2027 Graduate Programme (UK) - Planning & Development - Civil

WSP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking graduates for Development Planning and Development Infrastructure in 2027. You will help shape how places grow, supporting new developments that connect people and communities, with projects from feasibility through planning consent and design.

You will work in a leading, global engineering and professional services consultancy, focusing on transport networks and the wider built environment, and you’ll rotate through teams to gain broad experience.

Qualifications

• Must have or be on track for at least a 2:2 in a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Interested in how development, transport and infrastructure shape sustainable places and communities.
• Keen to learn about transport planning, active travel, layouts, drainage, utilities, roads and site infrastructure.
• Enjoy using data, technical information and problem-solving to support planning and engineering design.

Responsibilities

• Support projects from early feasibility through to planning consent.
• Contribute to transport planning, active travel, layouts and impact assessments.
• Help develop technical design for roads, drainage and utilities.
• Collaborate with planners, engineers, specialists, consultants, designers and clients.

Skills

Data interpretation

Clear communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

2:2 in relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree

Job description

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, while building a career as unique as you.

We are looking for graduates to join our Development & Infrastructure teams in 2027. This is an opportunity to work in a leading engineering and professional services consultancy, helping shape how places grow and change by supporting new developments that connect people, communities, transport networks and the wider built environment. You’ll contribute to projects from early feasibility through to planning consent and technical design, helping develop practical, sustainable solutions that make new communities, employment spaces, regeneration schemes and major developments possible.

Opportunities are available in:

Development Planning: Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Guildford

Development Infrastructure: Manchester, Liverpool, London, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Edinburgh

A little bit more about your role and the team…

As a graduate in our Development Planning and Development Infrastructure teams, you’ll help shape how places grow and change, supporting new developments that connect people, communities, transport networks and the wider built environment.

In Development Planning, you could support projects from early feasibility through to planning consent, contributing to areas such as transport planning, access strategies, active travel, development layouts and impact assessments.

In Development Infrastructure, you could help develop the technical design needed to make development possible, from roads, drainage and utilities to wider site servicing and enabling works. You’ll build practical engineering solutions for new communities, employment spaces, regeneration schemes and major developments, working closely with planners, environmental specialists, transport consultants and designers.

To find out more about our teams, degree backgrounds considered and what your day-to-day activities could include, please visit our Graduate Website: Graduate schemes with WSP | WSP

What we’re looking for

• You will have, or be on track to achieve, at least a 2:2 in a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Please check the degree backgrounds considered for our graduate roles via our Graduate Website: Planning and Consents Graduate Opportunities | WSP
• You will be looking to start work in September 2027.
• You will be interested in how development, transport and infrastructure shape sustainable places and communities.
• You will be keen to learn about transport planning, active travel, layouts, drainage, utilities, roads and site infrastructure.
• You will enjoy using data, technical information and problem-solving to support planning and engineering design.
• You will communicate clearly and collaborate with planners, engineers, specialists, consultants, designers and clients.
• You will be curious, organised and motivated to learn, take ownership and contribute to meaningful development projects.

Our Graduate Development Programme

Our two-year Graduate Development Programme is designed to help you build the skills, experience and professional network needed to thrive at the start of your career with us. Through a blend of structured learning, mentoring and hands‑on project experience, you will be supported every step of the way.

Application process

Candidates must complete the application form in full, including all specific questions. If successful at this stage, you will be invited to complete an online assessment, containing a Cognitive Assessment, personality questionnaire and Situational Judgement Test (SJT). All stages are essential parts of our early careers’ recruitment process.

We review applications on a rolling basis and may progress candidates before the closing date, so we recommend applying as early as possible.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.