Costain is taking on 50 apprentices in 2026, doubling last year’s intake, as the infrastructure group expands recruitment across its road, rail, energy and water portfolios.
The hiring spans all of Costain’s infrastructure sectors – including integrated transport, defence and nuclear energy – and covers disciplines such as civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, finance and project management.
Apprenticeships range from 12 to 60 months depending on level of study, with degree-level routes available alongside the company’s existing graduate and internship schemes.
Catherine Duffy, chief people and sustainability officer at Costain, said: “I’m extremely proud to be welcoming a record number of apprentices into Costain. The industry requires more skilled workers than ever to deliver critical infrastructure for a more prosperous, resilient and decarbonised UK, which makes it a hugely exciting time to enter the sector.
“Our apprentice programme underscores our commitment to offering vocational routes into employment. It is designed to help apprentices earn while they learn and gain qualifications with real-world experience to help them build a meaningful, long-term career.”
Apprentices will work across some of Costain’s major live contracts, including the London tunnels section of HS2 – delivered through the Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture – as well as AMP8 water frameworks with Southern Water and United Utilities, and utilities infrastructure upgrades at Sellafield.
Ella Williams, apprentice project controls engineer and a member of Costain’s Graduates and Apprentices (GRaAPS) network, said: “It’s hugely exciting to be part of a growing group of like-minded, ambitious early careers professionals. Throughout my apprenticeship at Costain I have been fortunate enough to work on complex infrastructure projects which have given opportunities to learn, develop and apply myself in a collaborative, stimulating environment.”
At Sellafield’s west Cumbria site, apprentices will take up roles in engineering, project controls and health and safety, supporting Costain’s work under the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), a minimum nine-year contract worth up to £1bn. The company said the recruitment was informed by analysis of regional skills gaps and takes its apprentice numbers on the IDP contract beyond a 10% workforce commitment.
Claire Gallery-Strong, project director at Costain, said: “Together with Sellafield and our IDP partners, we’re committed to offering high-skilled learning and development opportunities for young people in Cumbria and the wider region, supporting a more prosperous, thriving local community and growing the pool of home-grown talent. We’re welcoming a fantastic group who will be delivering against the identified skills gaps and be provided with a range of experiences and guidance from senior colleagues to set them up for success.”
Darcy Williamson, safety, health and environment apprentice at Costain, who has recently joined the IDP programme, said: “Joining Costain as an apprentice has already been a hugely positive experience. I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome and as I build my career in SHE, I’m excited to learn from my team, develop my skillset and make the most of the opportunities across Costain and IDP.”
Image credit: Costain
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