Sustainability Consulting Graduate Programme 2021

AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital.

AECOM’s Sustainability team comprises of specialists within our Building Engineering Business Line. We are recognised as industry leaders in the field of sustainable development. Our projects range from working with Governments to support Building Regulations and National planning policy relating to climate change, to developing energy and sustainability strategies to support the design and planning of new development and the regeneration of existing communities.

We work across all construction stages, from pre-feasibility, through feasibility, design, construction and operation; and across a wide range of sectors - housing, healthcare, schools, universities, offices, retail, hospitality etc. We also deliver advice relating to existing portfolios.

Our work includes:

• The development of policy on low carbon and renewable energy, climate change and sustainability issues at national, regional and local levels
• Sustainable master planning of new communities
• Energy strategies including the planning and design of decentralised energy infrastructure and energy statements
•  Sustainability statements and appraisals
• Design advice and feasibility studies for new build and refurbishment projects
• Carbon management advice including energy auditing and monitoring
• Environmental assessments - BREEAM, LEED, Home Quality Mark and the RICS Ska rating
• The development of Corporate Social Responsibility policies and carbon footprint reporting
• Research into reducing energy use, improving resilience to climate change and creating more sustainable buildings and places
• Resilience strategies for cities, infrastructure providers and businesses

The Building Sustainability teams are involved in a variety of projects, including:

• Wood Wharf, Silvertown Quays, Westferry Printworks, East Bank, UCL East Campus and Fitzroy Place - AECOM’s residential team provide a range of services to developers, housing associations, industry bodies and the government around all aspects of low carbon design. This includes energy modelling and options appraisal, energy and sustainability strategies for planning applications, carbon management plans, energy surveying, district heating feasibility and concept design, Home Quality Mark environmental assessments and Building Regulations Part L submissions for building control. Similar services are provided to clients in respect of non-domestic buildings – hospitals, University buildings, hotels, offices, retail, etc. for a wide range of clients such as Land Securities, NHS Trusts, Land Securities and Transport for London. 
• MoD, Rolls-Royce, Middlesbrough Council, Preston Council, Bridgend Council, various London Boroughs, Kent County Council, various NHS Trusts and Higher Education establishments - AECOM’s district energy group has been involved with all aspects of project delivery. Our breadth and depth of project experience has made AECOM a leader in the field, as evidenced by our active membership of the ADE and ukDEA.
• Work for Government Departments – we work for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and The Committee on Climate Change supporting the development of policy and undertaking research projects.
• AECOM are currently working for BEIS as part of the consortium comprising the Delivery Partner to assist with the award of funding for Heat Networks. The funding is available to public and private sector applicants and is intended to create a transformed, self-sustaining and trusted market for heat networks which offers affordable and reliable heat to the end customer in England & Wales.
• Houses of Parliament - AECOM recently developed the Engineering & Infrastructure Strategy for the Houses of Parliament, providing a highly resilient and carbon saving solution looking forward for the next 50 years. • North West Cambridge Masterplan – AECOM provided the University of Cambridge with sustainability advice in support of the masterplan and planning application for this major new development, now called Eddington. The project will comprise 5000 dwellings, commercial, academic and community spaces. We also developed the Energy Centre and low carbon heat network supplying all of the buildings. Phase 1 has been built and we continue to be employed by the University to assess performance in use.
• Storey’s Field Centre, North West Cambridge. AECOM provided a wide range of services in support of this award winning community facility and the adjoin Eddington Nursery, including the design of the building services and the modelling which informed the design.
• BREEAM assessments – AECOM have been involved in the assessment of over 300 buildings targeting or achieving a BREEAM rating of Excellent or Outstanding. One example is the Glaxo Smith Klein Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry, University of Nottingham, UK. After receiving an “Outstanding” BREEAM rating, the building was awarded the “Post Construction Award for a Public Sector Project”. It also has a LEED Platinum rating.
• A recent major win is the design of the new Moorfields Hospital in London, which AECOM won as a result of a design competition.
• Our staff are on occasions seconded. Clients include University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, The Greater London Authority and the Ministry of Justice.
• University of East London Library - As active members of the Building Research and Information Association (BSRIA) Soft Landings User Group, AECOM has been involved from the very inception of soft landings. AECOM’s experience includes being appointed for the aftercare of the University of East London Library.
• LandSec’s New Headquarters, London, UK - AECOM completed the second WELL certified project in the UK. This was certified with a Silver rating and to date is the largest WELL certified project in the UK. AECOM is currently working with LandSec to recertify their WELL accreditation. Recertification is a mandatory requirement every three years.

Job Responsibilities

• Environmental assessments of buildings, assisting with BREEAM, LEED, Home Quality Mark and other assessments (supported by in-house training) and in time undertaking training to become a qualified assessor. This can cover both design stage and post construction assessment of buildings
• Building energy modelling, assisting with modelling of domestic and/or non-domestic buildings (supported by in-house training) and in time undertaking training to become a qualified assessor
• Building renewable energy assessments, assessing costs and carbon benefits of a range of technologies and determining the best solution for a particular project
• Developing energy strategies to support building design teams and energy statements to support planning applications
• Developing sustainability strategies to support building design teams and sustainability statements to support planning applications
• Energy auditing and energy efficiency to identify energy, cost and carbon savings projects for existing buildings • Heat network studies including feasibility assessments and developing designs
• Contributing to a wide range of projects as the work load dictates, including policy development work and research projects

Requirements

• A science, engineering or building related Bachelor degree
• Building sustainability/energy related MSc is desirable
• Good numeric and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Good attention to detail • Flexible to deal with varying workload
• Able to demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in buildings and sustainability

Training

Our Graduate Development Programme (GDP) along with our huge scope of projects across the globe will challenge and inspire you to make a real difference to the world we live in. Our GDP forms a core part of our business strategy globally, designed to develop the best talent across numerous disciplines to lead our business into the future. We have over 750 graduates on our programmes across the UK and Ireland, from over 40 different disciplines, each and every one of them making a tangible difference to the environment we all live and work in.

We will provide you with all the tools and support you need to achieve your professional development ambitions, including Chartership with the relevant international professional institution, where we have graduates working towards over 30 professional institutions in the UK and Ireland. We will push you to achieve the highest standards and expect our graduates to pass their professional review first time.

You will be assigned a mentor to support and guide your development, and undertake regular training modules throughout the programme. There will be on-the-job technical development and classroom training where required, and the opportunity to work on live client projects, with significant multi disciplinary exposure.