2023 Graduate Development Programme - Transport & Infrastructure

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready!

In today’s world it’s important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world.

When considering a career move its vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong. See what WSP stands for in 2022 and beyond…

We value our people and our reputation. Having a diverse and robust workforce enables us to look for answers, not problems, and we pride ourselves on offering clients clever, imaginative, future-facing solutions. If you are interested in finding ways to help society thrive, at home and further afield, an exciting career could be waiting for you here.

Transport & Infrastructure

Drawing on over 130 years of technical excellence, WSP offers a holistic approach to the transport and infrastructure planning, design and management. We bring the latest technologies and a culture of innovation to our work to meet community needs for mobility, connectivity, sustainability, and resiliency.

Civil & Bridge Engineering

Within this area we look to hire graduates interested in:

• Bridge Engineering – BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering/ Structural Engineering
• Maritime Engineering – MEng in Civil Engineering
• Aviation – MEng in Civil Engineering
• Pavement Engineering – MEng in Civil Engineering
• Asset Management – MEng in Civil Engineering

Highways

Since the onset of paved streets dating back as far as 2,000 BC, the world’s population has spread across the globe in unison with the evolution of roads and highways. Drawing upon extensive and long-standing experience, WSP’s experts plan, design and manage the construction and operations of the highways of tomorrow, with a focus on resilience, sustainability, and smart technologies. Within this area we look to hire graduates interested in:

• Highways Engineering – MEng or BEng in Civil Engineering,

Local Government

We work closely with numerous authorities across the UK with a range of urban and rural transport issues. These include Shropshire Council, and County Councils such as Hertfordshire, West Sussex, Devon, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Somerset, North Yorkshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Our clients also include urban authorities such as Westminster City Council, Leeds City Council, Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester. Within this area we look to hire graduates interested in:

• Bridge Engineering – BEng in Civil Engineering
• Construction Management – BEng in Civil Engineering or Construction Management
• Highways – BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering
• Development Management – BEng in Civil Engineering

Intelligent Transport Services (ITS)

Intelligent Transportation Services (ITS) is the effective combination of people, processes and technology to improve transport networks for everyone. Within this area we look to hire graduates interested in:

• Systems & Integration – BEng in Systems, Electrical, Civil, Telecommunications or Mechanical, or Computer Engineering, BSc in Cyber Security, Data Science or Digital
• ITS Engineering – BEng in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Geography or Physics

Rail

Rail and transit systems play a leading role in the future of modern transportation. They offer sustainable solutions that reduce carbon emissions, create greater mobility with increased energy efficiency and provide long-term economic benefits. Within this are we look to hire graduates interested in:

• Systems Engineering – MEng in Mechanical, Systems or Electrical Engineering
• Rail Engineering Services – Meng in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Rail Engineering
• Planning & Operations – MSc in Transport Planning, Maths or Computer Science
• Rail Stations – MEng in Electrical Engineering or MSc in Building Services

What you’ll need

• You’ll be graduating in 2023 or you may have recently graduated with at least a 2:2 in a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (listed in the above roles)
• You'll be looking to start work in April 2023, September 2023 or April 2024
• You’ll ideally have less than 1.5 years relevant experience
• You’ll be passionate with the curiosity and creativity to solve problems
• You’ll want to stretch and inspire us, speaking up about any new ideas you have
• You’ll want to throw yourself in from day one and put your studies into practice
• You’ll have excellent communication skills
• You’ll enjoy working in a team environment, sharing ideas and collaborating with colleagues
• You’ll have confidence to work under pressure with the ability to prioritise and plan effectively

Please note behavioural assessment results at WSP are valid for a period of 12 months, if you have completed an assessment within this timeframe and been unsuccessful, we will not be able to consider your application.

Early applications are recommended, and we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date.

What you’ll get from us

We care about individuals and their progress and offer the most fulfilling career development for our professionals. Professional accreditation is an important milestone to reach. After years of study in your field and hard work on the job, you’ll want the recognition that you are at the top of your game. Our two-year graduate development programme will support you to achieve your goals.

We have established relationships with professional institutions including ICE, IStructE, IET, CIBSE, CIHT, CILT, IMechE, IChemE, IED,TPS, CIWEM, GSL, RGD, RICS, RTPI, SocEnv, or APM and we’ll provide a technical mentor to help you on your journey, and reward you for your efforts as well (when you reach certain professional milestones you’ll even get a bonus as a thank you and well done for your hard work). We are also able to support professional development with many other approved professional institutions.

The programme is a blended learning experience and includes cohort events, core behavioural training modules, professional registration mentoring and on-the-job experience. The structured training programme includes but is not limited to training in: -

• Project Management
• Team specific technical skills
• Client and Customer Care
• Collaborative working with your clients and team
• Commercial Concepts
• Developing your Personal Brand
• Career Development…and lots more!

We also offer our Professional Growth Network (PGN) which is a networking group run by early career professionals for early career professionals. It helps to grow your network of contacts across the UK business as well as providing you with opportunities for extra experience to support you in achieving chartered status or other professional accreditations.

We want our people to achieve rewarding careers. At work we celebrate integrity and treat people with respect. We support each other and embrace diversity to create a place where people come together and do great things.

Our VIBE (LGBT + employee), Women in Leadership, CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity), WSP Connect (visible and non-visible disabilities) and our Gender Balance Group help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential.

How long does the process take?

You'll receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within 48 hours of submission. We work hard to match you to the most suitable roles in our business based on your preferences. The recruitment process can vary depending on the role and team you are matched to. Most applications complete initial behavioural screening assessments and are progressed to as assessment centre if we have a role and location match within 2 months but it’s good to know that the whole process can last up to 3 months in total if you're an early applicant. We will aim to keep you informed throughout the time that your application is being considered however, due to the volume of applications received, we are not able to respond to individual requests for status updates.

Work-life balance

WSP recognises that work is only one part of your life and making time for other things is important – be that your families, friends, or yourself.

Health & Wellbeing?

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Med24 gives you and your family unrestricted telephone access to an NHS doctor. You can call day or night or have a face-to-face video consultation.

Flex your time?

For improved work life balance, WSP offers the "WSP Hour” which enables you to take one hour per day to do as you wish and make up the time earlier or later that day. We can also offer part time working, where required. New for 2022, is the ability to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you

Apply now and be the future of WSP!

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.

Please note WSP reserves the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.

CSR

Our long-standing support for local communities has been recognised by the government-backed National Equality Standard. Our people donate thousands of hours of time volunteering in support of local initiatives and raise thousands for good causes – alongside charity donations from the WSP Foundation.

Net zero

Already at the forefront of growing net-zero solutions for our clients and communities, we’ll achieve net zero emissions in our own operations by 2025 and halve the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030. We’re proud to be the first in our sector to make such ambitious commitments.

Future Ready

We know that decades from now the world will be a very different place – in terms of climate, society, resources and technology. Future Ready is our global innovation programme that challenges and inspires all our people to advise and design in ways that are ready for the future as well as today.