2025 Graduate Programme (UK) - Earth and Environment

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

About us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 69,300 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

Job Description

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 2024 and beyond.

As one of the largest environmental consultancies in the UK, WSP gets involved in some of the most challenging and high-profile projects. We work on anything from small developments across every sector, through to major national infrastructure schemes.

We are recruiting for graduates for our Mining, Ground & Water, Geotechnical & Tunnelling, Strategic Advisory Earth and Environment teams, who have an adaptable approach and an appetite to learn in a leading Engineering and professional services consultancy. We want you to enjoy working in a collaborative environment where you can apply your skills working for a diverse range of clients and projects.

Responsibilities and Requirements

Earth and Environment

Our globally connected team provides tailored solutions to match unique project requirements. Our collaborative approach ensures success in navigating complex regulations and seeking innovative strategies. We build safe and future-ready infrastructure to support places where communities can thrive.

We are recruiting for some fantastic opportunities for our Earth and Environment teams across the UK:

Geotechnical and Tunnelling - Engineering

• Geotechnical & Ground Engineering - Degree backgrounds considered: Civil & Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology and MSc Soil Mechanics
• Locations: London, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham (others considered)

Mining Services and Mining

• Mine Water Hydrogeology - Degree backgrounds considered: MSc Hydrogeology, MSc Earth Sciences, MSc Environmental Science, MSc Geoscience or similar courses with Hydrogeology, groundwater modules.
• Mine Water Resources Engineering - Degree backgrounds considered: BSc in Water Resource Engineering, Civil Engineering (with Hydrology and hydraulics modules), Geography, Environmental Science (with hydrology module) plus MSc course in engineering hydraulics.
• Mine Water Geochemistry - Degree backgrounds considered: MSc in Geochemistry, MSc only Hydrogeology, MSc Earth Science, MSc Environmental Sciences, MSc Geoscience or similar courses with Geochemistry coursework, thesis work also considered.
• Location: London, Birmingham and Dublin

Ground and Water

• Adaptability to travel to site and potentially remote locations as projects dictate is required, for roles in Ground and Water
• Ground & Water - Degree backgrounds considered: BSc Environmental science(s), Science-based degrees, Geology, Earth Science, Geoscience with MSc in Contaminated Land assessment and remediation.
• Locations: Bristol, Birmingham (others considered)

Ground and Water - Hydrogeologist

• Adaptability to travel to site and potentially remote locations as projects dictate is required, for roles in Ground and Water
• Hydrogeologist - Degree backgrounds considered: Hydrogeology
• Locations: Leeds

Health and Safety consulting services

• Health & Safety Consulting Services - Degree backgrounds considered: Safety related degrees, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Health, Construction Management and other sciences.
• Location: Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bristol, London

Earth & Environment Advisory Services

• E&IS – Degree backgrounds considered: Environmental Science(s), Environmental Management, Environmental Consultancy, Energy Management. Economics, Environmental Economics, Environment Technology, Environmental policy (MSc preferred.
• Location: Bristol

Environmental Services

Acoustics & Noise vibration

• Acoustics - Degree backgrounds considered: Acoustics Engineering, Music Technology or Sound Engineering.
• Location : London

Air Quality

• Air Quality - Degree backgrounds considered: Mathematics, Physics, Natural Sciences or specific Acoustics qualification
• Locations: London or Cardiff

Historic Environment & Archaeology

• Historic Environment & Archaeology - Degree backgrounds considered: Heritage - Cultural, Built Landscape or Marine. Archaeology or other relevant qualification.
• Locations: London, Cambridge, Birmingham or Manchester

Landscape Architecture

• Landscape Architecture - Degree backgrounds considered: Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design, MA Urban Design, Master planning, Architecture or Natural Sciences.
• Location: Manchester

