Graduate Employer Profile: Arup

Tell us about a little bit about Arup. 

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of over 17,000 designers, consultants and experts working globally.

From metro systems to concert halls, utilities to wind farms, Arup’s projects in sustainability and infrastructure are shaping a better world. We provide a wide array of services including design, engineering, architecture, planning, and advisory services across all aspects of the environment and are particularly celebrated for undertaking complex and challenging projects, often pushing the boundaries of what is possible in engineering and design.

The company has grown significantly since being founded in 1946 by Sir Ove Arup and is recognised for notable projects around the world such as the Sydney Opera House, London 2012 Olympics, Beijing National Aquatics Centre, and London’s Elizabeth Line to name a few.

Arup’s philosophy is deeply rooted in social usefulness and quality of work, aiming to contribute to the sustainable development of the built environment through our projects for clients as well as our own operations. This includes our commitment to achieving net zero emissions across our entire operations by 2030, covering everything from the energy used in our offices to the goods and services we purchase.

Arup’s international presence spans more than 90 offices across 34 countries. In the UK alone, each year we hire nearly 400 early careers employees across Graduate, Intern and Apprenticeship roles – this group plays a crucial part in driving our business forward, bringing with them curiosity and a passion for improving how we do things.

It’s not just us saying it - Arup has been recognised by students as a top graduate employer, winning targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment awards for 'Most Popular Graduate Recruiter in the Construction, Civil Engineering and Surveying Sector' for 10 consecutive years as well as being recognised at The Times Top 100 Graduate Recruitment Awards 2024 as 'Graduate Employer of Choice for the Engineering Sector.'

What career opportunities do you have for graduates and young engineers?

Every September, Arup goes live with a wide range of Graduate opportunities, followed by Apprenticeships in November and Internships in December.

Opportunities span specialisms such as Climate & Sustainability, Energy, Water & Resources, Advisory, Building Services & Building Performance, Structural & Civil Engineering, Transport & Ground Engineering, Planning and Digital Services. By November a large number of our graduate roles are filled. However, there are a select number of roles still open for application here.

If you're still at university, you can explore our Summer Internship and Industrial Placement programmes where you can learn from others while developing your professional network, ready for when you graduate. Arup’s aim is to welcome as many of these students back into our other programmes be that another internship or potential graduate position. Applications for our Internships will open in December.

We offer apprenticeships from Level 3 – 7 across a wide range of disciplines which continue to expand every year. Arup apprenticeships provide an opportunity to gain a recognised qualification and equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Many apprenticeships lead to professional certification, depending on the programme of study chosen. Sign up for job alerts via our website to ensure you’re first to hear about opportunities that suit you best.

Graduate engineers at Arup should be curious, possess a solid technical foundation, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills. Teamwork, adaptability, and a client-focused mindset are crucial, along with basic project management capabilities and attention to detail. An awareness of sustainability principles and a professional attitude are also essential. These skills will enable you to contribute to Arup’s innovative projects and grow within the company’s supportive environment.

Whether you are interested in a graduate, internship or apprenticeship role and you can bring curiosity and a willingness to learn - we offer a wealth of support and guidance to help you deliver the best to our clients while developing your skills.

All kinds of talented graduates thrive at Arup. Each one brings passion and determination to grow.

Throughout our recruitment process, we aim to learn more about you and the unique perspectives you can bring to Arup. At our virtual assessment centre, everyone will complete the same tasks, but it’s how you approach them that sets you apart.

As a potential applicant, how can I make myself stand out from the competition?

My advice to candidates is to research the organisation you’re applying for – ask yourself is this the right role and the right company for me? To really stand out, describe yourself and why you’re a good fit for both the role and the company. Being able to link it to work experience or a summer internship is really valuable. Believe in yourself and your unique journey and demonstrate this.

We review all graduate applications manually - there’s no AI screening here. That said, we do notice generic AI-generated statements in some applications. What we really want to see is you. Include relevant skills and experience, highlight your achievements, and ensure your application reflects your unique journey.

Why should I consider a career at Arup?

Arup is independently owned in trust by its employees, allowing us the freedom to choose work that aligns with our values. This independence enables us to work on ambitious projects that set new standards.

We don’t believe in “it can’t be done.” Using technology, imagination, and rigour, we find solutions that make Arup an exciting place to work. We see things differently – driven by our big ideas and independent minds, coupled with our deep technical expertise.

We provide a total reward package that recognises the contribution that each member makes to our shared success. Profit share is a key part of this, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. 

As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer careers in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive. These come with benefits that support health and wellbeing and a wide range of learning opportunities. We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have the ability to choose from flexible benefits, to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing, for you and/or your family’s needs.

We believe in career-long learning, and you’ll find an atmosphere that encourages self-discovery and allows you time to be creative.

Join Arup in an Early Career role that suits you, and every day is a chance to learn.

Howard Bailey, Global Director of Talent Acquisition & Mobility at Arup. 

The Student Engineer is a special channel of The Engineer aimed at educating and inspiring engineering undergraduates about the career opportunities in engineering and also offering practical advice on how they can access these opportunities. 

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