Who are United Utilities?

We are known for keeping the taps flowing and toilets flushing throughout the North West, but we also pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service, protecting and enhancing the environment and caring for our communities. We invest in the region to support future growth, address climate change and work in partnership to improve river health.

We are looking for motivated graduates from all backgrounds to help make the North West greener, healthier, and stronger. By joining our graduate scheme, you’ll play a crucial role in securing efficient, reliable water resources for customers across the North West.

Whichever scheme you join, you’ll be at the heart of bringing innovation and positive change to the water industry. Ready to live your future?

Why choose United Utilities for your graduate journey?

Career Progression Opportunities: Our graduate scheme offers clear pathways for advancement, structured programmes, and mentorship to help you develop into an outstanding leader. You’ll receive a tailored development programme, with opportunities for placements in other areas of the business.

Personal and Professional Development : You’ll have the chance to work within a highly motivated team, gaining a wealth of experience and creating a fantastic professional network. From specialist training to mentoring and coaching to internal support networks for LGBTQ+, Gender Equality and Neurodiversity, we’ll support you every step of the way. There is also potential for sponsorship for a master’s or other postgraduate qualifications.

Work-Life Balance : We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our flexible working policies and supportive work environment ensure you can achieve this balance while pursuing your career goals.

Our Reputation and Culture : United Utilities is proud to be one of the UK’s top inclusive employers. We are a responsible business that cares about delivering great customer service, protecting the environment, and investing in the region to support future growth.

Competitive Salary and Benefits : We offer a competitive starting salary of £30,000, 26 days of annual leave (increasing to 30 days after four years), plus bank holidays. Our benefits package includes private healthcare, discounted gym membership, flexible holidays, and an award-winning pension scheme.

About the scheme

In this three year graduate quantity surveyor scheme, you will be supported in working towards Chartered Membership of a relevant institution (e.g. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors or equivalent).

You will be working in a team and business area that is crucial in the successful delivery of United Utilities’ business needs by providing a professional quantity surveying service. As you grow in experience and expertise across both pre and post-contract roles, you will take on more responsibility and play a key role in the commercial support throughout project lifecycles. Start living your future today!

What will I be doing?

• Develop a working knowledge of various forms of construction contract (particularly the NEC suite of contracts), becoming a contract subject matter expert.
• Grow in understanding of how to commercially manage construction contracts to ensure that they are delivered in accordance with the contracted terms and conditions and that all issues are mitigated and managed to protect UU commercial interests.
• Supporting the negotiation and resolution of contract claims/disputes and supporting senior managers in the resolution of any escalated issues.
• Supporting the management of pre or post-contract commercial processes and procedures to deliver key commercial requirements on projects. These will include Procurement, Tendering, Contract Formulation, Early Warning and Change Management; Cost Forecasting; Payments; Cost Auditing and agreement of Final Accounts.
• Supporting the production and maintenance of quality commercial / contractual data, providing the commercial function in IAP and concept phases
• Working collaboratively across the commercial directorate and providing commercial expertise and guidance, learning how to communicate and influence contractors, suppliers as well as a wider variety of teams across the company internally.
• Attend progress meetings and site visits providing commercial support to the project team.

What do I need to be successful?

Candidate requires a minimum 2:1 accredited Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying or Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.

You’ll need to have:

• Knowledge and some experience in the use of a broad range of standard forms of construction contract (preferably including NEC suite of contracts)
• Knowledge of key quantity surveying processes, tools and methodologies used across the whole project life-cycle.
• Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work as part of a team and ability to manage time and workload to get things done.
• Be able to be comfortable working flexibly across a range of tasks and activities to deadlines as well as being able to prioritise your time.
• Have excellent computer skills particularly in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel.
• Eventually possess a Full UK Driving Licence, however we will contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons to help get you on the road.

Additional Information

Our recruitment process requires you to complete:

• A numerical and verbal reasoning test
• A one-way video interview
• An assessment centre, which will take place between 27th November - 6th December 2024.