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We are seeking talented and enthusiastic undergraduates in their final year, or postgraduates, to join the Trust for a 6-8 week internship. We have two sustainability internships available: one focused on sustainability consultancy for masterplans and buildings, and one focused on sustainability consultancy for organisations.
We have plenty of work that you will get the chance to be involved with, look at our website and LinkedIn to get an idea what we do!
Who we are
The Useful Simple Trust (UST) is an award-winning group of professional design and consultancy practices driving change in the building environment through our four brands; Expedition Engineering, Useful Projects, Useful Studio and Thomas.Matthews.
Certified as a B Corp, Social Enterprise and Employee Benefit Organisation, our experienced engineers, architects, designers, consultants, and strategists are dedicated to business and environmental goals, transparency and accountability. As pioneers for sustainable design and consultancy, we are addressing the major issues of our time, including Net Zero carbon, circular economy, biodiversity gain, and social impact. Through our naturally collaborative approach, we engage our clients to deliver BOLD, valuable projects with positive impact.
UST believe in investing and growing our people as much as we do our business. We foster talent, equal opportunity, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing to develop a high performing and sustainable workforce.
As a certified Carbon Literate Organisation, we are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with a high level of carbon literacy or are willing to become certified.
Useful Projects is a sustainability consultancy driving positive change for our clients and society. Our mission is to help organisations tackle the significant challenges they are facing – spanning net zero carbon, circular economy and social value creation, to biodiversity net gain. We help our clients find added value in delivering sustainable development, by providing expert independent insight in an engaging manner.
We are working on some of the UK’s most high-profile projects with clients who want to design, build and operate differently. This is an opportunity to bring forward innovative approaches across energy, whole life carbon, biodiversity and the circular economy to build in resilience and social value. The ideal candidates will have broad knowledge of the sustainability agenda and deeper knowledge in one or more specialist areas.
The attributes
Professional qualifications and core knowledge are expected to include:
- Studying relevant qualifications and demonstrated knowledge in a subject related to environmental design and analysis, sustainable development, or sustainable business (we are open to applicants from a wide range of degrees from economic development to geography, architecture to mechanical engineering).
- A passion for sustainability
- Drive, initiative, and enterprise
- Enthusiastic person, who takes pride in his/ her work
- Great eye for detail
- Proactive person who enjoys working on challenging jobs
- Committed and hardworking
- Flexible, organised and good communicator
- Happy to contribute and get involved in different things
- Ability to support teams across the Trust
- Proactive approach
Personal Attributes
- Team player, we encourage our people to work together
- Good sense of humour
- Passionate about building a better future
Diversity statement
UST strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We are working to change the lack of representation of minority groups and are particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant skills and experience who feels they are underrepresented in the industry.
We encourage people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women, people with different abilities, LGBTIQ+ community, gender, all age groups, and those with intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics to apply. We know that diversity makes us stronger, and we are committed to creating a working environment that is inclusive and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.
What we offer
- An entrepreneurial environment; we're open to new ideas.
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro-rata).
- Company Pension Scheme (grade dependant, minimum of 6%).
- Free access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family.
- Thriving Trust-wide social scene, including charitable activities and regular team events.
