Summer Internship Programme 2026 – Microbiology in Edinburgh

Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland. Ready to own your future? At Scottish Water, our Summer Internship Programme empowers you to gain hands-on experience, tackle real challenges, and contribute to shaping Scotland’s future. This is more than just a summer job – it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. As part of our team, you’ll play a key role in delivering essential services and infrastructure that help Scotland flourish every day.

You’ll be joining us at a fascinating time, as we transform into a more agile, innovative organisation that delivers outstanding service, provides great value for money, and works in an environmentally sustainable way that goes beyond Net Zero. Graduating in 2027? Kickstart your career with a 12-week summer placement and start building your future today.

What you’ll do

Science skills within the water sector are becoming increasingly critical as the world faces the interconnected challenges of climate change, resource sustainability, pollution, and population growth. At Scottish Water, microbiology plays a central role in addressing these challenges. From ensuring the safety of drinking water to managing wastewater compliance, microbiological expertise is vital for protecting public health, supporting sustainable economic growth, and delivering resilient, cost-effective services to our customers.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art microbiology laboratories, where our dedicated team of over 300 samplers, scientists, and support staff conduct rigorous testing to monitor and maintain water quality. With an average of one test performed every minute, our labs are at the forefront of water safety and environmental stewardship.

By joining our microbiology team, you’ll apply your university studies in a live operational laboratory environment, learning directly from experienced microbiologists as they tackle real-world water quality challenges. This is a paid summer internship, with an hourly rate of £13.45, aligned with the Real Living Wage. The role is typically full-time (35 hours per week), though we’re open to discussing flexible working patterns where possible. For a 35-hour week, the equivalent annual salary would be approximately £24,574, pro-rated for the length of the internship.

What you’ll need

You’ll be in the penultimate year of your degree (or about to start a Masters), and on course for at least a 2:2 in a relevant discipline such as Biology, Chemistry or Microbiology. You’ll also need to be available for the full 12-week placement, starting in June. Most of all, you’ll bring curiosity, enthusiasm, and a real desire to learn – along with the motivation to apply what you’re studying in a practical, real-world environment. You’ll need to live within commuting distance of our labs in Juniper House (Edinburgh) as this role will be aligned to one of our key office locations.

Looking out for you

While the work we do is important, it’s not the only thing that matters. That’s why we support a healthy work-life balance and flexible ways of working where possible. You’ll gain meaningful experience, build your professional network, and get a real feel for what a future career at Scottish Water could look like – all while being supported by experienced colleagues who want you to succeed.

What happens next?

The closing date for applications is Sunday 8th February. Please submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum 500 words) as part of your application. If shortlisted, final interviews will take place during February 23rd to March 13th and yes, you’ll get the chance to ask us plenty of questions too. If you accept a place on the programme, you’ll complete pre-employment screening during the Spring, including a criminal record check. All interns will start together in June for a 12-week Summer Internship, finishing at the end of August. You’ll take part in an induction, meet fellow interns and colleagues, learn about the organisation, visit operational sites, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way.

A few final things worth knowing… Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out! Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We’re also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.

As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you’ll need to commit to moving here within your first three months. Please note, Scottish Water takes the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues and customers very seriously and as such you may be subject to Drug & Alcohol testing in line with our policy.