Meet Sam Derbyshire, a Finance graduate currently working in the Natural Resources Division.

Sam joined Costain in September 2021 as part of our Graduate Programme intake. Currently on rotation in the finance team for one of the two divisions at Costain, Sam is working with the Natural resources finance manager covering the energy, water and defence & nuclear sectors.

“I’m on my third year placement and as a result, I have a range of responsibilities in the team including month end processes, maintaining and posting monthly journals, commercial reporting management and assisting with financial reporting. I also get the opportunity to help with monthly reporting and annual report reporting.”

Sam studied Maths and Accounting & Finance at the University of Kent. He was attracted to a graduate scheme because of the opportunity to rotate into different departments in a business and really understand its ways of working and culture.

“I always knew I wanted a career in finance but chose the Costain graduate programme because there is a really strong culture of training and development through the organisation. Everyone is willing to give their time to answer questions or provide advice. I enjoy the fact that the work we do contributes to the success of important engineering projects and that there is a strong graduate community and network.”

Being part of a structured programme has given Sam a variety of opportunities across the business.

“As the programme is designed for our development as finance professionals it’s all mapped out in 6 or 12 month placements across a three year period. I’ve worked in the consultancy capability, divisional finance team, finance transformation team and HS2 project finance team.  Experience of both head office and project roles has been invaluable as I look to develop relationships with colleagues and understand the process with our customers, supply partners and internally.”

As part of the programme, Costain provides support for additional qualifications or accreditation. Sam has had study support with tuition fees, study leave and ACCA qualified mentors to become ACCA qualified.

A final word of advice from Sam for those looking to apply to the Graduate Programme:

“If you like variety, I can honestly say that no two days are the same in my role. Having visibility of the whole business is really interesting, especially if you are unsure where your interest lies. For me it was easy to choose finance but there are so many options, I’d encourage anyone to take a look.”

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

Meet Fiona, a senior stakeholder engagement specialist with over 25 years’ experience working within the aviation industry. Joining Costain four years ago, her areas of specialism are airport operations and stakeholder engagement.

In her role as key account director for aviation, Fiona is committed to helping to shape the future of airport operations and infrastructure. She is passionate about what she does, providing strategic advice to help airport operators transform the customer experience and transition to net zero aviation.

“I really enjoy the collaborative aspect of my role and I believe passionately that together we are far stronger than the sum of our individual parts. I am delighted to have recently been elected as Deputy Chair of the British Aviation Group’s Airport Consultants Group, a fantastic forum for the aviation industry to address the biggest challenge of our time; the transition to net zero. In this role, alongside the Chair and my fellow Deputy Chair, I will be shaping opportunities to deepen collaboration across organisational boundaries, to share best practice and lessons learned, and to widen access to our fantastic industry.”

Fiona started her career as a retail buyer for major brands such as John Lewis and Jane Shilton. Once she started a family, she sought a more flexible career where she could balance being challenged with bringing up three sons! Fiona started working with British Airways at Heathrow, initially part time and then moving to full time as the boys got older.

“My first managerial role was overseeing the Terminal 5 readiness project. This role came with a lot of responsibility and was a fantastic chance to show just what I could do. I was accountable for overseeing the recruitment of the teams that would carry out the T5 proving trials, making sure that the new space would work for employees and that they had all been familiarised with the new terminal before its opening.”

Fiona then went on to lead significant change programmes for BA, honing advanced stakeholder engagement skills. Highlights include managing the Terminal 3 ramp and baggage programme and introducing new ways of working for the team, heading up the T3 and T5 dispatch teams as they efficiently readied aircraft turnarounds, leading the implementation of T5’s biggest ramp change management programme and ultimately heading up a team of over 1500 people in T5 baggage.

How Fiona's role contributes to improving people's lives:
“We’re committed to being a net zero business by 2035 at the latest. A big part of this is helping our customers to decarbonise their operations. As a business, we are playing an active role in defining the role of hydrogen within the wider energy mix, and how it can enable the transition to sustainable aviation. Flagship projects in this space include FlyZero, where we assessed the turnaround requirements at airports for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft and Connected Places Catapult’s Zero Emissions Flight Infrastructure project, where we explored the infrastructure requirements to support the at-scale adoption of hydrogen. We’re even walking – or driving! – the talk, with our own hydrogen-fuelled car.”

