Top infrastructure companies in the UK

The larger infrastructure firms offer great career opportunities in a range of areas, from mechanical engineering to finance. Here are four of the top infrastructure companies in the UK that we think you should check out, to see what they have to offer you, to suit your skills and experience.

One of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, BT provides landlines, broadband, mobiles and other services to UK consumers. The Group also sells services to telecom providers around the world.  

BT has its head offices in London and other offices around the UK. Its global operations span six continents.

BT offers summer internships in areas like software engineering, security, and research and innovation. It also offers a wide range of graduate programmes, with options for people from many different academic backgrounds. Starting salaries start at around £32,500.

BT has a good focus on work–life balance and actively encourages flexible working. It also focuses on personal development, encouraging all employees to pursue professional qualifications.

TfL is the not-for-profit government body that provides London’s public transport network – including everything from the Underground and buses to the cycle networks and riverboat services.

TfL operates in all 32 London boroughs. Its head office is in Westminster.

TfL’s graduate programmes range from the technical, such as quantity surveying and software development, to the more general, such as marketing and project management. There’s something to suit any degree discipline. Some roles may involve unusual hours and weekend shifts.

The graduate schemes have a starting salary of £31,000 and demonstrate the generous benefits you get when working for the government – for example, a final salary pension scheme, 30 days’ holiday plus public holidays, and completely free Oyster card travel for you and someone else at your address. TfL also offers a wide range of student placements.

Balfour Beatty is one of the top construction companies in the UK, but also offers support services and infrastructure investments. The firm was involved in building the Channel Tunnel, the Dubai Mall and the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics.

Balfour Beatty has its headquarters in London and operates across the UK. Internationally, it operates mainly in the US, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and South East Asia.

Balfour Beatty offers a range of graduate schemes falling into two groups – technical and business. The schemes operate UK-wide and last for two or three years. For all programmes you’ll need one of a small set of related degree types. Most programmes lead to professional qualifications.

As a leading infrastructure company in the UK, experience at Balfour Beatty is very valuable to your continuing career – though most graduates choose to continue there after the end of their programme. This major firm offers you opportunities to travel, and a good level of career and personal development.

EDF Energy is an energy company that generates electricity and supplies electricity and gas in the UK. It’s the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, with two wind farms and eight nuclear power plants as well as its fossil fuel energy generation.

EDF’s main office locations are London, Exeter, Sunderland, Hove, Crawley and Barnwood.

EDF Energy offers graduate programmes in two areas: commercial and science and engineering. For the scientists and engineers, it’s a chance to gain expertise in nuclear power. You’ll spend time working in a power station and learn from nuclear scientists. The business side of things includes areas like finance, HR and supply chain, and includes several different placements.

EDF Energy also offers 12-week summer internships. Again, these are divided into the science side and the business side.

With a focus on low-carbon energy and sustainability, EDF Energy may be in line with your own values, especially if you have a positive view of nuclear power. This leading infrastructure firm was also shortlisted in three categories of the 2024 Business Culture Awards, including for Best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative

This article was last updated in January 2025.