One of the success factors of project delivery is planning. This critical stage offers an opportunity to collaborate with clients and help them make the right choices for their needs and find effective and sustainable strategies that also improve quality of life.
Planning Development, Transport & Local Government Graduate Opportunities
Degree backgrounds considered:
- MEng Civil Engineering
We have one of the largest teams of infrastructure planners and environmental professionals in the UK, enabling us to respond flexibly to the demands of the pre-application, application and statutory process stages of applications. Through careful programme and resource management, and with offices throughout the UK, we can respond quickly to the most challenging programme.
We frequently collaborate within larger, cross-functional teams, delivering a cohesive service that integrates our proficiency in Development Infrastructure and Development Planning. Our commitment to fostering lasting client relationships has led to substantial repeat business opportunities.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc, BA, MSc or MA in Transport Planning
- BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering
- BSc, BA, MSc or MA in Geography
The Development Planning team helps a broad range of private and public sector clients to promote, implement and manage sustainable development from pre-feasibility through to planning consent and beyond.
Our team of transport planning specialists - one of the largest in the UK - helps to establish plans for how an area and its accessibility will develop over time to guide future development. We develop mobility and servicing solutions for new developments, considering on-site design requirements for active travel users & vehicles, and assessing the off-site transport impact & identifying appropriate mitigation, where necessary.
We work on a mix of UK and international development and master planning projects across a broad range of sectors including residential, local authority, commercial, retail, logistics, sports & leisure, hotels, defence and energy.
We also often work as part of a wider, multi-disciplinary team, and provide a seamless service that encompasses both our Development Planning and Development Infrastructure expertise. We develop long-term, trusted relationships with our clients, and enjoy significant repeat business as a result.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- MSc, MPlan or MA in Planning
- BSc or BA degree in Town Planning (RTPI accredited)
- Other Town Planning qualifications considered if they are RTPI Accredited
Our Graduates support the Infrastructure Planning Team in preparing small, medium, or large planning applications for a variety of consents. This could include consents for power generation and energy transmission connections, new railway, and tramways, highway and active travel improvements, new water infrastructure, airport developments, and other similar infrastructure schemes. We support clients on some of the largest schemes across the UK, including Drax, HS2, Hynet, East West Rail, National Highways, Network Rail, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and SPEN and offer a real diversity of project type and scale.
We have one of the largest teams of infrastructure planners and environmental professionals in the UK, enabling us to respond flexibly to the demands of the pre-application, application and statutory process stages of applications. Through careful programme and resource management, and with offices throughout the UK, we can respond quickly to the most challenging programme.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- MSc or MPlan in Planning
- MA Urban Design and Planning
- MPlan City Planning
- MSc Planning
- MSc in Urban Design and International Planning
- BSc in Real Estate with MSc/Diploma in Urban Planning and Development
- MSc in Spatial Planning and Development
- MSc Urban and Regional Planning
- MSc Spatial Planning
- MSc in Urban Design and City Planning
In Planning Consultancy, we apply our knowledge and expertise to guide clients through the planning process from initial site appraisal and feasibility through to gaining the appropriate consents for achieving their objectives. We add value through solving problems and delivering ingenious solutions to achieve client objectives.
Our Graduates are involved from day one, working on a range of projects for private and public sector clients involving residential, industrial, leisure, retail, commercial, and energy development. They are involved in preparing and submitting various planning applications, planning appraisals, and assisting multidisciplinary teams working on planning projects. Graduates attend site visits as well as undertaking an active role, attending design team, and client meetings with senior colleagues. Graduates are expected to manage smaller projects and support senior colleagues and Directors on larger schemes. This involves collaborating with WSP coworkers, statutory bodies, and public consultees. They are also involved in preparing fee proposals and input to tenders. Client engagement and business development is important, and we encourage new graduates to take an active role in raising their and the team’s profile, getting involved in professional and networking events.