“My top tip for those looking to build a career in aviation would be to learn from those around you – how do they handle successes and how do they respond when things are challenging? I think a healthy dose of realism is important too – a career trajectory is rarely linear, and if you expect a direct route to your dream job, you may well be disappointed. Gaining a broad insight into your chosen field will always stand you in good stead, even if you specialise as your career progresses.”

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

Meet Lacey, an apprentice civil engineer currently working in the water sector for United Utilities.

Lacey supported a highways project for Costain as a document controller before deciding that a career in engineering was of interest. After discussions with our early careers team, she joined Costain as an apprentice in January 2023.

“Since joining Costain, I have been presented with many learning opportunities like being invited on a ‘School of Engineering’ course for three days with Leica Training school and gaining supporting certifications. I’ve also been involved in senior management meetings to gain insight and understanding of how a business operates.”

Lacey is currently working for our customer United Utilities as part of the team at Audlem and Buerton South Wastewater Treatment Works.  United Utilities is the UK’s largest listed water company and is working to ensure the resilience of its network to the effects of climate change, including improving the quality of its wastewater effluent and providing a reliable drinking water supply to its customers.

Since 2019, Costain has provided management and asset maintenance activities throughout the north-west at 96 water treatment sites, 575 wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations and service reservoirs which serve over seven million people.  Following a recent contract extension, we will continue to support them into the next regulatory cycle (AMP8 2025-2030).

As an apprentice at Costain, you have the support of our dedicated early careers team. They are on hand to provide guidance and help in navigating the programme and what happens next.

"I have my own development plan setting out what I would like to achieve in five years’ time and this has been something the early careers team have encouraged we own. My line manager and project team have been great in supporting me with my ambitions and helping me progress to the level I am at now. I’m really looking forward to developing my career over the coming years."

What does Lacey enjoy most about being an apprentice at Costain?

“The People! Working for Costain is incredible. The people have been so welcoming, and the organisation supports you to be the very best you can be. If I hadn’t had the encouragement from my initial contact with Costain, I would never have thought I’d be on a career path that is so technical. Now I have every intention to work to my five-year plan and have a career in construction and engineering.”

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

Meet Tasha, a graduate electrical design engineer who joined Costain in September 2022 on our graduate development programme, after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sussex.

The two-year programme is designed to fast track graduates to chartered status with a wide number of professional institutions within five years.

Tasha works in our joint venture with MWH Treatment, CMDP, which delivers several multi-million-pound contracts for our customer Southern Water.

CMDP’s projects with Southern Water include upgrading and maintaining drinking water and wastewater treatment works (WTW). Tasha has been involved in several different projects at both drinking water and WTW sites, creating and reviewing EICA (electrical, instrumentation, control and automation) documents to aid the delivery of projects, as well as working with mechanical and civil engineers within the project’s design team.

Tasha has had plenty of exposure to both on and off-site work. This included a six-month placement working on-site at Barcombe WTW in East Sussex, which aided her understanding of how design concepts are deployed, in turn helping her learn from those implementing the concepts first-hand.

Whilst on the graduate programme Tasha has had several opportunities to develop her learning and overall skillset. She has received mentoring and support from her direct team and those in different disciplines, and has also enrolled in external training courses related to building regulations and managing risk.

“My skillset has improved immeasurably since joining the graduate programme. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a range of projects across the JV as well as pick up useful learnings from colleagues in other disciplines, which I would not have had the opportunity to do in many other graduate schemes. But above all, I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many great people in a friendly, encouraging and fulfilling working environment.”

As well as Electrical Engineering, the graduate programme covers a variety of disciplines, from traditional roots into civil engineering, quantity surveying, through to data developers, finance, consultancy, digital innovation, environmental advisors and project controls/management.

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

Meet Gareth, a chartered chemical engineer, with 25 years’ experience in the energy sector and process industries. Gareth’s focus is on delivering concept studies and advising clients on meeting their decarbonisation requirements.

In recent years, Gareth has focused on energy efficiency and carbon capture in the feasibility phase and was an Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) Lead Assessor (to 2020). His latest projects have focused on the potential for the hydrogen economy and battery charging to enable the energy transition to achieve net zero targets through decarbonisation.

