People Graduate

Avove; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utilities infrastructure firm in the UK is seeking graduates for their two-year Graduate Programme in People & Culture. Participants will experience roles in Recruitment, People Services, Learning & Development, and more, developing a well-rounded HR career. Applicants should have a background in HR or Business and a desire to engage in a collaborative environment. The start date for this role is September 2026 and includes flexible benefits and career development opportunities.

Benefits

24 days holiday plus bank holidays

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Private GP helpline & health cash plan

Avove discount scheme

Family-friendly policies

Lifestyle benefit options

Financial wellbeing programme

Employee assistance programme

Volunteering days and charity matched giving

Qualifications

• Graduation in 2026 or already graduated.
• Digitally confident and a clear communicator.
• Desire to keep learning and strong organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support hiring managers, manage candidate pipelines, and attend interviews.
• Contribute to onboarding improvements and support training programs.
• Assist with employee relations cases and data insights.

Skills

Curiosity

Creativity

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in HR, Business, or a commercial subject

Job description

Advance your career, join our Graduate Programme - Be The Future!

Being a graduate at Avove isn’t just a job, it’s the beginning of a rewarding career. We’re building a bright and ambitious future, and we want you to be part of it. Join our thriving graduate community and take your next step toward shaping the future of our business.

About our Graduate Programme

Our two-year graduate programme is designed to help you grow, learn, and thrive. You’ll gain hands‑on experience, take part in tailored development activities, and be supported by experienced mentors and colleagues. From an induction week to masterclasses, development days, and bespoke training, we’ll help you reach your full potential. We want you to love what you do, learn quickly, broaden your horizons, and make a difference from day one.

About the role…

As a People & Culture Graduate, you’ll embark on a dynamic 24-month journey designed to give you a broad and immersive experience across our People & Culture Team.

You will embark on placements that could consist of Recruitment, People Services, People Partnering, Learning & Development, Reward, and Early Careers and you’ll gain hands‑on exposure to the full employee lifecycle. From attracting top talent and supporting day‑to‑day HR operations, to shaping learning initiatives and contributing to strategic people projects, you’ll develop a well‑rounded understanding of how we enable our people to thrive. This is a unique opportunity to build strong foundations in an HR career, supported by experienced mentors and a collaborative, purpose‑driven culture. You will be based out of our Chorley Head Office, but you will be able travel to our sites and other offices as needed / required.

This role is a September 2026 start.

What a typical day could look like…

• Recruitment: Supporting hiring managers, managing candidate pipelines, attending interviews and careers events.
• People Services: Contributing to onboarding improvements, supporting system and reporting projects, and updating training materials.
• People Partnering: Shadowing employee relations cases, assisting with data insights, policy reviews, and change initiatives.
• Learning & Development: Coordinating training, supporting onboarding and development programmes, and contributing to talent planning.
• Reward: Assisting with benefits platforms, reward communications, data analysis for pay reporting, and engagement initiatives.
• Early Careers: Supporting graduate and apprentice programmes, recruitment, onboarding, outreach events, and D&I initiatives.

About you…

We’re looking for graduates who are curious, creative, and ready to collaborate to create change and bring fresh perspectives. You’ll bring insights from your education and life experiences, and we’ll empower you to make a real impact.

You should be graduating in 2026 or already graduated from your degree qualification. You’ll be digitally confident, a clear communicator, and able to collaborate with others while also taking initiative. We value organisation, attention to detail, and a desire to keep learning.

We welcome applicants from a range of degree backgrounds including HR, Business or a commercial based subject. If you’re passionate about people and culture, we’d love to hear from you.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa process. Applicants must therefore have, and maintain, an alternative right to work for the duration of employment.

What’s in it for you…

We offer a competitive salary and a wide range of flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle:

• 24 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private GP helpline & health cash plan
• Avove discount scheme
• Family‑friendly policies
• Lifestyle benefit options
• Financial wellbeing programme
• Employee assistance programme and mental health first aiders
• Volunteering days and charity matched giving

About us…

At Avove, we design, build, and maintain the UK’s utilities infrastructure—helping to keep water flowing, lights on, and people connected. We deliver sustainable engineering solutions and work with leading utility providers including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Scottish Power, and Northern Ireland Water. We’re proud to be a responsible, agile partner, committed to improving communities and protecting the environment.

We are an equal opportunities employer...

We welcome applications from candidates of all races, genders, disabilities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. Diversity drives innovation, and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our Communities of Practice help us stay accountable and keep progressing.

Ready to apply?

Apply as soon as you can as we review applications on a rolling basis.