Process and Chemical Engineering Industry Placement 2026 - 32745

Environment Agency; Sunbury-on-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Around 19% pension contribution

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible hours and hybrid options

Job summary

A governmental agency for the environment in the UK seeks a passionate individual for a 12-month Process and Chemical Engineering Industry Placement starting in September 2026. This role involves supporting UK businesses to reduce their environmental impacts and improve process safety, with hands-on experience in key areas such as data management and environmental regulation. Candidates should be studying or have studied Chemical or Process Engineering. The position offers mentorship, flex time, and a supportive community.

Qualifications

• Genuine interest in the environment and a passion for creating a better place for people and wildlife.
• Curiosity, flexibility, and determination to make positive change.
• Must be in their penultimate year of study or graduated within the last year.

Responsibilities

• Support UK businesses to reduce environmental impacts.
• Work with Regulated Industry teams on process safety.
• Gain experience in data management, environmental regulation, and evaluating environmental impact.

Skills

Team working

Confidence with data

Problem-solving

Engineering knowledge

Health and safety awareness

Education

Chemical or Process Engineering degree accredited by IChemE

Job description

Process and Chemical Engineering Industry Placement 2026 - 32745

Join to apply for the Process and Chemical Engineering Industry Placement 2026 - 32745 role at Environment Agency

Overview

Want to make a real difference for people and the environment? At the Environment Agency, we're looking for passionate individuals to help tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges.

Our 12-month industry placements, starting in September, offer hands‑on experience while building skills that matter. This is more than a placement, it's an opportunity to learn, grow, and explore career pathways that could lead to your next big step.

You will work with our Regulated Industry teams, supporting UK businesses to reduce environmental impacts and improve process safety. From chemicals and refineries to metals, you'll see how we regulate industry to protect people and the planet.

During your placement, you will gain experience in:

• Data management and analysis
• Environmental regulation and compliance
• Evaluating environmental impact
• Carbon reduction and industrial transition
• Developing environmental standards
• Incident management and enforcement
• Partnership working and public engagement

Support you can count on

From day one, you'll have a mentor, office buddy, to help you thrive. You'll join a career entrant community and a welcome event packed with learning and networking. You'll also have the chance to join the EA's Chemical Engineering group, which focuses on your professional development, providing peer support to boost your technical knowledge and career prospects.

Application Process

We've kept things simple so you can focus on showing your potential:

• Apply Online: Tell us about your skills, motivations, and why you're excited to join
• Behaviour Based Assessment (BBA): Complete an interactive, game‑style assessment measuring natural behaviours and potential. Practice options available
• Shortlisting: We'll review your application and assessment results
• Interview: If shortlisted, you'll be invited to one virtual interview

More details, including support for neurodiverse candidates and what to expect from the assessment, are in the Candidate Pack attached Experience doesn't have to come from paid work alone. Volunteering, sports teams, or social clubs all count. After you have submitted your application, you will be sent a link to access a site called Arctic Shores. This will take you to an online assessment for you to complete. The next steps will be explained, and you can take the test at a time convenient for you. If you think you may require any reasonable adjustments, please contact [e-mail].

Experience / Skills Required

We're looking for someone with a genuine interest in the environment and a passion for creating a better place for people and wildlife. You'll bring curiosity, flexibility, and determination to make positive change happen.

You should be studying (or have studied) a Chemical or Process Engineering degree accredited by IChemE.

• Team working
• Confidence with data
• Problem‑solving
• Engineering knowledge
• Health and safety awareness

Experience doesn't have to come from paid work alone. Volunteering, sports teams, or social clubs all count.

Eligibility Criteria

• You're a UK, Commonwealth, or EEA national and have the right to work in the UK.
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree, or an integrated master’s programme, and be in their penultimate year of study, or have graduated within the last year (from June 2025 onwards).

Benefits

• Pension: Around 19% contribution to a career‑average scheme invested in ethical, renewable energy businesses.
• Leave: 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Flexibility: Full‑time role with hybrid options, flexible hours, and time back for overtime.

Ready to shape your future?

Applications close on 15 February 2026; interviews in March; offers by May. Apply early and make an impact!

Join our information call on 28 January 2026 at 12 PM to learn more and hear from current career entrants. Please find joining details in the Additional Candidate Pack.

Email [e-mail] for queries.

Who We Are

We are inspiring the people we work with to help the country to not only survive but thrive through the challenges of a changing climate. We want to keep people safe and protect the things that matter to us all – our natural spaces, our wildlife and our future.

We are committed to making our organisation as diverse as the environment and representing the communities we serve. Our society and environment are changing, bringing us new challenges all the time. We need a diverse workforce to help us deliver better for the different communities we serve.

Joining the Environment Agency provides you with the opportunity to pursue many career paths whilst you are with us – developing complementary skills in frontline place‑based delivery, shaping and influencing future strategic direction and providing inspirational and creative leadership.

Length of contract: Up to 52 weeks.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. The Environment Agency is a non‑departmental public body sponsored by Defra and aligns with the candidate guidance on the use of intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website.