“One of my biggest professional achievements is the development of the Hy Value scheme to produce hydrogen from waste biogas. Collaborating closely with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, I helped develop Hy-Value  (starting from a blank piece of paper!) through an initial scouting study and subsequent feasibility study, partly funded by Innovate UK. This scheme was awarded further innovation funding by Ofwat in 2022.”

Gareth also led work to study the future potential for aircraft fuelled by liquid hydrogen and whether acceptable turnaround times could be achieved. This broad study covered technical, economic, regulatory aspects as well as sustainability.

He has also led feasibility studies for large-scale hydrogen production and potential to link to carbon capture and storage (CCS) schemes, including compression and transfer by pipeline and developed pilot scheme designs to trial hydrogen for fuelling rail freight.

In his role, Gareth has had the opportunity to author technical articles on hydrogen and has lectured on the subject at the University of Birmingham and to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  He co-authored the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) guide on Energy & Resource Efficiency and has advised the Environment Agency on management of waste gas and production of hydrogen from electrolysis (green hydrogen). He is currently participating in the IChemE working group on green hydrogen.

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

Meet Katherine Lockley, a Graduate project manager currently working on the Major Infrastructure Projects (MIP) at Babcock’s Devonport facility for the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Royal Navy.

Katherine joined Costain in September 2023 and started on her first commission in October 2023.

“I graduated in 2013 with a degree in Biological Sciences from The University of West England. I went on to serve in the Royal Navy. I applied to Costain’s Graduate Programme because it offered on the job training in a large variety of sectors and in different job roles, the opportunity for remote working and a chance to be part of a highly respected company.”

The Costain Graduate programme covers a variety of diverse disciplines, from traditional roots into civil engineering, quantity surveying, electrical and mechanical engineering through to data developers, finance, consultancy, digital innovation, cyber security, environmental advisors and project controls/management.

“I have begun studying for my APM Project Fundamentals Qualification alongside my current role. It’s great to be able to combine hands on experience with the course content and really see the theory put into practice.”

Katherine is currently at Devonport, working in Costain’s joint venture to provide support to Babcock through assisting with onboarding of new staff, inductions, audits, communications engagement, resourcing and social value activities.

“I really like the ‘family’ feel of Costain. Colleagues are always happy to help in both a professional and personal way so there is always an opportunity to ask questions as I am finding my feet. There are a few different channels in which the P3M team can keep in touch, which has been really useful as I work primarily at home. I am also part of the Women’s network and the Parenting & Carers Network which is a great way to meet the wider Costain community.”

A final word of advice from Katherine for those looking to apply to the Graduate Programme:

“Having been in the Royal Navy for eight years, the move to a corporate role could have been daunting. However, seeing the support networks in place at Costain through the Service and Service Families Network as well as the opportunities to work on major infrastructure projects across the UK, I knew that there was a structure in place where I could use my transferrable skills and develop a whole range of new ones! I would advise anyone who wants a career change to just do it. It is daunting, however ended up being the best decision for me and my Family.”

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

Meet Jason South, a Risk consultant who joined Costain after 25 years in the Armed Forces.

Jason is currently advising on new major UK infrastructure and transportation projects, such as National Highways M60 Simister Island project and the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

His role involves speaking to the discipline leads involved in a project, such as in construction, design and commercial teams, to understand any potential risks, and subsequently managing and implementing measures to ensure they are effectively mitigated. Another key part of the role is providing and maintaining communication with senior stakeholders.

Prior to joining Costain, Jason had a successful career serving in the Reconnaissance Regiment 9th / 12th Royal Lancers for 25 years. This included providing strategic advice to Division/Brigade HQ, assessing information and risk analysis to assist with battlefield command. He also served as a Global Operations Manager at Crisis24, a risk management and crisis response firm, before starting his career in construction.

Jason found his role with Costain with the support of Buildforce UK, an organisation that helps service leavers transition from the military to a career into the construction industry.

Costain works with Buildforce UK and other careers services such as the Careers Transition Partnership and the Officers Association, providing bespoke support to those moving into new roles, which as Jason says, is not necessarily a straightforward task:

“As soon as I joined Costain, the business has supported my development and helped me set clear goals and objectives. The work has been rewarding, stimulating, but most importantly, always interesting. But finding a new career doesn’t happen overnight. There are new skills to learn and a new environment to adjust to. My advice would be to consider your skillset and join careers networks who can aid your development that can make you more employable.”

