Social Value Graduate

Make your mark with Colas Rail UK. At Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. You'll be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated graduate to begin a career in Social Value, Sustainability, ESG, and Community Engagement within the UK infrastructure sector. As a Graduate Social Value Advisor, you will support the delivery of meaningful social impact across major infrastructure projects and business operations, helping ensure that projects create lasting benefits for local communities, clients, employees, and supply chain partners.

Working as part of the Social Value team, you will contribute to the planning, coordination, delivery, monitoring, and promotion of social value initiatives aligned to client commitments, ESG objectives, and wider business priorities. The role offers exposure to stakeholder engagement, community partnerships, employability and education programmes, volunteering initiatives, sustainability activities, and social value reporting frameworks.

You will work closely with operational teams, clients, educational institutions, charities, local authorities, and community organisations to help deliver measurable outcomes that support social mobility, skills development, inclusion, and community wellbeing. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about creating positive social impact, enjoys working collaboratively with people, and is looking to develop a long-term career within social value, sustainability, infrastructure, or corporate responsibility.

The role provides excellent opportunities for professional development, industry exposure, and career progression within a supportive and collaborative environment. The Social Value Graduate will join the Colas Rail Social Value team, supporting the company’s social value strategy and action plan.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Delivering social value initiatives in the communities where we operate.
• Building partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitoring and reporting social value outcomes across the company.

Reporting to the Social Value Manager, you will assist in creating informative and compelling communications, such as social value newsletters and case studies, targeting both internal and external stakeholders, including clients, employees, supply chain partners, and local communities. Additionally, you will coordinate Colas Rail’s award submission process, collaborating to develop award-winning entries in various categories such as employment, training, local engagement, innovation, and net-zero initiatives.

This role is based in London, Victoria or Bristol.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the delivery and continuous development of the company’s Social Value Strategy and Action Plan across infrastructure projects and business operations.
• Collaborate with internal teams, clients, and supply chain partners to identify and promote social value opportunities and initiatives.
• Research innovative approaches and new initiatives that deliver sustainable and long-term social impact within local communities.
• Plan, coordinate, and support the delivery of social value activities across England and Wales, including school engagement, careers fairs, university engagement, STEM activities, employability programmes, and volunteering initiatives.
• Build and maintain positive partnerships with community organisations, charities, educational institutions, and voluntary groups to deliver joint social value projects.
• Promote and coordinate volunteering opportunities that encourage employee engagement and community participation.
• Liaise with operational, commercial, HR, and project teams to support and enhance social value delivery across the business.
• Monitor, measure, and track social value performance, ensuring activities and outcomes are accurately reported through the company’s reporting and monitoring platforms.
• Produce high-quality case studies, impact stories, presentations, and communications materials to promote social value achievements internally and externally, including on social media and the company website.
• Identify relevant social value, sustainability, and industry award opportunities and support the development of high-quality award submissions in collaboration with internal stakeholders.

As you will expect, the organisation may change from time to time and you will be expected to meet the operational requirements. Any other reasonable duties as required from time to time.

Person Specification:

• Any degree qualification - minimum grade 2:2
• A passion for social value
• Strong communication skills, able to build and maintain relationships with community organizations and local communities.
• Analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to learning
• Willingness to travel across England and Wales (including London, Swindon, Bedford, Chelmsford, and Bristol).
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including presentation ability.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

What we Offer:

• Competitive Salary
• 26 days Annual Leave
• Industry leading Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Long Service Award
• Season Ticket Loan
• Occupational Health Service

This is an exciting opportunity to build a career in the rail industry. We’d particularly encourage applications from women, or those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, valued and respected.

Regardless of background, disability, age, race, religion, or gender, everyone is welcome at Colas Rail. We strive to promote equity and eliminate discrimination, actively seeking to create a workforce reflective of communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, offering flexible and inclusive adjustments to the interview process.

As part of a positive action drive to address under-representation we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. We are proudly part of the Disability Confidence Scheme, and as such we operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you meet the minimum requirements.

On joining Colas Rail you’ll have access to our growing Employee Network Groups including Railbow (representing the LGBTQ+ community), BeyonDisability (representing those with disabilities) and Cross Culture (representing people from ethnic backgrounds). Everyone is welcome to join our network groups whether you are part of the community or an ally.

Work life balance is important to us; flexible working options are available where feasible and dependent on the role. Please discuss this during the interview process.