Through smart planning and collaboration, we work with our clients to make the right choices for their needs, finding effective and sustainable strategies that also improve the quality of life. We work to make spaces accessible for all to be enjoyed by all for future generations.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc, BA, or MSc Transport Planning
- BSc, BA or MSc Geography
- BSc, BA or MSc Economics
- BSc, BA or MSc Social Sciences, Human Factors
- BSc, BA or MSc Town Planning
- BSc, BA or MSc Environmental
- BSc, BA or MSc Mathematics
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
The Transport Planning team works with a wide range of local authority and private sector clients from across the UK. Focusing on a people and place-based approach when developing solutions that deliver positive outcomes for communities. We deliver a wide range of projects including bus and active travel corridor studies, policy and strategy review and preparation, transport appraisal and business case preparation, traffic engineering, net zero and zero emission vehicle strategies, stakeholder management, development management and development planning. In addition to technical work, our Graduates gain experience of developing client relationships and build knowledge and appreciation of the current UK transport sector. Graduates applying for these roles need good spoken and written communication skills as they need to have the ability to liaise with our clients, members of the public and other colleagues.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
- BSc or MSc Transport Planning
Liveable Places is our answer to designing, improving and adapting our spaces to allow people and our natural resources to thrive. Our communities are changing. Our behaviours and life choices are changing. We aim to create green infrastructure in a shared net zero future. We take projects from an idea to construction across the project lifecycle across the following areas, whilst working with a wide variety of public & private sector clients:
Traffic Engineering, Highway Engineering & Traffic Signals; People Movement / Pedestrian Modelling; Active Travel; Parking (including TMOs / TROs); Place Making (Public Realm) & Engineering Design; Project & Programme Management (including client secondments) & Design Management; Road Safety, Auditing & Accessibility; Local Authority Development Management; Working with WSP colleagues from across the business in collaboration.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc or MSc Transport Planning
- BSc or MSc Maths
- BSc or MSc Geography
- BEng or MEng Environmental or Civil Engineering
- MSc Data Science
- MBA Business Management
- MSc Psychology
- MSc Public Policy or similar
We welcome a diverse set of backgrounds and experience within the Future Mobility team. The above list of degrees is representative but not exhaustive of where we would consider hiring graduates.
The future mobility team works alongside a range of public and private sector clients to deliver projects focusing on new modes, ideas, innovations, and trends in transport. In future mobility, your work could involve:
- Using human-centred design to change behaviours and encourage sustainable and inclusive transport modes.
- Advising on the latest developments in zero emission mobility and alternative propulsion technologies.
- Researching new transport trends and advising clients on how to adapt.
- Analysing data from pilot projects to make the case for the implementation of new transport options; or
- Assessing the commercial viability of new mobility business models.
Graduates applying for Future Mobility roles need good spoken and written communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively within the team and liaise with our clients and be keen to tackle questions that haven’t been answered before.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc, BA or MSc Geography
- BSc, BA or MSc Economics
- BSc, BA or MSc Mathematics
- BSc, MPHS Physics
Transport modelling is undertaken to help transport decision makers better understand the current, the future and sometimes the past transport systems and to make better decisions about what to do. Transport is the movement of people and goods between land uses e.g., home to work with modelling being a representation of that movement.
WSP’s transport modelling team undertake a range of transport modelling work ranging from Strategic Modelling (large scale networks), Micro-simulation (highly detailed vehicle/infrastructure interaction), Public Transport Modelling (assessment of rail and bus movements) along with Pedestrian Modelling (detailed localised modelling of people).
All the different types of transport models can be used to assess transport interventions to see how they affect either the mode that people use and the route that people take to make a particular journey along with changes in trip destination.
Our transport models produce outputs used in assessing the impacts on:
- The environment of transport interventions
- New developments (housing, employment)
- Traffic through the introduction of congestion charging, parking controls or Low Emission Zones
- Interventions using a business case application for funding.
Are you a recent graduate eager to drive meaningful change to allow local communities to thrive? Do you want to tackle climate change through engineering innovation? Do you want to be technically challenged by varied and interesting projects across all aspects of the built environment? If so, then WSP’s Local Government Business is the place for you.
We improve our clients’ transport systems – increasing quality, safety, accessibility, and good connectivity to reduce social isolation. We help our clients to address the challenges of net zero and the demand for digital service delivery. We help address the intensification of cities and towns while satisfying the need to protect green space.
