Safety Health Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Graduate 2026

You’ll play a key role in supporting the delivery of OCU’s Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) standards across a diverse range of operational and business environments. Based in Manchester, you’ll join one of our SHEQ teams, helping to ensure our people, projects and processes operate safely, responsibly and in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and company policies.

Depending on your team placement, you’ll support activities across Operational SHEQ, Health & Safety, Governance & Assurance, Quality Management or Continuous Improvement. Working closely with operational teams and business stakeholders, you’ll assist with audits and inspections, compliance monitoring, incident investigations, risk assessments, performance reporting and process improvement initiatives.

You’ll help identify opportunities to improve safety, quality and operational performance while developing an understanding of SHEQ management systems, industry regulations and best practice. The role will provide valuable exposure to both site and office-based environments, helping you build strong technical, analytical and stakeholder management skills as you develop your career within OCU.

Perfect for

Graduates who are passionate about creating safe workplaces, improving business performance and helping organisations operate responsibly and effectively. You’ll be proactive, organised and detail-oriented, with strong communication and problem-solving skills and an interest in health and safety, governance, quality, compliance or continuous improvement.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, analysing information and influencing positive change. Whether you’re interested in operational health and safety, governance and assurance, quality management or continuous improvement, you’ll be keen to develop your knowledge of SHEQ legislation, management systems, risk management and industry best practice while working alongside experienced professionals.

You’ll enjoy a varied role that combines collaboration, stakeholder engagement and practical problem solving. Depending on your team placement, you may spend time supporting operational teams, improving business processes, strengthening governance arrangements or helping deliver SHEQ initiatives that protect people, drive compliance and support operational excellence across OCU.

Entry requirements

You’ll need (or be on track to achieve) a degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Quality Management, Business Management, Engineering or a related discipline with a minimum 2:2 classification.

Due to occasional travel across operational and project locations, a full UK driving licence is essential before starting the role.

An interest in continuous improvement, operational excellence, business performance, process improvement, health and safety or quality management through placements, internships, academic projects or extracurricular activities would be advantageous.

Training programme

Our 2 year Graduate Programme combines structured training with hands-on experience, giving you real responsibility from day one. You’ll learn directly alongside industry experts in a collaborative, supportive environment. We invest in your continuous professional development, giving you the tools, confidence and clear progression path to build a long term career within OCU.

About OCU Group

At OCU Group, we don’t just deliver infrastructure - we help power modern life.

As one of the UK’s fastest-growing utility and infrastructure businesses, we deliver complex, nationally critical projects across power, energy transition, water, telecoms, and digital infrastructure. Over the last five years, OCU has grown five-fold to a £1.1bn organisation, expanding both organically and through strategic acquisitions across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and India.

Our growth is driven by ambitious people, operational excellence, and a commitment to doing things properly. We work on projects that genuinely matter by supporting the UK’s energy transition, strengthening essential infrastructure, and helping build more sustainable communities for the future.

Whether you’re an experienced professional looking to take ownership of major projects and influence delivery at scale, or someone starting your career through an apprenticeship, graduate programme, or placement route, OCU offers real opportunity to grow, develop, and make an impact.

We are building a business where high performance, collaboration, innovation, and accountability sit at the centre of our culture. Our people are trusted to lead, encouraged to challenge thinking, and supported to continuously develop their skills and careers.

At OCU, you won’t just join a growing business, you’ll help shape it.

Our culture & values

At OCU, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We care about safety, lead with integrity, strive to be better every day, make a positive impact, and deliver to grow, together, as One Company United.