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Costain and ScottishPower Follow Farrans’ Lead with Expanded Graduate Intakes
Three industry giants ramp up early-career intakes to bridge skills gap in UK infrastructure and energy.
John Stephenson
November 13, 2024
Building on a trend set by companies like Farrans, Costain and ScottishPower have revealed expanded early-careers programs for 2025. With increased intakes across their graduate and apprenticeship roles, both firms are fueling industry growth while addressing skill shortages in critical UK infrastructure sectors.
What Happened
After Farrans announced 50 graduate positions in early September, Costain and ScottishPower have launched their own record-breaking intakes for 2025:
Costain: Over 180 positions in total, including 60 graduate roles, 90 apprenticeships, and 30 internships.
ScottishPower: Their largest-ever intake, with 325 roles for graduates and trainees in sectors like offshore renewables and energy networks.
Catch-Up
Farrans set the pace earlier this year by launching its Farrans Foundation graduate program, opening 50 graduate positions across the UK and Ireland. Focused on fields like civil engineering and quantity surveying, Farrans’ two-year program combines hands-on experience with formal training, aiming to fast-track careers in construction and engineering. High-performing graduates in this program are even eligible for final-year bursaries, offering a competitive advantage for incoming talent.
How They’re Doing It
Each company’s early careers program is tailored to support sector-specific needs and provide a foundation for professional development:
Costain’s Strategy:
Broad Sector Coverage: Graduates, apprentices, and interns can rotate across projects in water, CO₂ capture, and hydrogen, with projects like the AMP8 framework with major water utilities.
Nuclear Specialisation: Costain has a new focus on nuclear, partnering with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to offer secondments in high-stakes projects.
ScottishPower’s Approach:
Regional Focus: Positions spread across East Anglia, Merseyside, North Wales, and Scotland to support its extensive 100,000+ km energy network.
Renewables Emphasis: A significant intake is directed towards supporting ScottishPower’s offshore ambitions, making it a key player in the UK’s energy transition.
What They’re Saying
"We’re incredibly proud of our graduates, apprentices and those who join Costain on a work placement. More than ever, we’re looking for fresh ideas and innovative thinkers to make a real impact for our customers, which we know is essential for shaping, creating and delivering sustainable infrastructure that improves people’s lives."
"We are excited to kick off our recruitment period for the 2025 graduate intake, which will be our largest to date. We are looking to attract over 100 new graduate entrants into our growing business. These are truly exciting times ahead as we continue to expand and innovate with fresh talent joining our team."
The Big Picture
With Costain, ScottishPower, and Farrans investing in the next generation, the industry’s commitment to bridging skill gaps is clear. This trend is not only building a talent pipeline but also equipping young professionals with specialised experience to drive future projects in UK infrastructure and energy.
Bottom Line
These expanded programs underscore a critical push to attract and train new talent. As Farrans demonstrated in September, companies investing in structured development for graduates and apprentices are setting a benchmark for cultivating the future workforce in construction and engineering.