At a Glance
- Tasks: Work on innovative urban design projects that shape sustainable cities.
- Company: Join Arcadis, a global leader in sustainable design and consultancy.
- Benefits: Structured training, mentoring, and support for professional development.
- Other info: Diverse team environment with opportunities for global projects and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on urban environments and contribute to a sustainable future.
- Qualifications: Graduating in 2025 with a degree in Architecture, Urban Design, or Landscape Architecture.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.
Start Date: September 2025
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life.
Our graduate GROW programme is a structured 3-year programme, designed to help you evolve and develop skills to become an experienced professional in your chosen field. You’ll benefit from training and development, mentoring, and assistance for accreditations relevant to your programme, as well as the support and guidance you need to develop and succeed. As a GROW graduate you will be empowered to drive your career and will be exposed to a variety of experiences to assist you in gaining the skills you require to succeed.
As an architecture and urbanism graduate joining GROW, you’ll be working within a diverse, award-winning team of Architects and designers, working on making our vision for a sustainable future real. You will help drive toward architectural innovation, sustainable solutions and digital leadership with greater focus and scale. You’ll work on a range of projects, from the planning of smart, sustainable, urban environments, to the creation of lifestyle-led, commercial, education, healthcare, retail, mixed-use and public assets, ensuring we deliver positive impact.
Specialism Urban Designer – As a Graduate Urban Designer, you will have the opportunity to work on a range of master planning and urban design projects with UK and global clients, both in public and private sectors, as well as an opportunity to be involved in UK and global urban regeneration projects. Working within a project team you will assist in the delivery of project-related tasks, and you will work as part of wider multi-disciplinary teams, undertaking master planning projects and assisting with deliverables and reports. As well as receiving professional supervision, you will work in collaboration with other disciplines and acquire the knowledge and practical skills through on-the-job learning to develop your knowledge.
Accepted degrees: BA, BSc, MA or MSc in Architecture, Urban Design or Landscape Architecture
Qualifications & Experience
- You will be graduating in 2025 or have recently graduated with at least a 2:2 in an accepted degree
- You will demonstrate typical Arcadian skills including Resilience, Creativity, Analytical Thinking and being a Team Player
- You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to use your technical knowledge to influence and consult stakeholders
- Willing to travel and stay away from home when required (where possible we embrace virtual working)
Why Arcadis? We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together. You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you. Together, we can create a lasting legacy. Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.
Graduate Urban Designer in Chester employer: Topgrad UK
Arcadis is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, providing graduates with invaluable opportunities for professional growth through its structured GROW programme. Located in a dynamic environment, employees benefit from hands-on experience in diverse teams, working on impactful urban design projects that shape communities both locally and globally. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, Arcadis empowers its workforce to thrive while making a meaningful difference in the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Urban Designer in Chester
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Topgrad UK who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Urban Designer in Chester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Topgrad UK!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Topgrad UK. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Topgrad UK
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Topgrad UK.
