What is involved in a career in infrastructure and energy?

For ambitious graduates who want to maintain the lifeblood of our society, an role in infrastructure or energy can be ideal. Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about careers in the energy and infrastructure sector. 

Not only does the infrastructure landscape offer opportunities to showcase your talent, but it also provides scope to work on projects that will define the future of society. Since it encompasses networks, materials and transport methods, if you choose an infrastructure career, you’ll be leading the charge towards greater standards of modern living. 

The UK’s infrastructure glues our cities, towns and economic frameworks together, which means graduates can find work anywhere in the country. The roles themselves are diverse too, encompassing planning, public relations, data analysis and engineering, among many other areas. Whether you’re a whizz with numbers and statistics or you’re great at inspiring people to do amazing things, there’s a position waiting for you. 

Energy comprises petroleum, gas, electrical, coal, nuclear and renewable energies – including the generation, distribution and sale of these. When so much depends on the skilful management and research of our energy capabilities in the 21st century, every related skill set must perform together to power our homes, cities and appliances. There aren’t many areas that a graduate can’t excel in – from engineers and strategists to sales and advisory roles, there’s no shortage of career paths open to someone who’s passionate about this industry that makes everything possible. 

Learn more about growth, new investment and jobs in the UK energy sector. 

There are a plethora of roles available for different skill sets and interests in the energy and infrastructure sector. Here are just a few you could encounter:

Machines, structures and digital components need to be built intelligently; engineers work out how to do it, creating and maintaining every physical system and application we use. 

Using applied research to scope out the properties of an environment, geologists give infrastructure projects solid ground for development. 

Large teams have to be overseen by someone able to coordinate budgets, planning and manpower for the best results. That’s a project manager in a nutshell. 

In a role that makes all others more efficient, analysts formulate a picture of what resources are being used where, sorting through massive swathes of data. 

Organisations in energy and infrastructure should have an expert at hand to advise them on regulations. Environmental consultants help minimise waste, risks and harmful emissions. 

Energy and infrastructure careers can be relatively highly paid. Depending on their role and skill set, a graduate starting their career in energy and power in an entry-level role or graduate scheme ican earn from £21,000 to £35,000. For example, as a graduate environmental consultant, you can expect to earn a salary ranging from £23,000 to £28,000, depending on your skills and experience. 

Learn more about salaries from entry to senior level, use our in-depth guide to infrastructure and energy salaries. 

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• An interest in developing technical know-how and/or an understanding of how things work 
• Good teamwork and management skills
• Good people skills: projects in this sector involve lots of different parties and stakeholders, and you’ll need to be willing to learn how to handle varying personalities and characters
• Flexibility to work outdoors, offshore or abroad

Careers in the energy sector are incredibly varied, but there are a few big employers to watch out for:

• Arup
• Costain
• Shell – read an insight into Shell here.
• Transport for London
• Carillion
• National Grid 

Find out more with our article on the leading graduate employers in energy and infrastructure. 

Like any other sector, companies will advertise positions on their website, and some national job portals. You can fill in separate applications when you come across them or, alternatively, streamline the process by regularly checking our Bright Network careers page. 

By creating a free account with us, all of your relevant roles will be in one place, letting you scroll through and apply to dozens of attractive companies.  

• Oil and gas still represent the UK’s biggest employers in this sector; alternative fuel extraction methods are expected to create thousands of new jobs. 
• By some estimates, 9,000 new power construction positions will have to be filled over the next decade as nuclear investment starts to take off. 
• International opportunities are rife in this line of work, since exports and imports have to be negotiated, along with research collaboration.
• Lawyers are also in high demand for finalising construction bids and settling disputes. 
• Britain is a leading light for driverless car technology, which will transform our road networks over the next 10–20 years. 

While it’s very difficult to sum up all the routes you can take into a career in infrastructure and energy, we hope this guide has shed light on the demands of the sector as a whole. If you’re motivated, a natural communicator, and able to see how ideas are brought to reality by their smaller constituents, then you’ll thrive in this environment.