Experienced Professionals

Meet Zainab, a temporary works design engineer who has completed a degree apprenticeship with Costain.

What led you to your career at Costain?  

"Whilst at school I was invited to the opening of the Lee Tunnel, I was intrigued and inspired seeing everyone come together to celebrate the completion. Two and a half years later I joined the Tideway Tunnel Project as an apprentice engineer which connects to the Lee Tunnel, it was a full circle moment!"  

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

"The first project I worked on was the Thames Tideway Tunnel as a site engineer. Essentially, the project is environmentally and socially driven, as it will direct the sewage overflows into the new tunnel and eventually clean up the River Thames. This will ease the burden on the current Victorian sewer and will deal with the growing demand. It will also make way for marine life and new green areas for the public."  

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? 

"My biggest professional achievement is completing my degree apprenticeship. Balancing work, studying and working towards a professional qualification simultaneously was challenging, and I achieved a First Class with honours."  

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?  

"I enjoy that everyday is different, each day presents a new challenge to tackle."  

What has inspired you during your time at Costain? 

"What inspires me is the impact we have on people’s lives and having the ability to develop and improve infrastructure."  

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

"The best advice I can give to is to continuously challenge yourself, to keep learning and ask questions when you need to."  

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

Meet Cameron, a project manager currently working in our defence and nuclear energy sector.

What led you to your career at Costain? 

"Whilst studying at the University of Dundee I had the very fortunate experience of meeting a past Costain CEO, who explained Costain’s history and the opportunities it could offer. This led to me applying for a summer internship, and I subsequently received a sponsorship through my university. Costain supported me with my dissertation and upon completion of my master’s degree I joined the business full time as a graduate engineer."

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

"Every project I have been involved in has made a huge difference to people’s lives. These include the M1 motorway upgrade, the A19 Testo’s junction improvements, and the Gatwick Airport station upgrade, which has made it easier for passengers to navigate from platforms to the airport terminals through improved accessibility and signage."

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?

"Whilst working on the Gatwick Airport station upgrade there were many notable moments, including installing over 200 piles and opening temporary accommodation facilities for staff, but the biggest achievement was being involved in the completion of the refurbishment of two overbridges. It was a very proud moment to see passengers using the bridges within minutes of handing them back over to the customer."

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?

"Costain operates in a variety of sectors with projects across the UK, and as someone who wants to gain a range of experience, this makes it a great place to work. The company is also very flexible and provides me with the time and opportunities to develop my skills through sponsored learning and flexible working arrangements.

What has inspired you during your time at Costain?

"Since 2022, I have supported the organisation’s strategy and transformation work, which has allowed me to work across all of our sectors and services. I’ve been inspired by the visible desire across the organisation to strive for continuous improvement in our work. It shows that as a business we are all pulling in the same direction and aligned by Costain’s core values and behaviours, which underpin everything that we do."

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

"Costain gives early careers professionals the opportunity to move between roles and sectors and I would encourage anyone starting out to take full advantage. Each area is very different and will teach you new things, help you grow your network and ultimately make you a more valuable team member."

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

Meet Sanna, a senior engineer working in our transportation division.

What led you to your career at Costain?

"Being an East Londoner, I witnessed the construction of the London 2012 Olympics site. It was a fantastic development project and I was struck by the engineering skills that were evident on a daily basis. 

"I felt inspired into a career in Engineering so completed an internship with a design-led engineering company. Once I had started my apprenticeship with them, I knew I wanted to understand how a design comes to life, so I decided to join Costain in 2019 as an Apprentice Site Engineer, to complete my apprenticeship. 

"Costain caught my attention based on the variety of significant engineering projects they were working on, ranging from nuclear to rail to water. I had experience on the Tideway Project and Costain had a role available for an apprentice site engineer on the East Section of the project, so it felt like the right move and opportunity to bring the design I was working on to life."

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

"Engineers have a crucial role in improving people's lives. In addition to working on Tideway, I have been lucky enough to work on a refurbishment project on Southern’s Water Framework at Burham, a clean water site supplying Kent. I worked on delivering the first refurbishment of the Granular Activated Carbon tanks as part of the critical remedial works required to the critical water infrastructure. The work is integral to ensuring Southern Water’s millions of customers have use of a clean, reliable water supply."

What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?

"Completing my BEng and MSc in Construction Management with first-class honours, all during a part-time study and whilst working on some very challenging packages of work such as on Tideway – notably the construction of the Combined Sewer Outflow at Greenwich Pumping Station.

"I have also been heavily involved with STEM initiatives showcasing the apprenticeship route as well as a career in Engineering – over the years I have been awarded many apprenticeship awards as well as sharing the stage with the Mayor of London discussing the need for investment in apprenticeships."

What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?

"Costain has a vast number of development programmes that you can enrol in, helping you excel, grow and develop your career, and I have relished the opportunities I’ve been given to develop on a professional and personal level.

"I completed Costain’s Empowerment Programme in 2024 which focused on how to reflect and lean into strengths at work. We also learnt from industry senior leaders in and outside Costain on how to navigate challenges and as a result, I’ve built a strong network of like-minded individuals.

"Costain also encourages you to transfer between sectors, allowing you to apply the skills you have gained from one project to another. The water projects I have been involved in - including Tideway and Southern Water’s CMDP Framework – have posed intricate design challenges. which have stood me in good stead for my current role in the Integrated Transport sector, where I am working on the refurbishment of an existing fly-over bridge in Essex."

What have you learned during your time at Costain?

"There are so many opportunities Costain has to offer across sectors and teams. Whether it be in engineering, project controls, delivery, or consultancy - there will always be a role within Costain that can be best suited to someone's career goals and aspirations.

"Costain deliver several critical national infrastructure projects which mean there is a continuous need to help deliver innovative solutions. As someone who comes from an under-represented group within the industry, this allows me to showcase my role and career into engineering, as well as the apprenticeship route."

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

"Look at the different career paths into engineering. The apprenticeship route was best suited to me as I have always been a practical person with visual learning, and it provided both practical learning during my site-based role and technical learning at university – it was the best of both worlds.

"I would also urge you to use your team to expand your knowledge and understanding, whether that be in the office or on-site. There is also no such thing as a silly question!"

Connect with Sanna 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 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.