Early careers

Meet George, an apprentice planner who was inspired to join Costain after attending two career days and is now working towards his IEng degree.

What led you to your career at Costain? 

"I was never interested in attending university full time and I always had a keen interest in the construction industry. Whilst in sixth form, I attended two Costain career days at Preston Western Distributor Road and M6 J21a-J26 where I learned about quantity surveying and civil engineering. After this, I was set on joining Costain when I finished school, and subsequently chose a degree apprenticeship.

Of all the companies I looked at, I felt Costain gave the most support to apprentices and I can now vouch for that first-hand, they treat their staff very well and colleagues are keen to answer any questions you may have."

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

"A key part of my role as an apprentice planner is helping to ensure that any project is planned out correctly, and we allow for sufficient time for each stage of construction to be completed. For instance, whilst working on the M1 J32-J35a I had to produce detailed documents relating to the planned drainage on the highway, with the objective of ensuring the drainage was installed to the required standard and minimising any chances of disruption to road users. 

"I am also part of Costain’s Graduate and Apprentice network (GRaAPS). With my GRaAPS peers we arrange charity fundraisers, and in 2024 we raised over £2,500 for MacMillian Cancer Support when walking around Dovestone reservoir in December 2024, which I felt very proud and privileged to be involved with."

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?

"I'm very proud of working on the M1 J32-J35a scheme. I worked on the project from the outset through to when it was opened to traffic in November 2024, and it was the first time I’ve worked on a project from start to finish. It is a very rewarding feeling whenever I now drive on the motorway., and I can see what the new emergency area bays have done for road users and public safety."

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain? 

"I really enjoy working in such a diverse business. Learning from our project teams and partners from our supply chain on a day-to-day basis, I’ve made some great friends from the projects I have been on.
Being a logical thinker, I have also really enjoyed getting to grips with programmes such as Aphex and Primavera P6, which have aided my understanding of how to plan the delivery of complex projects."

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

"This is my first position in the construction industry, and I honestly don’t think I could have joined a better employer as a degree apprentice. The early careers team who looks after the apprentices and graduates is very supportive and always happy to help and ensure you’re doing a role that is right for you." 

"A year into my role I was able to switch to apprentice planner and to study Civil Engineering and attain the Engineering College of Technology certificate. Costain was very supportive of my decision which has inspired me to become a Planning Engineer when I finish my degree."

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

"I have gained a huge amount from pursuing the apprenticeship route. It’s a great option for those who prefer to get their ‘foot in the door’ into the working world. You’ll gain valuable experience, and obtain a qualification, all while earning a salary. You’ll also have an excellent team around you and Costain will support you throughout your apprenticeship and beyond. You couldn’t join a better business!"

Connect with George on LinkedIn or search our early 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 Macy, a project controls degree apprentice who joined Costain in 2022.

What led you to your career at Costain?  

"I have always been interested in construction and buildings. At college I studied A-Level Art and design, and I really enjoyed making physical models of buildings, as well as planning the creation of these models and making step by step plans to get there. After researching into careers that were focused on the planning and the ‘behind the scenes’ process that gets you a final result, I came across Project Controls / Project Management."  

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

"My role helps to successfully deliver projects on time and on budget. For example, one of my roles was a risk manager on the M60 Simister Island interchange working with our customer National Highways. The project will improve junction 18 of the M60 and facilitate smoother flows of traffic along the connecting motorways, contributing to more reliable and safer journeys into and around Greater Manchester."

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? 

"There are two achievements that I am most proud of to date. The first is being shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year award at the Project Controls Expo in 2024. 

The other is creating and developing the GRaAPS (Graduate and Apprentices) network at Costain. The network is designed for apprentices and grads to collectively share their learning experiences to support career development." 

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?  

"The people I’ve worked with and the opportunities I’ve had." 

What has inspired you during your time at Costain? 

"I have learnt that everyone is different and works differently, but to look at this from a ‘glass half full’ perspective. You learn methods of working that you can apply to your own work, and it’s inspiring to work with such amazing people everyday whom I can learn things from."  

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

"Be open minded and try every opportunity you are given. Better to say you tried something and it didn’t work out, than to say you didn’t try at all!" 

Connect with Macy on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our early career 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.