Overview

Join to apply for the 2026 Graduate Programme - Planning Consultancy & Infrastructure Planning role at WSP.

We are recruiting for Graduates in the following services & locations:

• Planning Consultancy: Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, London, Leeds
• Infrastructure Planning: Nationwide including Exeter

Join our 2026 Graduate Programme in Planning Consultancy & Infrastructure Planning and launch your career with one of the UK’s leading professional advisory consultancies.

Roles and teams

Our Planning Consultancy teams work on large transformational projects across the UK, collaborating with communities to deliver sustainable development. We guide clients through the planning process, from initial site appraisals to securing consents and supporting construction. Our work spans residential, education, healthcare, logistics, industrial, retail and defence, with recent commissions in the Middle East. Graduates in Infrastructure Planning help deliver sustainable, resilient infrastructure by combining research, policy insight, and stakeholder collaboration. You’ll contribute to planning applications, site appraisals, and community engagement, guided by experienced planners. Your work informs transport schemes, utility upgrades, and energy proposals that balance technical feasibility with environmental and social value.

Responsibilities

• Planning Consultancy: participate from day one, manage a varied project portfolio, lead projects as a planning agent and project manager where appropriate, coordinate environmental teams and budgets, and work on larger schemes within planning teams.
• Infrastructure Planning: assist in delivering planning applications, site appraisals, and community engagement; support projects that influence transport, utilities, and energy proposals.
• Projects: work across nationally significant schemes with assignments varying by office and interests.
• Day-to-day activities include varied workloads across sectors, undertaking planning appraisals, drafting planning documents, project management of smaller projects, teamwork, environmental team management, submitting and managing planning applications and appeals, and budgeting.

Graduate Development Programme

Our two-year programme is designed to support personal and professional development through blended learning, core business and professional skills training, career development workshops and mentoring for professional registration, and substantial on-the-job experience.

To find out more, please visit the Graduate brochure or Graduate website for information about sectors and qualification requirements.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• You will have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s degree (RTPI accredited) in a relevant subject for the role you are applying for.
• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions, including an online skill enabler assessment; both are essential parts of the recruitment process.
• Ability to start work in September 2026.
• Passion for Planning & Consulting and an interest in the built environment, infrastructure, places and the economy.
• Creativity, problem solving, and the desire to share new ideas.

If you don’t meet all criteria, apply anyway—if your qualifications are right, we can consider alignment to this role or other opportunities within the graduate programme.

For further information regarding the Application & Selection process and timelines, please visit the Early Careers brochure or website.

What’s in it for you

• Work-life balance with hybrid working; two days a week in the office, with opportunities to collaborate in modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity and belonging: diverse backgrounds welcomed; employee resource groups and a culture of inclusion.
• Health & wellbeing: Thrive programme, Virtual GP, workplace adjustments, gym membership benefits, and menopause support.
• Flex your time: WSP My Hour to allocate one hour per day for personal activities; part-time and flexible arrangements, leave options, and bank holiday entitlement flexibility.
• Your development: training, mentoring, and support toward Chartership.

#WeAreWSP: We encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of background; as a Disability Confident employer we will interview all disabled applicants who meet essential criteria and provide workplace adjustments on request.