Environmental Services - Arboriculture and Forestry

• Arboriculture and Forestry - Arboriculture - Degree backgrounds considered: A degree of a minimum Level 3 Arboriculture i.e. HNC, AA Tech Certificate, Ndip Arb, AA Tech Certificate or Ndip Arb.
• Locations: London, Bristol, Birmingham or Manchester
• Arboriculture and Forestry - Forester - Degree backgrounds considered: Higher National Diploma or Foundation degree in Forestry or a related subject.
• Locations: London, Exeter, Bristol or Manchester

Environmental Services - Nature Advisory Aquatics Freshwater and Marine

• Aquatics Freshwater & Marine - Degree backgrounds considered: Biology, Ecology, Marin, Environmental Sciences or directly related subject.
• Locations: Guildford, Basingstoke, Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds or Edinburgh

Environmental Services - Nature Advisory

• Degree backgrounds considered: Biodiversity, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Policy, Sustainability Management or other relevant fields.
• Locations: London, Exeter, Bristol or Manchester

Environmental Services - Historic Environment & Archaeology

• Degree backgrounds considered: Cultural Heritage, Heritage, Built Landscape or Marine. Archaeology or other relevant degrees considered.
• Locations: London, Cambridge, Birmingham or Manchester

Environmental Strategic Advisory - Sustainability & Climate Change - Permitting and Compliance

• Permitting & Compliance - Degree backgrounds considered: Geography, Sustainability & Consultancy, Sustainability & Business, Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science(s), Chemistry
• Locations: Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Bristol
• Permitting (Nuclear) – Above degrees and Nuclear or Materials Engineering, Nuclear Technology, Physics with Nuclear Technology, Radiological protection/management.
• Locations: Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow.

Environmental Strategic Advisory - Sustainability & Climate Change - Responsible Consumption & Production

• Degree backgrounds considered: Waste Management, Sustainability & Consultancy, Sustainability & Business, Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science(s), Chemistry, Natural Sciences
• Locations: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow.

Environmental Strategic Advisory - Sustainability & Climate Change - Policy and Economics

• Degree backgrounds considered: Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Environmental Economics,
• Locations: London and Bristol

Our teams are friendly and support each other to develop our skills and grow our network in the business. You will undertake a variety of tasks and will have the opportunity to help grow the existing team. We work collaboratively with colleagues from technical specialists across the wider WSP to provide our clients with the best expertise to deliver a wide range of projects.

Graduate Development Programme

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

We have established relationships with professional institutions including but not all 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.

Our 2-year Graduate Programme is designed to support personal career development and growth through a blended learning experience. The programme includes core business skills and career focused training, networking opportunities, professional registration mentoring and on-the-job experience. The development programme consists of four key streams illustrated below:

• 2 day in-person induction
• In person training days
• Technical role specific training
• Curated online content
• On-the-job experience
• Additional resources and activities

We also have a unique Professional Growth Network (PGN), which is a networking group run by early career professionals for ECP’s. 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.

Essential Criteria

You’ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s or bachelor’s degree in the required subject specific to the role you are applying for.

• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. This requirement applies to all candidates, inclusive of their background. Successful completion of this stage is mandatory. Candidates who pass this initial stage, will then be required to complete an online behavioural assessment. Both the application form and the behavioural assessment are essential parts of the early career's recruitment process.
• You'll be looking to start work in April or September 2025
• Have a passion for Environmental Consulting and/or sustainable engineering solutions
• An enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems
• You’ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas you have
• In this team, you will be dealing with internal and external stakeholders and collaborating with colleagues and adapting to continuous project environments.

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.

How long does the process take?

You'll receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within 5 days 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.

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 8-10 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.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?

With us, you can. Apply today.

What's in it for you?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the adaptability to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Diversity

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

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 offers you and your family unlimited telephone access to an NHS doctor, available 24/7, with options for face-to-face video consultations. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP adaptable benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the "WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the adaptability to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and adaptable working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#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. As a Disability Confident leader, 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.