effective in their roles. Managers are key to fostering this supportive environment. By addressing mental health issues and promoting overall wellbeing, managers can help create a workplace where employees feel valued and cared for. This benefits both the employees and the organisation.
At Lanes Group, we pride ourselves on being the UK's largest privately owned drainage contractor, with a network that spans 25 offices and depots nationwide. Our success is built not just on the expertise of our field engineers and drivers, but also on the dedicated efforts of our office-based staff. These integral team members work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our operations run smoothly, providing essential support and information to meet the needs of millions of clients.
A company's success is deeply intertwined with the health and happiness of its workforce. When employees feel supported both physically and mentally, they are more likely to be engaged, productive and happy in their roles. Here at Lanes Group, the largest privately owned drainage and wastewater utility specialist in the UK, employee wellbeing is more than a buzzword - it's a strategic priority. With over 2,200 dedicated staff, Lanes Group has committed to creating a safe and healthy working environment where wellbeing is at the forefront of everything we do.
Employee wellbeing typically focuses on the mental health factors that can impact employees, but it can also encompass physical health. Employers must take steps to ensure the wellbeing of their employees, not only to meet their legal obligations, but to facilitate the best environment for employees to perform at their best on a day-to-day basis.
The wellbeing of employees is often directly tied to their productivity. From the physical conditions in which employees work, to their mental health and sense of fulfillment in their roles.
At Lanes, we pride ourselves in effectively managing our most valuable asset: our people. How our employees engage with the business and their work correlates to how well they progress in our employ and is fundamental to our success in providing outstanding service to our clients.
Elizabeth Donnelly of the Women’s Engineering Society has spoken to Lanes about how women can succeed in utilities sector roles. Read our full Q&A.
With this guide from Lanes, manual workers will be able to create an ideal CV to showcase their talents. Read on for advice on how to compose and format a compelling CV!
Helping a staff member to return to work after a period of sick leave requires clear policies from the employer. Find out more about the ways your workplace can support staff returning from absence.
We’ve compiled an introduction to some of the most common shift patterns used by Lanes employees, with an explanation of how they work and advice on the type of lifestyles for which they are best suited.
Employers should check out our 18-page whitepaper on the current state of mental health issues among UK workforces and the main causes of workplace stress.
Lanes Group has a longstanding dedication to combating stress burnout and other signs of mental ill health among our staff, helping us win a Water Industry Achievement Award and an Institute of Water South East Region Innovation Award in recognition of our innovative workplace wellbeing programmes. We’re also committed to sharing this expertise, which is why we’ve put together some advice on how to identify and cope with some of the potential warning signs of work-related burnout.
We’ve put together a few tips on how to deal with anxiety at work when it all starts to feel too much.
We’ve put together a guide to some of the most effective methods that workers can use to switch off from work and properly relax during their leisure time.
At Lanes Group, we have award-winning expertise in developing effective workplace wellbeing strategies and are keen to share it, which is why we’ve put together some advice on some of the most important steps to take in order to foster a truly positive approach to mental health conversations.
In our new whitepaper, we have analysed the state of mental health in UK workplaces to address issues and identify what businesses can do to improve staff wellbeing. Download the 18 page guide here.
Andy led the Lanes emergency team, working on behalf of Thames Water, that first responded to the discovery of the Islington concreteberg.
Find out more about what makes the drainage sector such an attractive proposition for those looking for a change in career.
Let us help you understand your options when it comes to changing careers
Find out more about what we're looking for in our CCTV engineers, and how to maximise your chances of securing a role with Lanes Group.
In this article, we look at the many great things about working in the sector and show you what it’s really like to have a career in this growing sector, while busting a fair few myths in the process.
Personality, determination and a very good understanding of the drainage industry – all qualities that Vicky Smith puts to excellent use as an online sales executive at Lanes Group plc.
Lanes Group plc paid for Ross to study for a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Certificate in Professional Marketing, which he passed with flying colours.
Haylie Orton, has achieved Practitioner Level with the Association of Bid and Proposal Management Professionals. Which required three years’ experience as a bid professional and complete a detailed externally-assessed questionnaire to prove she had the skills and experience to reach APMP Practitioner Level.
The Field Engineer of the Year, Simon O'Brien at Lanes Group plc admits he jumps for joy when he clears a challenging drain blockage.
For professional drivers, making a living out on the roads is what it’s all about - but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other equally important priorities to consider when looking for a new opportunity or career prospect.
For professional drivers, taking on a job with Lanes Group is more than just another gig - it could be the first step on an exciting new career path that provides long-term development opportunities, lasting job security and the chance to broaden and expand your skills over time.
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17 Parkside Lane, Parkside Industrial Estate, Leeds, LS11 5TD
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Our News Feeds
Andy’s jobs journey reaches fulfilment down in the sewers
Andy led the Lanes emergency team, working on behalf of Thames Water, that first responded to the discovery of the Islington concreteberg.
Why Lanes Group - and the drainage sector - is perfect for those looking for a new career
Find out more about what makes the drainage sector such an attractive proposition for those looking for a change in career.
Where to start when making a career change
Let us help you understand your options when it comes to changing careers
How to successfully apply for a role as a Lanes Group CCTV engineer
Find out more about what we're looking for in our CCTV engineers, and how to maximise your chances of securing a role with Lanes Group.
What it’s actually like to work in the drainage industry
In this article, we look at the many great things about working in the sector and show you what it’s really like to have a career in this growing sector, while busting a fair few myths in the process.
Vicky has perfect role keeping online sales flowing
Personality, determination and a very good understanding of the drainage industry – all qualities that Vicky Smith puts to excellent use as an online sales executive at Lanes Group plc.