Programme Graduate

Programme Graduate - Chemical Engineering

Location: West Yorkshire with requirement for flexible travel across Yorkshire & Humber. 

Work type:  37 hours per week between a working window of 8:00am-6:00pm Monday – Friday 

Why Yorkshire Water? 

Yorkshire Water delivers essential water and wastewater services to over 5.4 million people. But we're more than taps and toilets—we protect the environment, support communities, and help shape Yorkshire's future. 

From tackling climate change to planning for droughts and floods, we're solving some of the biggest challenges facing our region and we need talented graduates to help us do it. 

Your Graduate Programme 

Our two-year programme offers you five placements across your allocated business area, complemented by a choice of placements to suit your personal development needs in core functions such as Finance, Health & Safety, People, and Procurement, enabling you to have a balanced understanding of the business.

You'll gain hands-on experience, technical and leadership training, and support from mentors, managers, graduate alumni, and our Early in Careers team to support you from the day you make the decision to join us. 

By the end of the scheme, you'll be ready to step into a permanent role and make a lasting impact. 

Your Team 

Our Engineering team drives innovation and nature-based solutions across a range of disciplines—including Process, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, ICA, and Automation—to help deliver our long-term vision. 

At the heart of asset management, we support every stage of the lifecycle, from concept to decommissioning, creating infrastructure built to last over 100 years. No two days are the same. 

We ensure all work is safe, compliant, and serviceable—protecting the environment and delivering excellent customer service. By collaborating with suppliers, we deliver smart, effective solutions to complex challenges. 

Where you'll fit in: 

As a Graduate Chemical Engineer, you will: 

• Investigate and understand the root cause of a business risk 
• Identify and promote opportunities for targeted capital investment 
• Identify safety / environmental hazards and support the engineering design processes to design and develop solutions that keep customers & colleagues safe and protect the environment 
• Participate in detailed technical studies to create a better understanding of operational assets so that we can continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our asset management practices 
• Identify and implement asset improvements that enhance asset security, resilience, performance and reduce operating costs 
• Validate that assets are constructed to accepted designs and standards 
• Assist in the inspection, testing and improvement of mechanical assets 
• Understand and develop industry 4.0 focussed methods of maintaining assets 

What you need to be successful 

• Minimum 2:1 Bachelors degree in a Chemical Engineering discipline 
• Enthusiasm and a drive to succeed 
• Clean UK Driving Licence and access to your own vehicle 

Salary & Benefits 

• Starting salary: £32,000 per annum, rising to £37,000 by end of year 2 
• Extras: £2,000 signing bonus, annual bonus, 25 days holiday + bank holidays + wellness day 
• Company Car/Cash Allowance Benefit
• Pension: Up to 12% company contribution 
• Life assurance: 4x pensionable salary 
• Permanant substantive role offer upon completion of programme subject to performance 
• Flexible Benefits Package 
• Includes health cash plan, critical illness and dental insurance, life assurance flex (with partner cover), retail discounts, online GP access, cycle-to-work scheme, gym membership savings, and more.  

Key Dates 

• Assessment centres:17th November - 5th December 2025
• Closing date:  9th November 2025
• Start date: 21st September 2026

We're proud to serve Yorkshire and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects our communities. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. 

Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment checks, including a Basic Disclosure via a third-party provider. Some roles may also require Counter Terrorist or Security Check clearance. 

Kelda Group reserve the right to close applications early, so we recommend applying as soon as possible. 

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