Placement Specialist in London

Looking for a 12-month paid professional placement where your degree actually matters? This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of the UK's water sector, contributing to decisions that affect millions of customers, the environment, and long-term infrastructure resilience. This placement sits within a national public body responsible for regulating water and wastewater services across England and Wales. You'll gain hands-on experience in engineering, science, environmental policy and data-led regulation, while building skills that set you up for a serious graduate career.

Key Criteria (What We'll Screen Against)

• You’ll be a strong match if you:
• Are studying a degree with a sandwich year, or are a recent graduate/apprentice (within 3 years)
• Are on track for, or have achieved, a 2:2 or above in: Engineering, Environmental Studies, Science, Data / Maths, Geography (or related analytical disciplines)
• Have a genuine interest in:

• Water, utilities or environmental regulation
• Applying technical or analytical thinking to real-world problems
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Ability to work with different stakeholders
• Curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn

• Level 3–5 apprenticeships in relevant analytical, economic or technical subjects
• Postgraduate qualifications aligned to the above disciplines

The Opportunity

As a Professional Placement student, you'll join a specialist Water, Engineering, Science & Technology (WEST) team working on real, high-impact projects such as:

• Monitoring water company performance and long-term resilience
• Supporting water resource management planning and sustainability initiatives
• Analysing technical and environmental data to inform regulatory decisions
• Contributing to innovation programmes and performance assessments

This is not a shadowing role. You’ll be trusted with meaningful work, supported by experienced professionals, and embedded within an Early Careers community of placements, apprentices and graduates.

Learning & Development

You’ll be supported from day one with:

• A structured early-careers development programme
• Technical and professional training tailored to your role
• Exposure to senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Opportunities to attend conferences and visit operational sites
• A dedicated people manager, early careers support team and buddy

By the end of the placement, you’ll leave with real regulatory experience, stronger technical confidence, and a standout CV.

Who This Is For

This placement is ideal if you’re curious about how engineering, science and environmental policy come together in a real-world regulatory setting — and you want your work to genuinely make a difference.

Location & Working Pattern

Birmingham or London office base. Hybrid working available.

Why Apply?

If you want more than a "CV-filler" placement — and instead want real responsibility, real impact and serious career momentum — this is a standout opportunity. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly encouraged.