2025 Graduate Programme (UK) - Water & Energy

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 it’s 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.

We are looking for graduates for our Water & Energy teams, who have an adaptable approach and an appetite to learn in a leading global 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.

You will join an enthusiastic and supportive team providing you a challenging and fulfilling working experience. We will fully support your development through enrolment onto a training agreement with an appropriate professional body enabling you to progress to chartered or incorporated status.

PROJECTS

Our Water & Energy teams work on some of the most prestigious developments in the UK, such as:

• Preem Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) FEED
• Northumbrian Water Limited Storm Overflow (U_IMP5) Assessments
• An extension to 2 wastewater treatment plants in Malta.
• Designing some of the UK’s largest solar PV
• UK Transmission & Distribution Network Operators

Responsibilities

Water – We have a long established and evolving business delivering environmental and engineering consultancy and advice to clients within the UK and worldwide. Our work covers a broad range of sectors and clients such as water, waste, sustainable infrastructure, environment, green energy and municipal with a focus on delivering engineering solutions for water and wastewater treatment, flooding, water and sewerage networks, waste recycling and sustainable energy to name a few. There are plenty of opportunities to broaden your horizons and support WSP’s purpose of unlocking solutions to deliver a net-zero future and enable a more sustainable, resilient and liveable world.

We are recruiting Graduates for the following teams within Water, throughout the UK:

Asset Design

• Degree backgrounds considered: MSc/MEng Chemical / Process Engineering, Environmental Engineering, MEng Mechanical Engineering or MEng Electrical Engineering, BSc/MSc or BEng/MEng Engineering, Project Management, Management, BEng/MEng Civil Engineering.
• Locations: Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds

Asset Management

• Degree backgrounds considered : Data Science, Geographic Information System, Computer Science/ Programming
• Locations: Brighton or Derby

Sustainable Water Management

• Degree backgrounds considered : Geography, Civil Engineering, River Environments, Water Management, Water & Environmental Management, Flood Management, Hydrogeology
• Locations: Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Energy - In our Energy business, we lead the way in decarbonising energy. Our vision is to drive the global shift to net-zero emissions by fostering innovative technologies, widespread renewable adoption, and asset transformation, creating value for our clients.

Working as a Graduate in Energy you could work on renewable energy projects, covering a range of technologies throughout their project development lifecycle, gaining experience to be able to guide and advise our clients on their future developments.

We are recruiting Graduates for the following teams within Energy, throughout the UK:

Energy Advisory

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Electrical Engineering (with modules on Power Networks)

Gas & Hydrogen

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Mechanical, Chemical or Process Engineering

Regulated Networks

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Civil or Electrical Engineering

Renewables

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering

Energy Transition

Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering

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 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.

Qualifications

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

• You'll be looking to start work in either April or September 2025
• Have a passion for planning and 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 progressive 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.

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 adaptability 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 adaptable 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.