2025 Graduate Programme (UK) - Planning

Apex Contracting Co.; London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking consultancy where your contributions will shape the future of infrastructure in the UK. This role offers graduates the chance to work on exciting projects such as the Eden Project Morecambe and HS2, while gaining invaluable experience in a collaborative environment. You'll engage with diverse clients and communities, driving best practices in planning and development. With a strong emphasis on professional growth, the company supports your journey towards chartered status, ensuring a fulfilling career path. If you're eager to make a difference and have a passion for sustainable solutions, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• Graduated with at least a 2:2 in a relevant degree subject.
• Passion for planning, consulting, and sustainable engineering solutions.

Responsibilities

• Assist in design development and prepare technical documentation.
• Support projects from land acquisition to construction.

Skills

Planning

Consulting

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

MEng Civil Engineering

MSc Geography

MSc Transport Planning

Town Planning

Urban Planning (RTPI accredited)

Job description

In today’s world it’s important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world.

We are looking for graduates for our Planning and Development teams, who have a flexible approach and an appetite to learn in a leading Engineering and Professional 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.

Planning work is collaborative, engaging, diverse and exciting. Our work makes a difference to the communities and geographies we work in, providing legacy, economic, social and environmental impacts. We drive best practice in engagement, community relations, consultation and stakeholder management in the delivery of some of the country’s largest infrastructure projects as well as delivering expertise within the water, health, energy and environmental sectors.

You will join an enthusiastic and supportive team providing you with a challenging and fulfilling working experience. We will fully support your development through enrolment onto a training agreement with an appropriate professional body enabling you to progress to chartered status.

Projects:

Our team work on important developments in the UK, you will be helping deliver projects such as:

• Eden Project Morecambe
• Aston Villa Stadium development
• HS2
• Hynet
• Network Rail
• United Utilities
• Scottish Power Energy Networks

RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS

We are recruiting for some fantastic opportunities for enthusiastic and motivated graduates for our Planning and Engagements teams across the UK.

Development Planning - Join our high-performing team of over 800 colleagues, supporting projects from land acquisition to construction. You will assist in design development, preparing technical documentation, and advising clients. You'll work on multiple projects, gaining support throughout your time as a graduate.

• Development Planning - Degree backgrounds considered: MEng Civil Engineering, MSc or MA Geography, MSc Transport Planning.
• Locations: Various locations available in the North and South, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle. Guildford, Basingstoke, Southampton, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol.

Infrastructure Planning - As part of the largest UK team of Town Planners, you'll work on supporting securing consent for major infrastructure projects. From planning applications to appraisals, you'll collaborate with teams, attend meetings, and manage smaller projects. You'll be engaging with clients, statutory bodies, and public consultees, supporting business development and networking.

• Infrastructure Planning - Degree backgrounds considered: Town Planning.
• Locations: Manchester and Cardiff.

Planning Engagement - Our Engagement team, support our clients by helping them demonstrate they've engaged with the community and relevant stakeholders, shared their development and future plans and listened to feedback from the community, to inform the development of their schemes. Working in this team you will be creating communications to help stakeholders understand projects. You’ll assist with the organisation of events, run surveys, and present feedback, helping projects develop responsibly.

• Planning Engagement - Degree backgrounds considered: Geography, History, politics or similar.
• Locations: London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Planning Consultancy - As part of our Planning Consultancy team, you’ll guide clients through the planning process, from site appraisal to securing consents. You’ll contribute to development proposals and deliver innovative solutions to meet client objectives.

• Degree backgrounds considered: Town Planning and Urban Planning (RTPI accredited).
• Locations: Manchester, Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Leeds.

Land Referencing - In our industry-leading Land team, the largest of its kind in the UK, you will support research and identification of landowners. You will assist in the negotiation to access land, create legal documentation for planning permission and provide support for the landowner engagement required to acquire land. You will work on projects throughout the UK and Ireland and your input will ensure that these projects gain permission to be constructed.

• Land Referencing - Degree backgrounds considered: Geography, Estates and Land Management.
• Locations: London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• You’ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant degree subject for the role you are applying for.
• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. This requirement applies to all candidates, inclusive of their background.
• You'll be looking to start work in either April or September 2025.
• Have a passion for planning and consulting and or sustainable engineering solutions.
• An enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems.
• You’ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas you have.
• In this team, you will be dealing with internal and external stakeholders and collaborating with colleagues and adapting to dynamic project environments.

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE

You'll receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within 5 days of submission. After reviewing your application, if we feel your background and skills are suitable, you will be sent through to the second stage in the process which is an online behavioural assessment.

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