Current Opportunities

Bright Green Business; Longbar; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainability-focused organization in the UK is offering a Technical Sustainability Intern position to support initiatives aimed at environmental improvements and circular economy practices. This role involves developing reuse strategies for waste materials and enhancing existing processes. Candidates should have a degree in mechanical, chemical, or materials engineering and an interest in sustainability. The internship is based on-site in Scotland, with a working pattern of 35 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering or sustainability field.
• Interest in circular economy and net-zero principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop a viable reuse route for spent ceramic shell material.
• Analyze and improve current metal remelting processes.
• Support ASC's net-zero and digital transformation ambitions.

Skills

Degree in technical (mechanical, chemical, materials engineering)

Circular Economy knowledge

Job description

This opportunity is offered via the Zero Waste Scotland Circular Economy Internship Scheme and facilitated by Bright Green Hydrogen.

Role: Technical Sustainability Intern
Applications Open: 12/12/25
Host Organisation: Anderson Stewart Castings
Applications Close: 04/01/26
Working Hours: 35 per week
Interviews: Mid January
Length of placement: 24 weeks
Start Date: 02/02/26
Wage: Real Living Wage

Working pattern: office based (condensed hours, potentially 4 or 4.5 days per week)
Location: Block 1, Units 1 & 2 Caledonian Rd, Glengarnock, Beith KA14 3DB

Anderson Stewart Castings (ASC) is a leading manufacturer of high-integrity precision investment castings, serving critical sectors including aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and rail. Based in Beith, North Ayrshire, and backed by over 50 years of engineering excellence, ASC combines deep industrial expertise with a bold commitment to environmental responsibility and digital transformation.

As the casting industry accelerates towards a low‑carbon future, ASC is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing. We are an active participant in North Ayrshire Council’s Net Zero Accelerator Programme, where we are establishing a verified emissions baseline, developing a comprehensive carbon‑reduction roadmap, and exploring waste‑reuse and recycling systems.

Our commitment to circularity extends across our operations: we reclaim, remelt, and rework materials wherever possible, reducing our dependency on virgin resources and embedding circular‑economy principles directly into our production processes.

Digital transformation is a key driver of our sustainability journey. Through the Ayrshire 5GIR Digital Innovation Fund, we have begun building a “smart foundry,” deploying intelligent wireless sensors that enable real‑time process monitoring, automated material dosing, and remote diagnostics. These systems reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and enhance our operational resilience. Advanced digital‑casting simulation further strengthens our low‑carbon approach by minimising defects, remakes, and unnecessary resource use.

At Anderson Stewart Castings, sustainability is not an add‑on — it is central to how we innovate, manufacture, and grow. For graduates passionate about net‑zero transformation, resource efficiency, and the future of circular manufacturing, ASC offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful, industry‑shaping change within a company committed to forging a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient future.

The Role

The primary focus is the development of a viable reuse route for our spent ceramic shell material. At present, all shell waste is disposed of to landfill, representing both an environmental burden and a missed opportunity to recover value. Other foundries have demonstrated that this material can be repurposed for products such as ceramic tiles, refractory aggregates, or insulation. The graduate will map the physical and chemical characteristics of our shell waste, assess its suitability for secondary markets, and engage with potential processors or manufacturers who can incorporate it into their products. The expected outcome is a practical divert‑from‑landfill solution supported by technical evidence, cost implications, and implementation guidance.

A secondary workstream will examine our internal metal remelting process. Although ASC already remelts runner bars and scrap metal, yield and quality consistency remain operational challenges. The graduate will analyse current remelt practices, identify sources of variation, and recommend improvements that support both material efficiency and product quality.

Alongside this, the project will contribute to ASC’s wider ambitions around net‑zero and digital transformation. This may include developing baseline material‑flow data, identifying energy‑intensive steps within the process, and outlining where digital tools could support monitoring, traceability, and decision‑making.

The proposition is at an early but well‑defined stage. ASC has established the need, collected initial background information, and confirmed the feasibility of exploring reuse options based on industry examples. The graduate project will take this forward through structured analysis and engagement, leading to recommendations that support a more circular operating model for the foundry.

The Candidate

Skills required:

• Degree in technical (mechanical, chemical, materials engineering) and/or sustainability discipline
• Circular Economy knowledge and interest (waste, energy, net zero)

Please note that the Intern is required to travel to site every day.

Application Procedure

Apply via the Bright Green Business web link provided and click on the APPLY button. You will need to register in order to upload your CV and Cover Letter as your application. Please note that CV and Cover letter will need to be uploaded as ONE document.

Note

All communication is via EMAIL so always check your JUNK MAIL/SPAM folders for our responses.

Important

1. You must be eligible to work in the U.K. for the full length of your placement. Valid Visa will be sought.
2. You must available the full length of your placement and be able to travel to the location
3. We will hold your application on our systems for 6 months from submission. This ensures your application can be considered for relevant roles where appropriate. If you would prefer us not to store your information for this period, please inform us.

We do endeavour to let all applicants know of the outcome once the whole process has been finalised.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy, and maternity.