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- Tasks: Dive into real engineering challenges and improve water infrastructure across the Southwest.
- Company: Join Pennon, a leader in sustainable water management and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, mentorship, and a structured graduate programme.
- Why this job: Make a genuine impact on communities while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering or related field; curiosity and problem-solving mindset.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of safety, integrity, and innovation with clear pathways to chartership.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: Exeter
Salary: £30,000
Start Date: September 2026
Application Deadline: 20th March 2026
Who we are… At Pennon, we literally bring water to life. We keep taps running, protect the environment, and support communities across the Southwest. Our engineering teams make all of that happen, every single day. We care about doing things safely and doing them well. We experiment, we learn, we share ideas freely, and we’ll welcome yours from the moment you arrive. If you’re someone who likes making real‑world systems better, and you enjoy the feeling of solving a problem that actually helps people, you’ll find something for you here.
What you’d be doing… If you’re the sort of person who learns best by getting involved, this role lets you dive into the action and build confidence through real engineering challenges. As a Graduate Civil Engineer, you could:
- Work on the physical infrastructure that delivers clean water and manages wastewater across the Southwest
- Take on technical challenges around pipework design, treatment structures, reservoirs, and network expansion
- Dig into hydraulic modelling and site investigation data to understand network performance and plan improvements
- Bring fresh ideas to infrastructure projects, from early design through to construction and commissioning
- Find ways to strengthen resilience, extend asset life, and improve structural integrity across our network
- Help deliver sustainable drainage solutions and environmental protection measures
- Play your part in our safety‑first culture through site visits, risk assessments, and quality checks
- Build the technical and professional skills you’ll need for chartership (if that’s where you’re headed)
If you enjoy getting stuck in straight away, experimenting, learning fast, and getting involved in real engineering work, this could be a great fit for you.
Who you are… We’re keen to meet engineering graduates who get curious about systems, love tackling unfamiliar challenges, and learn as they go. You might be a great match if you:
- Are working toward (or have) a degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
- Enjoy understanding how systems work and aren’t afraid to ask the questions that get you there
- Can explain things clearly, whether your audience is technical or not
- Bring integrity, care and good judgement to the work you do
- Put safety and people at the heart of your choices
- Care about the environment and designing for a sustainable future
- Have an instinct for problem‑solving, seeing possibility in unexpected places
- Have the right to work in the UK
If you’re drawn to this role and feel this might be you, we’d love to hear from you. Don’t have everything on this list? That’s ok, you won’t be expected to arrive with all the answers. In fact, a curious mind and proactive attitude will carry you a long way as you explore everything this role has to offer. You’ll learn about our assets, our systems, and how engineering theory translates into keeping vital services running around the clock.
What’s in it for you…
- A structured grad programme: Learning that strengthens your technical instincts, people skills and your sense of how engineering fits into the bigger picture
- A mentor or buddy: An experienced engineer who can guide you along the way
- Real experience: Work on assets and projects with real impact across familiar spaces and communities in the Southwest
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- The chance to make a difference: Work that carries genuine social and environmental meaning
- A culture shaped by values: safety, integrity, collaboration, innovation and customer care
- Support toward professional registration and clear pathways to chartership
Closing Date: 20th March 2026 – We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK for the full duration of the 2‑year programme. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this programme. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and ensuring everyone can participate in our recruitment process fully and fairly. If you need any adjustments or face any barriers in our processes, just let us know. We’ll work with you to make sure you can show us what you can do.
Graduate Civil Engineer South West Water · Early Careers · Exeter employer: AquaCare, Company
Contact Detail:
AquaCare, Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Civil Engineer South West Water · Early Careers · Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at South West Water on LinkedIn or attend local engineering events. Building connections can give us insights into the company culture and even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to civil engineering. We should also be ready to discuss our projects and how they align with South West Water's mission of sustainability and community support.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of challenges we've tackled in our studies or internships. This will demonstrate our ability to think critically and creatively, which is key for a Graduate Civil Engineer.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can tailor our submission to highlight how our skills match the job description perfectly.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Civil Engineer South West Water · Early Careers · Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Engineering: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for civil engineering shine through. Share specific examples of projects or experiences that sparked your interest in the field and how they relate to the role at South West Water.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this position. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description, especially those related to problem-solving and sustainability in engineering.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your qualifications and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the Graduate Civil Engineer role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application is received promptly and allows us to process it efficiently. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at AquaCare, Company
✨Know Your Engineering Basics
Brush up on your civil engineering fundamentals, especially those related to water systems and infrastructure. Be ready to discuss concepts like hydraulic modelling and pipework design, as these are key to the role.
✨Show Your Curiosity
Demonstrate your eagerness to learn and ask insightful questions during the interview. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but genuinely interested in understanding how systems work and improving them.
✨Emphasise Safety and Sustainability
Since the company values safety and environmental care, be prepared to talk about how you prioritise these aspects in your work. Share examples from your studies or projects where you considered safety measures or sustainable practices.
✨Connect with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with Pennon's core values: safety, integrity, collaboration, innovation, and customer care. Think of ways you can relate your experiences to these values, showing that you’re a good cultural fit for the team.