2026 Graduate Programme - Environment - Environmental Management Assessment

Overview

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives and shape a career as unique as you are.

Our environmental management and assessment specialists work on a range of projects from high profile schemes to smaller local studies across our energy, roads, rail, marine, property and communities sectors. We work on projects throughout the full project lifecycle from feasibility to construction. We are recruiting Graduates for our Environmental Management Assessment teams who have a flexible approach and an appetite to learn in a leading Engineering and Professional Advisory services consultancy. We want you to enjoy working in a collaborative environment where you can apply your skills for a diverse range of clients and projects.

Roles and locations

• Environmental Management Assessment – Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham or Exeter.
• Environmental Consents – Project Management – Birmingham

Your role and the team

Working as a Graduate in our Environmental Management Assessment teams will mean working on innovative projects, exploring and learning about the numerous facets of Environmental Impact Assessment. You will be working on projects across a broad range of clients, sectors and scales. You will be embedded in multidisciplinary teams and mentored by experienced Consultants, gaining exposure to real-world challenges and innovative solutions.

Projects
Our teams have worked on significant assignments in the UK, and you will be helping deliver projects such as Bristol Airport Expansion & Heathrow Airport, Great Grid Upgrade, Sizewell C permits and consents, East West Rail & High Speed 2, HyNet Hydrogen Pipeline, National Grid and EDF Energy, and onshore and offshore windfarms.

Environmental Management – day-to-day

As a Graduate in this team, you will assist in providing advice and support to clients at each stage of the consenting process, through inception, optioneering, design, planning, construction and operation for infrastructure and development of all sizes and sectors. You will be embedded in multidisciplinary teams and mentored by experienced Consultants, gaining exposure to real-world challenges and innovative solutions. Day-to-day activities could include:

• Performing professional-level tasks that contribute to project and service line goals.
• Creating content (for marketing), developing project profiles, analysing competitor strategies, or presenting information to build confidence and provide a range of experiences.
• Collaborating with colleagues, communicating effectively (written and verbal), and potentially managing your own time and projects.

Graduates joining our 2026 intake could be involved in projects such as Heathrow Airport, The Great Grid Upgrade, Sizewell C permits and consents and East Western Rail.

Environmental Consents – Project Management

We are looking to recruit Graduate Environmental Project Managers to join our growing Environmental Project Management team to play a key role in multi-disciplinary environmental projects, supporting the Project Manager and Technical Lead to deliver projects safely, on time and within budget in a friendly and supportive environment. Day-to-day activities could include:

• Assisting the Project Manager in developing project management documentation including project management plans, cost estimates and forecasts, risk registers, project schedules and stakeholder registers.
• Scheduling meetings, taking minutes and tracking actions.
• Monitoring project schedules and tracking progress.
• Working with multi-disciplinary environmental project teams consisting of technical/professional staff and suppliers.
• Assisting in the administration of supplier contracts.
• Preparing invoices and tracking project spend.
• Undertaking information management activities such as working in Common Data Environments.

You will join an enthusiastic and supportive team, providing you with a challenging and fulfilling career, dealing with internal and external stakeholders and collaborating with colleagues in dynamic project environments.

Graduate Development Programme

Our two-year Graduate Development programme is designed to support personal and professional development through an engaging blended learning experience. The programme includes core business and professional skills training, career development workshops and resources, valuable networking opportunities, mentoring for professional registration and a breadth of on-the-job experience.

For more information, please visit: Who we are – ECP. Our teams are dedicated to supporting your career growth from the very beginning. Many employees have started as graduates and advanced within the company. We encourage you to pursue chartered status with a range of professional bodies, with support for enrolment in a professional institution’s training agreement, guiding you towards chartered or incorporated status. For details about sectors and specialisms, please visit our Graduate brochure or Graduate Website.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• You’ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject for the role.
• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions; successful completion is mandatory. If you pass, you will then complete an online skill enabler assessment.
• You’ll be looking to start work in either April or September 2026.
• You’ll have a passion for Earth & Environment, including Environmental management and/or Project management.
• You’ll have good numerical understanding and experience in data analysis and interpretation using Excel and GIS.
• You’ll have an enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems.
• You’ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas.
• You’ll have the ability to travel to site and/or client offices as required.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? If you have the right qualifications for our positions, apply and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities we have available for our Graduate programme.

Application & Selection

We review applications for Early Career opportunities on a rolling basis, so we begin progressing some candidates to final stages before the application closing date. To ensure your application receives full consideration, we recommend submitting it as early as possible.

What’s in it for you?

• Work-life balance
  Hybrid working policy offers flexibility to work from home two days a week, with opportunities to collaborate in offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging
  We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences, encourage people to bring their whole selves to work, and celebrate integrity and respect with employee resource groups.
• Health & Wellbeing
  Thrive programme supports health and wellbeing; includes a Virtual GP service and menopause support package.
• Flex your time
  WSP My Hour allows one hour per day for personal activities, with flexible time adjustments; part-time and flexible working, optional additional leave, and bank holiday flex.
• Your development
  We invest in development through training, mentoring and Chartered status support.

#WeAreWSP
We encourage applications from diverse candidates and will interview all disabled applicants who meet essential criteria; please request workplace adjustments if needed.

Seniority level

• Internship

Employment type

• Part-time

Job function

• Education and Training
• Industries
• Professional Services