Meet Andrew, a senior decarbonisation consultant in our transport sector. Andrew specialises in delivering infrastructure that's more sustainable, efficient and beneficial to local communtiies.

What led you to your career at Costain? 

My career in construction began as a site labourer before later starting a carpentry apprenticeship. While working on various large timber frame projects, I developed a strong fascination for structural engineering principles, which subsequently led me to acquire an academic understanding. Without A-levels, I was able to pursue a Higher National Diploma (HND) at the University of South Wales, as a pathway to a BSc in Civil and Structural Engineering. That later led me to obtain a work experience opportunity in Swansea, close to where I live. This experience inspired me to pursue a career within Costain, and after a period of work experience, I was accepted onto Costain’s graduate scheme. 

How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives? 

Drawing on my construction background, technical expertise, and PhD in low-carbon concrete, my role as a senior decarbonisation & constructability consultant enables me to influence infrastructure outcomes. Operating within the early contractor involvement phase, I apply PAS 2080 principles, the leading standard for carbon management achieved by Costain, to drive down carbon usage on a project while ensuring that proposed solutions are practical, buildable, and resource-efficient.  

By integrating decarbonisation and constructability principles, I help deliver infrastructure that’s more sustainable, efficient, and beneficial to the communities it serves. 

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? 

Whilst working in London for several years on Costain’s projects supporting the delivery of London Bridge Station and Crossrail, I was still studying my masters in South Wales. For two years, I had to travel back weekly to attend lectures, which was challenging but ultimately rewarding to combine working on these fascinating projects and completing my studies. 

More recently, I was delighted to complete my PhD in low-carbon concrete while balancing a busy work and family life, including raising a baby, teaching, and renovating a new house. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?  

The opportunity to make a real impact, combining innovation, sustainability, and collaboration to shape and improve infrastructure across the UK.  

What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain? 

Being part of a forward-thinking team that values both technical excellence and purpose-driven outcomes is incredibly rewarding. 

I have also significantly developed my professional skillset. Costain has supported my growth, first from a hands-on construction labourer to undertaking advanced research, and now into a role where I influence early-stage decisions that support constructability and a decarbonised UK. 

What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career? 

Follow your passion. This has kept me motivated for years and has been the key to getting where I am today. I never had a grand plan, I’ve just done what I enjoyed and given it everything I had.   

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.

Meet Georgia, a design manager, Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the ICE. From starting in the rail sector on HS2, she's currently working at Heathrow as part of our Integrated Transport sector.

What led you to your career at Costain?  

"I initially applied for a role as a constructability engineer in the rail consultancy team, as having such an influence at the pre-construction stage really interested me. This only grew when I met a few of the team during the interview stage, and I was excited to have the opportunity to do something different."  

How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives? 

"My main role has been at Heathrow Airport, where we have been commissioned to collaboratively shape, create and deliver asset renewal and construction projects. The role brings a unique opportunity to work with thousands of people and ensure that what we are delivering caters to everybody’s needs. It's important the airport is accessible to all.  

"In addition, I was the project leader for a project Costain has undertaken with the Royal Academy of Engineering called the Inclusive Leadership Programme. This has been really impactful for me as we looked at the role of introversion, gender and ethnicity within the business and how we can ensure we are supporting people’s development, including creating spaces for people to communicate in the way that suits them best." 

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? 

"I would say being the youngest woman to achieve ICE Fellowship. Alongside my engineering role, I passionately believe that inclusive cultures should be embedded within the industry, not just so we’re creating environments for people to thrive at work, but also in the products and services we provide. There is a traditional way we look at engineering and it feels empowering to change the narrative." 

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?  

"There is a culture of flexibility and willingness of people to help and support you. Whether that is an idea or project you want to work on, there is a genuine desire from colleagues to support and grow that into a real opportunity."   

What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain? 

"The employee-led REACH (Religion, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) network has been my opportunity to connect with so many others around the business, and being able to co-chair the network has been such a great opportunity. I have been able to learn so much about other cultures and religions.  

"Although I belong to a group that’s underrepresented across the industry, it gives me the opportunity to also learn from others and be an advocate and ally for other groups too."  

What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career? 

"Don’t wait for opportunities to be presented to you, sometimes you need to be able to say what you would like and find opportunities to make it happen. It doesn’t happen overnight but it is important you keep moving in the direction you see yourself in the future. And if it doesn’t work, just do something different and keep going."  

Connect with Georgia on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.

Meet Claire, a quality engineer in our nuclear energy sector and ex professional rugby player.

What led you to your career at Costain?  

"I became aware of Costain whilst working as a cleaner for a catering company at Sellafield, where Costain continues to work as part of the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership (DDP). I later secured a role in Costain as a receptionist working on Costain’s Evaporator D decommissioning project with Sellafield and subsequently held various other operations and administrative positions on the DDP framework. I then approached a crossroads in my career, during which time I have been fortunate enough to play rugby league for Wigan Warriors and the England women’s team at two World Cups, and decided I wanted to pursue a career as a quality engineer. I then become part of Costain’s quality team, progressing to a quality practitioner and in 2025 I qualified as a quality engineer, which was the result of years of hard work." 

How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives? 

"To mark Costain’s 160th anniversary in 2025, employees are being encouraged to donate a record number of volunteering days to support career prospects. I recently attended two schools in Cumbria where I took part in a series of mock interviews for pupils. It was a pleasure to contribute to my local community - the interviews resulted in some great discussions about career choices and many were keen to learn more about a career in engineering."  

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? 

"On an individual level, I was recently nominated for the Emerging Talent award in the Women in Defence UK which came as a huge honour. At a team level, I was proud to be part of the defence and nuclear energy sector objective to achieve the ISO 19443 certification, which has helped to support Costain’s leading quality standards and allows the business to operate across a wide range of sectors and infrastructure projects." 

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?  

"Being given the time and space to manage my life commitments. Costain has given me the opportunity to balance my career in engineering with my rugby league commitments, which has been hugely important in my journey to being awarded practitioner status from the Chartered Quality Institute."   

What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain? 

"Costain places a big focus on creating a psychologically safe workplace through six employee-led inclusion networks, and I’ve worked with no shortage of welcoming and supportive people at Costain, particularly on the DDP framework who have mentored me throughout my time since joining the quality team. I am also a passionate advocate of mental health initiatives in the workplace and I work as a Mental Health First Aider to ensure my colleagues are able to perform at their best and most comfortable."

What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career? 

"It is never too late to switch careers and anything is possible if you apply yourself. I have not taken a conventional route into my field, but Costain has been hugely supportive in aiding my career transition. You also shouldn’t underestimate how many transferrable skills you pick up from personal and professional experiences- my rugby career has given me the ability to work well within a team and developed strong interpersonal skills – which I’ve put to use in building productive relationships within our supply chain." 

Search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.

From early careers embarking on fresh career journeys to career changes and new challenges, find out more about what it's like to work at Costain by meeting more of our people.