Overview
Join to apply for the 2026 Graduate Programme - Planning Consultancy & Infrastructure Planning role at WSP in the UK & Ireland.
We are recruiting for Graduates in the following services & locations:
* Planning Consultancy: Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, London, Leeds
* Infrastructure Planning: London and Exeter
Imagine being at the heart of projects that shape how we live, move, work and play. Join our 2026 Graduate Programme in Planning Consultancy & Infrastructure Planning and launch your career with one of the UK’s leading professional advisory consultancies.
What you will do / Day-to-day Activities
Planning Consultancy
Graduate Planners get involved from day one, managing a varied project portfolio for directors in the UK. You may lead projects as a planning agent and project manager, coordinating environmental teams and budgets, and will also work within planning teams on larger schemes. Activities may include:
* Varied workload across multiple sectors
* Undertaking planning appraisals, drafting planning documents
* Project managing and leading smaller projects
* Working in teams as part of larger projects
* Managing environmental teams
* Submitting and managing planning applications and appeals
* Managing project budgets
Infrastructure Planning
In this team, you’ll gain exposure to multi-disciplinary groups, from ecologists to engineers and heritage specialists to hydrologists, while building core skills in GIS mapping, regulatory analysis and project coordination. The position offers a clear learning path, regular feedback, and opportunities to see your work influence real-world developments. Activities may include:
* Supporting the preparation, submission and management of planning applications, appeals and enquiries for infrastructure projects
* Conducting site appraisals and feasibility studies, gathering data on transport, utilities, land use and environmental constraints
* Drafting planning statements, design and access statements, and supporting documents under senior review
* Researching local and national policy and preparing concise briefs for project teams
* Coordinating stakeholder and community engagement, including public exhibitions and workshops
* Liaising with consultants to integrate inputs into planning deliverables
* Maintaining project trackers, monitoring deadlines, and identifying risks or resource needs
* Using GIS mapping and data visualisations to support recommendations
* Assisting in discharging planning conditions during delivery, compiling reports and evidence logs
Projects (examples)
* Great British Energy: Shaping the next generation of nuclear power by supporting early-stage consents and consultation strategies
* Tees Valley Active Travel Scheme: Helping to deliver £150 million of new and upgraded active travel routes
* Yorkshire Water: Contributing to strategic water resource schemes, from planning applications to defining new water-reuse corridors
Graduate Development Programme
Our two-year Graduate Development programme is designed to support personal and professional development through an engaging blended learning experience, including core business and professional skills training, career development workshops and mentoring for chartership.
To find out more, please visit: Who we are - ECP. Our teams are committed to your career progression, encouraging growth from the outset. We encourage you to pursue chartered status with professional bodies like the RTPI, and you will be fully supported through enrolment in a professional institution’s training agreement.
What we will be looking for you to demonstrate:
* You will have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s degree (RTPI accredited) in a relevant subject for the role you are applying for
* Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. Successful completion of this stage is mandatory. If you pass, you will complete an online skill enabler assessment
* You’ll be looking to start work in September 2026
* You’ll have a passion for Planning & consulting
* You’ll have a desire for built environment, infrastructure, places and the economy
* 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? If you have the right qualifications, apply and we can assess alignment to this role and other opportunities in our Graduate programme. For more information about the application & selection process, please visit our Early Careers brochure or Graduate website.
What’s in it for you
We offer work-life balance with hybrid working, inclusivity and belonging, health & wellbeing through Thrive, and flexible working arrangements including part-time options and additional leave. You will have access to development, mentoring, and opportunities toward chartership.
#WeAreWSP. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria and will provide workplace adjustments on request.
About Us
We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our people are united by a shared purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With a global presence and local teams across the UK & Ireland, we are committed to our communities and to delivering meaningful outcomes.
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