2026 Graduate Programme - Water - Asset Design

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. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

We are looking for graduates for our Asset Design team, 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 working for a diverse range of clients and projects.

Roles and locations

• EICA (Electrical Engineering): Derby, Newcastle or Glasgow
• Mechanical: Glasgow, London or Newcastle
• Civils: Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Belfast or Bristol
• Project Management: Bristol or Birmingham
• Asset Management (Civil or Data Science, Geographic Information System, Computer Science/ Programming): Belfast, London, Birmingham or Liverpool

Your role and the team

Our Asset Design team provides comprehensive design and construction support services across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and process engineering. We work from feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design and commissioning. By challenging assumptions and refining options, we help clients make risk-based decisions that champion no-build and low-build solutions. Our multi-disciplinary design teams cover process, civil, mechanical, and electrical instrumentation, and energy.

Projects

Graduates are likely to be involved in a diverse range of projects across the UK water sector, supporting major clients such as:

• Thames Water/Costain
• Northumbrian Water
• Britannia Metals
• Severn Trent Water
• Southwest Water
• Galliford Try
• Yorkshire Water/Tillbury Douglas
• Irish Water
• Southern Water
• Keir
• Nutrient Removal schemes (to help meet tighter environmental standards)
• Clean Water Projects (to ensure safe and resilient supplies)
• Strategic programmes reducing reliance on groundwater abstraction

Asset Design teams include

• EICA (Electrical)
• Civils

EICA (Electrical) Working as a Graduate in EICA (Electrical) will provide you with the opportunity to learn design engineering skills in electrical engineering or electrical and instrumentation, control and automation within the growing water industry. Graduates will work in multi-disciplinary design teams which will allow them to gain an appreciation of other design disciplines such as civil and chemical engineering. Day-to-day activities could include:

• Working alongside and learning from experienced discipline mentors.
• Producing single line diagrams, load schedules, I/O schedules, Instrument schedules and MCC data sheets (EICA).
• Producing pump calculations and pump selection, isometric drawings, mechanical GA\\\’s equipment sizing and selection (mechanical).
• Attending site visits/site surveys (both mechanical and EICA).
• Learning 3D CAD design skills (both mechanical and EICA).
• Learning cable sizing and discrimination software tools (EICA).
• Learning hydraulic calculation and the use of software tools (mechanical).

Civils

The water industry is an exciting place to work currently, with more investment than ever in ageing assets and pollution prevention solutions. We are looking for Engineering Graduates of all disciplines with energy and passion for problem solving, working closely within a team to come up with new ideas and solutions. Our team is well placed to make a big impact on the projects due to be delivered over the next 5 to 10 years, in both water and wastewater treatment and networks. Day-to-day activities could include:

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary design team to problem solve and find solutions to water and wastewater project challenges
• Use of digital software to support in problem solving and reporting findings
• Production of 3D models of solutions working alongside BIM modellers
• Attendance at Client and internal meetings and workshops to find the right solutions to problems
• Development towards Chartered status with support and guidance from an experienced Delegated Engineer

Graduate Development Programme

Our two-year Graduate Development programme is designed to support personal and professional development and growth through an engaging blended learning experience. The programmes include 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. To find out more, 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 successfully advanced within the company. We encourage you to achieve chartered status with professional bodies such as IChemE, CIWEM, IMechE, and IET, making your development a priority. You will be fully supported through enrolment in a professional institution’s training agreement, guiding you towards chartered or incorporated status. To find out more about Sectors and Specialisms we recruit our Graduates into, as well as qualification requirements, please click on the Graduate brochure or Graduate website link below.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

You’ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a relevant subject for the role you are applying for. To assist you in finding potential areas of the business that are relevant to you, please visit our Graduate brochure or website. Graduate brochure or Graduate website

• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. This requirement applies to all candidates, inclusive of their background. Successful completion of this stage is mandatory. Candidates who pass this initial stage will then be required to complete an online skill enabler assessment. Both the application form and the skill enabler assessment are essential parts of the early career recruitment process.
• You\\\’ll be looking to start work in either April or September 2026.
• You\\\’ll have a passion for engineering and consulting in Water.
• You\\\’ll have a desire for the environment, engineering, and planning.
• You\\\’ll have an enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems.
• You\\\’ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas you have.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Should 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.

For further information regarding our Application & Selection process, including timelines for recruitment, please visit our Early Careers brochure – Application & Selection. We review applications for our Early Career opportunities on a rolling basis, which means we begin progressing some candidates to the 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 At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.