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Work area

Engineering consultants provide specialist advice and design solutions across sectors like construction, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and the environment. 

The engineering sector contributed around £645 billion to the UK economy in recent years, with consultancy services playing a central role (EngineeringUK, 2022). The sector employed over 200,000 professionals across more than 30,000 businesses in 2021; a 6.5% increase on the previous year (Recruitment Industry Trends Survey, 2021). 

Graduate engineering consultants typically start on salaries from £26,000–£32,000, rising to £45,000–£65,000 with experience. Senior consultants and project managers can earn upwards of £70,000, with directors earning six figures, especially within global firms. Many roles also offer performance bonuses and opportunities to work internationally. With a strong demand for sustainable and digital solutions, engineering consultancy offers a dynamic and rewarding career path for graduates from a range of STEM disciplines. 

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. 

Technical Skills 

Technical skills will vary by specialism, but many core technical competencies are relevant across consultancy roles: 

  • Adaptability & flexibility - Responding to changing conditions on-site or project briefs.
  • Attention to detail - Ensuring designs meet standards, regulations, and performance criteria.
  • Building Information Modelling (BIM).
  • CAD and design software - e.g. AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Civil 3D.
  • Commercial awareness - Understanding client needs, cost constraints, and value engineering principles.
  • Communication skills - Clear, professional communication with clients, colleagues, and contractors (written and verbal).
  • Familiarity with UK building regulations and standards - e.g. CDM, Part L, BS/EN/ISO standards.
  • Presentation & reporting skills - Producing technical reports and presenting to non-specialist stakeholders.
  • Problem-solving & critical thinking - Essential for diagnosing issues and developing effective design or construction solutions.
  • Project & time management - Managing deadlines, deliverables, and resources effectively across complex projects.
  • Simulation and modelling tools - e.g. ANSYS, IES VE, Hevacomp.
  • Site investigation, surveying and data interpretation.
  • Sustainable design and energy efficiency awareness.
  • Teamwork & collaboration - Working with multidisciplinary teams including architects, surveyors, and contractors.
  • Technical report writing and specification development.
  • Understanding of engineering principles - e.g. thermodynamics, structural analysis, fluid mechanics.

To develop these skills, remember Career Zone offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in the following: 

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Green Consultants: is an award-winning programme designed to provide students with additional skills and experience required to work in the environmental and sustainability sector.
  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements.
  • Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
  • The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience.
  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements.
  • Ask An Alum: A fuss-free way to connect with University of Exeter alumni to ask careers questions. 
  • Career Mentor Scheme: A popular employability scheme which matches a student or graduate with an experienced professional, for sector insight and one-to-one careers advice and guidance, over a 6-month period.
  • Professional Pathways: a suite of sector specific training courses and paid week-long internships that take place in June.  

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Before visiting the sites below you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Finding part-time work – Many students work part-time during their studies. Search for part-time work here: 

  • Handshake.
  • General job sites such as Find a Job or Indeed (filter on “part-time” and “Exeter” or “Penryn”).
  • Identify and call into local businesses with your CV to ask about part-time jobs. 
  • Attend the part-time / casual jobs fair, held twice yearly on Streatham Campus.
  • Penryn Campus Careers Fairs. 

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions and graduate schemes. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

  • TARGETjobs Engineering — sector-specific placements and schemes.
  • Indeed – engineering roles across the country.
  • Milkround – more engineering roles across the UK.
  • Bright Network – internships, industrial placements, graduate jobs and schemes in a range of fields including engineering.
  • Women in STEM – graduate opportunities for Women in STEM.
  • Civil Service Science and Engineering Scheme – a three-year scheme that helps shape government policy and decision-making.
  • Gradcracker - graduate recruitment site with specific sections on the Engineering sector.
  • Graduate Recruitment Bureau - agency that includes jobs in the Engineering sector.
  • Marine Engineering Programme - sponsored training opportunities in the Merchant Navy.
  • Matchtech.com - engineering and technical job agency with a section for new graduates.
  • Careerjet - a job search engine for UK engineering jobs.
  • Catfoss Recruitment Ltd - specialist engineering recruitment agency. UK-wide reach, covering a variety of engineering, manufacturing, production, construction and energy generation industries.
  • EngineeringJobs - wide range of engineering jobs including civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering.
  • GreenJobs Network - specialist environmental and renewable energy job board. Search by keyword, type of job or by location.
  • Hays Engineering - specialising in engineering recruitment, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and marine engineering.
  • IC Resources - recruitment consultancy - specialists in semiconductor recruitment.
  • Jonathan Lee Recruitment - specialist recruitment company covering engineering, technical, manufacturing, construction vacancies.
  • Jobsite - Engineering Jobs - engineering jobs from top employers and recruitment agencies.
  • Justengineers - specialist website for engineering industries and related technical areas.
  • NES Global Talent - engineering and technical recruitment specialists.
  • Qreer - European technical job board with opportunities in Science, Software, Engineering and Technology.
  • Reed - find vacancies for mechanical, civil, electrical, electronic, nuclear and structural engineering roles.
  • Rise Technical Recruitment - specialist recruiter of engineers and technical professionals UK-wide. All types of engineering covered including civil, design, development, electronics, manufacturing, process, software and structural.
  • Space Crew - jobs search engine specialising in vacancies in the Space industry.
  • TRS Staffing Solutions - recruitment organisation specialising in professional, engineering, technical and field talents 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page.

Internships and placements 

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

General websites for internships and placements 

Organisations offering internships and placements 

  • Arup - Graduate schemes, industrial placements, and summer internships in multidisciplinary engineering consultancy.
  • AtkinsRéalis - offers a wide range of graduate and internship roles in civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering.
  • Mott MacDonald - Graduate programmes, summer internships, and placements in infrastructure, transport, energy, and buildings consultancy.
  • WSP - structured graduate schemes and student placements in building services, civil, and systems engineering.
  • Jacobs - Graduate and internship opportunities across transportation, infrastructure, and environmental consultancy.
  • Ramboll - Internships and graduate roles in sustainable engineering and design, including buildings and transport.  

Devon & Cornwall Specific Opportunities 

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

For help with making speculative applications you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page.

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

 Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.