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- Tasks: Shape and deliver impactful projects in the water industry.
- Company: Join Pennon, a leader in sustainable water management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, mentoring, real project responsibility, and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a difference while developing essential project management skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant fields and a proactive, curious mindset.
- Other info: Structured graduate programme with opportunities for growth and accreditation.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
Location: Exeter
Salary: £30,000
Start Date: September 2026
Application Deadline: 18th April 2026
Who we are… At Pennon, we literally bring water to life. We keep taps running, protect the environment, and support the communities we serve across the South West. Delivering this means managing complex, high‑value projects that safeguard water quality, improve resilience, and keep our essential services operating every day. Our project teams plan, coordinate, and deliver the solutions that make all of this possible. We care about doing things safely, responsibly, and well. We learn, collaborate, experiment - and we’ll welcome your ideas from day one.
If you’re diligent, curious, organised, and motivated to see projects through from concept to completion, you’ll thrive here.
What you’d be doing… As a Graduate Project Manager, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering projects that have tangible impact across our network, environment, and communities. You’ll develop core project management capability while gaining real responsibility from early stages. In this role, you will:
- Deliver Time–Cost–Quality Outcomes
- Support the planning and delivery of projects to ensure they are completed on time, within a controlled budget, and to the required quality standards
- Help define project scopes, milestones, and schedules, ensuring clarity for delivery teams and partners
- Monitor project spend, financial forecasts, and cost controls, escalating risks early
- Drive Project Performance
- Track progress across live projects, ensuring tasks, dependencies, and deliverables stay on track
- Identify emerging risks or issues using data, stakeholder input, and site information
- Work with engineers, contractors, suppliers and internal teams to maintain momentum and solve problems collaboratively
- Ensure Compliance & Good Governance
- Support delivery of projects that meet regulatory obligations (e.g., environmental, water quality, health and safety)
- Maintain accurate project documentation, approvals, change records, and audit trails
- Uphold our safety-first culture across all stages of delivery
- Collaborate & Influence
- Build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders — technical and non‑technical
- Facilitate discussions, challenge assumptions, and ensure everyone is aligned on priorities
- Communicate clearly through reports, briefings, presentations, and project updates
- Learn & Develop
- Gain broad exposure to how the water industry plans and delivers infrastructure
- Develop professional project management skills (scope, risk, cost, schedule, governance)
- Work toward professional accreditation, should that be a path you choose
If you enjoy working with structure and clarity - but also know how to adapt when real‑world complexity hits - this role will stretch and grow your capability in meaningful ways.
Who you are… We’re looking for graduates who want to understand how things work, who enjoy solving problems, and who care about making things better for people and the environment. You don’t need to arrive as a fully‑formed project manager - curiosity and a proactive attitude will take you a long way. You might be a great match if you:
- Have a degree in Engineering, Project Management, Environmental Science, Business, or a similar technical or analytical discipline
- Are diligent, organised, and able to bring structure to complex information
- Enjoy understanding how systems work and are confident asking questions to get clarity
- Communicate well with different audiences, from contractors to senior leaders
- Can make sound judgements based on evidence, data, and risk awareness
- Put people and safety first in your decision making
- Care about delivering outcomes that support sustainability and long‑term value
- Have the right to work in the UK
If this sounds like you - or if you’re drawn to the role but unsure if you tick every box - we’d still like to hear from you. The most important thing is your drive to learn, contribute, and grow.
What’s in it for you…
- A structured graduate programme that builds project leadership skills
- Mentoring and support, including a dedicated buddy and access to experienced project managers
- Real project responsibility, with opportunities to lead workstreams that deliver visible value to communities
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Work with meaning - projects that protect the environment, improve resilience and support essential public services
- A culture shaped by values: safety, integrity, collaboration, innovation, and customer care
- Support toward professional accreditation (APM, engineering bodies, or other relevant pathways)
Closing Date: 18th April 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 will work with you to make sure you can show us what you can do.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Graduate Project Manager in Exeter employer: Bristol Water plc
Contact Detail:
Bristol Water plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Project Manager in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to alumni from your university. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can give you insider info about the company.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Whether it's presenting your ideas or discussing project details, being able to articulate your thoughts clearly is key. Try mock interviews with friends or use online resources to sharpen your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining us at Pennon and making a difference in the water industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Project Manager in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Graduate Project Manager role. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description, especially your problem-solving abilities and project management knowledge.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for the water industry and project management shine through in your application. We want to see your curiosity and motivation to make a difference, so don’t hold back on sharing why you’re excited about this opportunity!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your ideas and experiences, making it easy for us to see how you fit into our team and culture.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures we receive all your details correctly and gives you the best chance to stand out in the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bristol Water plc
✨Know Your Projects
Before the interview, research Pennon and its projects. Understand their impact on the community and environment. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and show how your skills align with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples from your studies or previous experiences where you tackled complex problems. Highlight how you approached these challenges, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes. This is crucial for a role that requires managing risks and driving project performance.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. You’ll need to communicate with various stakeholders, so being able to present your ideas effectively is key. Consider doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your communication style.
✨Emphasise Your Curiosity
Pennon values curiosity and a proactive attitude. Be ready to discuss how you’ve sought out new knowledge or experiences in your field. This could be through internships, projects, or even personal initiatives that showcase your eagerness to learn and grow.