2024 Graduate Development Programme – Property & Buildings and Industry

What if you could embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates different perspectives?

With us, you can

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 2023 and beyond…

We are a leading global engineering and professional services firm committed to creating a sustainable future for our communities and the environment. 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. We believe in the power of effective communication, and we encourage you to participate and contribute to the success of our projects and initiative.

Join us at WSP, not just to build a career, but to sculpt a legacy, champion growth, and thrive within a community that values your potential. The journey starts here, and the possibilities are endless.

Your New Role what’s involved?

As a worldwide community of built environment experts, we are driven by a passion to change the world for the better. We are passionate about tackling the challenges of complex projects and sophisticated architecture. We deliver innovative buildings of the highest quality that meet the needs of investors, developers, owners, and occupants, and we are experts in the delivery of low carbon infrastructure that will be essential to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.

We are recruiting for Graduate Engineers/Consultant throughout the UK for the following business disciplines:

• Building Services
• Building Structures
• Building Specialists

These teams have worked on projects such as the; Prince Charles Hospital Refurbishment; Guildford Crescent (30 Storey Tower); Bristol Royal Infirmary Re-Development; Defense Projects (UK and Overseas); 1 Undershaft – the tallest office development in London; HS2 Stations at Old Oak Common and Curzon Street; Stadium projects in the Middle East and a range of office and residential projects in London and the South-East.

Available Graduate opportunities are detailed below:

Building Services

Building services are the systems installed in buildings to make them comfortable, functional, efficient and safe. We design buildings for people and consult closely with building developers, owners and users to fully understand the purpose of each building.

Degree backgrounds considered - MEng Mechanical Engineering, MEng Electrical Engineering, MEng or BEng Building Services Engineering, MEng or BEng Energy & Sustainable Engineering, MSc or BSc Building Physics and MSc or BSc Energy Efficiency.

Building Services Healthcare

Working with the healthcare industry to engineer environments that promote healing and wellbeing.

Degree backgrounds considered: MSc or BSc Public Health

Building Services - SMART Buildings

A Smart building connects a diverse set of building service systems, enterprise systems, control interfaces and personal devices. With the strong focus on net zero and sustainability, SMART services deliver future ready buildings for our clients.

Degree backgrounds considered: MSc Smart Buildings and MEng Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.

Building Structures

With world-class engineering skills, technical back up and in-depth knowledge of current design standards, we deliver the best, most resilient and efficient structures for any type of building, anywhere in the world and in the most challenging conditions.

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Structural Engineering and MEng Civil and Structural Engineering

Building Specialists

Our Building Specialists team offers a broad range of highly specialised services related to the built environment.

Degree backgrounds considered: MSc Lift Engineering, BEng/BSc or MEng/MSc, MEng, PhD Aeronautical Engineering, MEng Chemical Engineering, MSc Façade Engineering, MEng/MSc/PhD Aeronautical Engineering, MEng Geotechnical Engineering, BSc in Security Risk Management, MSc Building Information Modelling (BIM), BSc/MSc Physics.

Project Management & Surveying

Our Project Managers are experienced professionals with client, design, engineering, contractor and management backgrounds. They bring a blend of acumen that comes from managing and advising on a portfolio of over £3bn of capital expenditure, ranging from small local projects to internationally recognised programmes.

Our experienced Commercial Services team use their extensive knowledge of the market and construction industry to provide support to many high-profile clients in evaluating and facilitating the delivery of projects across a broad range of sectors. This includes advice on procurement strategy to balance opportunities and risks against constraints and objectives.

Degree backgrounds considered: BSc or MSc Construction Management, BSc or MSc Project Management, BEng or MEng Engineering degree, BSc or MSc Quantity Surveying, BSc or MSc Commercial Management and BSc Building Surveying.

Industry

WSP’s experts possess a rich understanding of industrial processes and a unique combination of specialist skills. We combine these with the multidisciplinary expertise required to plan, design, build and operate a new plant, or to optimize production of an existing industrial facility.

Degree backgrounds considered:

Control & Instrumentation - MEng Control & Instrumentation
Process – MEng Chemical or Process Engineering or MEng Mechanical Engineering

For further information about the services we provide in Property & Buildings and Industry, please visit: Property and Buildings, and Industry Graduate Opportunities | WSP

All in a day’s work

Our Graduates told us the best part of being on the Graduate Development Programme is the support for their own personal development and large network available to them.

They also told us they had the chance to work on a wide variety of projects enabling them to work closely with other disciplines, and allowing them to gain a better understanding of their role on projects and how this enhances the schemes they are involved in. As well the large pool of technical experts to guide them throughout their journey.

You could be involved in development proposals, modelling or design calculations in 3D software packages. Your day could also involve visiting site and liaising with contractors, discussing options for concept designs with colleagues, responding to client requests for information or meetings with the team about the scope and progress of projects.

Naturally, there is a lot to learn, however, the support network available, assists and encourages our early career professionals and offers a wide range of activities. Including social events and many opportunities to assist with team building outside of the work environment.

What you’ll need

You’ll be graduating in 2024 or have recently graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. (Please check our website for further information regarding degree backgrounds considered).

• You'll be looking to start work in either April or September 2024
• You’ll ideally have less than 15 months relevant experience
• You’ll have a passion for sustainable engineering and creativity to solve problems
• You’ll want to stretch and inspire us, sharing new ideas you have
• You’ll have strong interpersonal skills
• You’ll have the ability to work effectively in a team, collaborating with colleagues and adapting to dynamic project environments.
• You’ll have the ability to manage your own time and plan your workload effectively.

Please be aware 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

At WSP, we care about individuals and their progress, and we are committed to your continuous growth and development. Through our comprehensive professional development programme, you will have the opportunity to work towards chartership and unlock your full potential as an industry professional.

We have established relationships with professional institutions including ICE, IStructE, IET, CIBSE, CIHT, CILT, IMechE, IChemE, CIWEM, RICS, RTPI, SocEnv & APM. You will have the opportunity to select a technical mentor to help you on your journey, and to reward you for your efforts, (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 that may not be included in this list.

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. Commercial Concepts, Career Development…and lots more!

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

How long does the process take?

You'll receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within 48 hours of submission. After reviewing your application, if we feel your background and skills are suitable, you will be sent through to the second stage in the process which is an online behavioural assessment (information and support for candidates re: the behavioural assessment can be found here: Support For Candidates | Arctic Shores

If you are successful after completing the assessment, we will be work hard to match you to the most suitable roles in our business.

Most applications complete initial assessments and are progressed to the next stage which is an interview day, within 8 weeks but it’s good to know that the whole process can last up to 12 weeks 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 – whether that’s for your families, friends, or yourself.

Our hybrid working policy allows the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home as well as collaborating in our contemporary offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Diversity

We want our people to achieve rewarding careers, bringing their whole selves to work. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.

Our employee resource groups VIBE (LGBTQ+ employees), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) and our Gender Balance Group, in tandem with WSP’s Neurodiverse Community Group, WSP Connect Group (visible and non-visible disabilities) help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential.

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 where 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 also offer part time and flexible working arrangements plus the option to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We appreciate that development and training is important to you and that’s why we have a supportive environment that invests in your development, whether that’s chartership, training or mentoring.

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.