Our Graduates are part of dynamic and diverse teams, focused on delivering positive outcomes for our Local Government clients and the communities they serve. WSP’s most vital asset is its people. Creating an environment that allows individuals to thrive and reach their full potential is embedded within the everyday. Graduates are supported and encouraged by industry leading, specialist teams, and together we drive positive change for the world around us. If you are interested in seeing one of the latest schemes, we are involved in please click the link below.
Marsh Lane Roundabout and Boston Active travel improvements
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
We are on an exciting journey, at the forefront of innovative projects that impact Communities.
Our Bridge Engineering Graduates work on a wide variety of interesting projects, from significant major bridge schemes through to a diverse range of bridge refurbishment and maintenance improvements, as well as bridge safety inspections, structural assessments, and retaining structures. There are opportunities to work on a variety of bridges from simple concrete culverts, through masonry arches, steel, and concrete multi-span structures of all sizes. Located in a variety of settings from rural, urban and city centre. A typical working day could include site supervision, report writing, modelling or design calculations in 3D software packages.
Graduates benefit significantly in their learning and development through their involvement from the very outset of projects, and at all stages through design to construction, working closely with colleagues, contractors and clients to ensure successful outcomes. There are opportunities to develop relationships with other WSP teams, as many projects are multi-disciplinary. Please visit the link below to view one of our recent projects.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
- BSc or MSc Construction Management
Our Construction Management Graduates have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of interesting and complex projects. These projects can vary from significant major project schemes such as new bypasses and new large infrastructure, through to public realm improvement and Active Travel projects. These Projects will be delivered across a large portfolio of Local Government Clients across the UK. A typical working day could include site management and inspection, Client representative support on site and input into contractual, commercial and programme support within the wider project.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc or MSc Transport Planning
- BSc or MSc Maths
- BSc or MSc Geography
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
Our Traffic Engineering Graduates are part of our teams collaborating with clients throughout the UK. Undertaking diverse projects such as bus and active travel corridor studies, policy and strategy reviews, transport appraisals, business case preparation, traffic engineering, net zero and zero-emission vehicles strategies, stakeholder management, development management, and development planning. Alongside technical work, there are opportunities to develop client relationships, enhance knowledge of the current UK transport sector, and experience the entire project lifecycle from conception to construction. Good communication skills are essential for these roles, as they include liaising with clients, the public, and colleagues. Graduates will gain valuable expertise and insights into the current UK transport sector by working with this team.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc or MSc Project Management
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
Our Project Management Graduates work on a wide variety of interesting infrastructure projects, including Highways related: from significant multi-disciplinary major highways schemes - including bypasses and new roads - through to a diverse range of highways interventions, including junction improvements, safety inspections, and resurfacing schemes; to Structures related: from significant major bridge schemes through to a diverse range of bridge refurbishment and maintenance improvements, as well as bridge safety inspections, structural assessment, and retaining structures.
Projects are in a variety of settings from rural, urban and city centre. A typical working day could include developing and maintaining project plans, managing change, value engineering, financial management, stakeholder engagement, Safety Health and Wellbeing, and client liaison, and general contract administration.
Degree backgrounds considered:
- BSc/BA or MSc/MA in Environmental or sustainability related degree
- BSc or MSc Environmental
Our Sustainability Graduates bring new thinking to the work we do on decarbonisation and climate resilience within WSPs Local Government business unit. This involves exploring how we reduce carbon emissions and embed a culture that places ‘net zero’ mindsets first and it is essential in tackling climate change. Graduates will gain experience in delivering the Local Government Business plan to half the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030, as part of our pathways to Net Zero.
Our ambition is to drive initiatives across our organisation scaling up the decarbonisation efforts and the services we can offer our clients. Graduates will work on delivering specific elements of the Decarbonisation Plan. This includes skills & training development specific to Local Government; Delivering communication and engagement plans; supporting client action plans relating to climate change and sustainability, supporting project teams in reducing the carbon footprint of our designs and advice. As well as gathering case study examples of tangible best practice.