Jason’s advice for those considering a change in career:
“Don’t discount your existing strengths and experience – your skills are highly transferrable. My role at Costain requires discipline, respect, problem solving and above all, a can-do attitude, all of which I have been able to develop throughout my career.”

Costain’s support for the Armed Forces extends to partnerships with the Forces Families Jobs Forum and the Military Coworking Network. This is to support the employment of service spouses and partners, offering advice, support and coaching.

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

Meet Helen, an experienced leader who enjoys working closely with customers to understand their needs and translate them into leading edge solutions. She believes engagement and building strong relationships with stakeholders is key to success.

As Framework Director, Helen is responsible for leading, developing and delivering sales growth by working closely with customers to understand their needs and translate them into sustainable, efficient and practical solutions. A proactive leader with experience spanning aviation, local government and water, Helen believes engagement and building strong relationships with stakeholders is key to success.

“My role is all about our customers. I work with them to help them transform their performance. The thing I love most about my work is the variety – it involves everything from leading strategy workshops to delivering business improvement programmes, streamlining operations and assuring quality. I offer these advisory services to a range of customers spanning aviation and local government, so there are also opportunities to cross-pollinate learnings between sectors.”

Helen has worked on numerous technically challenging infrastructure projects and sponsored multi-million-pound projects within large programmes of work with regulatory deadlines, such as Wastewater Treatment Works, Biomethane Gas Holders and DG5 Flooding schemes.

Innovation has been a golden thread throughout her career in parallel with securing the buy-in of wider customer teams - implementing successful change management programmes is fundamental to embed new approaches and ensure they deliver long-term benefits.

What does Helen wants to professionally achieve in the next five years?
“I have always found that the best method of success is to enable others to shine. If I can encourage other people to grow and develop to make themselves and the company proud, I will be extremely happy.”

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

Meet Samuel, an apprentice civil engineer currently working on the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) for Anglian Water.

Samuel joined the Costain team on SPA as part of an apprenticeship programme sponsored by Anglian Water. Through their Collaborative Skills Programme, the Anglian Water Alliances work with four colleges in the region to develop local people in the skills needed for the local region. The full time course results in a qualification in Groundworks or Engineering plus an Employer Engagement Plan to develop business and personal skills.

“Through my BTEC in Engineering at college, I was given an interview by Costain to join SPA as an apprentice in 2021. Being part of the Anglian Water sponsored programme meant I was guaranteed an interview and place at the Assessment Centre. As a delivery partner on SPA, Costain offered me a place following my successful performance and I have been based in the Peterborough office since then!”

The apprenticeship programme gives students an opportunity to combine learning with hands on experience on one of the UK’s most complex and challenging infrastructure projects.

“During my time at SPA I have done CAD work ranging from planning application drawings all the way through to making sure the bedding we are using under our pipe is the correct grade. Alongside this, I have been involved with using VR headsets for the access, lifting and maintenance requirements as well as going on site to check the signal for hydrophones on a pipeline.

“Another element of the work I have been involved in is local career and recruitment forums and community liaison events. Being able to talk to the local communities about the work we are doing and the impact it will have, is a rewarding aspect of the work we do. I also really enjoy sharing my experience with those still in college and education – I can give them an idea of what it’s like to work in engineering and how important a role we have for UK infrastructure.”

The apprenticeship lasts two years with an end point assessment as the final exercise. Costain recruit for a wide number of different apprenticeships (level two through to seven) from administration and finance to civil engineering and materials technicians.

“Through my BTEC in Engineering at college, I was given an interview by Costain to join SPA as an apprentice in 2021. Being part of the Anglian Water sponsored programme meant I was guaranteed an interview and place at the Assessment Centre. As a delivery partner on SPA, Costain offered me a place following my successful performance and I have been based in the Peterborough office since then!”

A final word of advice from Sam for those looking at an apprenticeship:

“Take any opportunity that comes up. I have learnt so much from just saying yes to peers and colleagues offering to support me and I hope to pass on that experience to others later on in my career.”

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