Overview
As a Graduate Civil Engineer at the Environment Agency, your passion for engineering and the environment can make a real impact. Climate change is reshaping our world, and you can be at the forefront of solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and natural resources. This is your chance to launch a career that combines purpose, innovation, and real-world impact.
Recently recognised as the highest new entrant onto The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list, our Graduate Training Scheme is a structured, hands-on programme spanning 4-5 years, that gives you the skills, experience, and opportunities to become future leaders within the Environment Agency.
What you can expect
* Diverse Placements: With 6-12 month rotations across a wide range of teams throughout the organisation, you’ll get to work on everything from asset management to strategic planning and site supervision. This provides a holistic understanding of flood defence engineering projects and enables collaboration with specialists in Modelling and Forecasting, Natural Flood Management, National Fisheries Service, and Health and Safety.
* Flexible Pathways: Your journey is tailored to your interests and development needs. If you are drawn to geotechnics and hydraulics or enjoy the logistics of managing engineering projects, we can find the right learning opportunities to support you in becoming a highly effective intelligent client.
* Learning & Development: Accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), our programme guides you toward Incorporated (IEng) and Chartered (CEng) status.
The Environment Agency are fully committed to inclusivity and reflecting the communities we serve, offering flexible work arrangements for all our vacancies. Join us in a diverse environment where every voice is heard and valued.
The team
The strength of our Engineering Graduate Training Scheme lies in its extensive support networks, with a dedicated team of Professional Development Advisors coordinating a large community of Supervising Civil Engineers and Delegated Engineers as well as Career Mentors and wider peer support groups, who are committed to nurturing engineering talent as well as facilitating a busy calendar of collaborative learning opportunities.
Experience and skills
We’re looking for proactive, adaptable graduates who are inquisitive and self-motivated in their professional development. You must be comfortable working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and keen to make the most of the variety of opportunities our different teams can offer.
To join our Engineering Graduate Training Scheme, you’ll need to be a graduate with an accredited BEng or, ideally, an MEng degree in Civil Engineering (or equivalent). It’s essential that both your degree and masters are accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers as satisfying the academic requirements of becoming either an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer with the ICE.
Please check the eligibility of both your BEng and Masters qualifications before applying - https://www.ice.org.uk/careers-and-training/graduate-civil-engineers/course-search-tool
We are unable to process CVs as part of shortlisting; all candidates must fully populate the Higher Education qualifications section of the application form to allow us to confirm eligibility for the role.
Contact and additional information
If you have any questions about the scheme, please email gradengineers@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Graduate Engineers learn from others in the office and out on site, around this we offer hybrid working arrangements. Some travel is required to access our flood defence assets, development events and team meetings. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information can be found within your candidate pack.
Candidates with a BEng qualification will join us on Graduate Engineer Pay Step 2 (£31,452) and candidates with an MEng (or equivalent) join on Pay Step 3 (£32,237).
Shortlisting will take place in January 2026 with interviews in February/March 2026. Successful candidates start in September 2026.
Competencies
* Achieves Results — Give a specific example of a piece of work you have delivered, describe how you prioritised your workload and managed any setbacks to meet the final deadline.
* Works in Teams — Give an example of a time where you have built relationships with a new team and describe how you worked effectively together to achieve a challenging common goal.
* Environmental Awareness — Give an example of an engineering project that considered the impact of the activity on the environment. How were environmental issues identified and what actions were taken to overcome them?
* Uses Initiative — Give an example of when you have identified an opportunity for improvement and describe the role you played in implementing change.
Role specifics
Role specific license requirements: Successful candidates are required to hold or have acquired a full UK driving licence within 6 months of starting the role.
The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and to flexible working patterns. Please include information about your preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment and guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilizes Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For information on becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, please visit the Government guidance at the Crown Commercial Service website.
Artificial intelligence note: AI can be a useful tool to support your application; all examples and statements must be truthful and taken directly from your own experience. Do not present ideas or experiences of others, or generated by AI, as your own. For more information on appropriate use, review the Civil Service Careers guidance.
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