2026 Sustainability Graduate, Strategic Infrastructure

About Us
National Grid is at the heart of the UK energy network keeping people connected and society moving. We develop, own and maintain the physical infrastructure, such as pylons and cables needed to move the electricity generated from windfarms and power sources around the country. Every time a phone is plugged in, or a switch is turned on, we've played a part, connecting you to the electricity you need - and we're leading the transformation towards a greener future, dreaming bigger to bring a more affordable energy future to everyone.

But it's our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us greater. But it's no small feat and we need the best to join us in our mission. So, join us and power the future of energy.

About The Role
Strategic Infrastructure delivers major strategic UK electricity transmission projects, focused on connecting more clean, low-carbon power to England and Wales. Strategic Infrastructure is a part of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and is responsible for delivering 17 major new projects to connect more clean, low-carbon power to the transmission network in England and Wales. These projects play a vital part in achieving the UK Government's ambition of connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030. They will be delivered under the regulator's Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework. As well as these 17 projects, Strategic Infrastructure will also focus on the early-stage development of other strategic infrastructure that Ofgem has requested.

As a Sustainability Graduate, you'll play a key role in helping the business understand and deliver on its sustainability commitments. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of emissions hotspots and contribute to shaping our pathway to decarbonisation in a way that is fair and equitable for employees, customers, and communities.

In This Role, You Will

• Support the business in understanding and delivering existing sustainability commitments
• Gain insight into key emissions hotspots and their contribution to our climate footprint
• Contribute to a fair and equitable decarbonisation strategy
• Work across the business to enhance our biodiversity net gain strategy
• Drive improvements in data and methodologies for calculating environmental impact
• Advise on reducing the environmental impact of the built environment
• Stay up to date with industry and sector initiatives through regular CPD
• Demonstrate excellent project management skills, including planning your own workload and managing competing deadlines

Our Graduate Programme

As you'll be joining our 18-month graduate programme, you'll have a tailored development pathway to support you as you develop a wide range of leadership, business, and technical skills. You'll attend in-person and virtual development sessions throughout your programme to equip you with the essential skills required, as you begin your career at National Grid. We're committed to the personal development of our colleagues so as well as the support from your line manager as you navigate your new role, you'll also have access to 121 coaching and a mentor, from a previous cohort to help you transition from campus to corporate life.

All graduates complete the core development programme to develop key skills such as how to make an impact, giving feedback and presentation skills. Aligned to this role is our Engineering pathway and as part of this you'll develop further key technical skills aligned to your role as well as important learning modules such as working safely. If relevant to your career aspirations, you will be able to access Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) membership and seek support from a National Grid IET mentor to help you secure your chartership.

We believe in the importance of getting as much on-the-job experience as possible and to do this, you will complete three 6-month placements, across the UK, designed to deepen your understanding of your speciality but to also broaden your knowledge of our business. At the end of your 18-month programme you'll return to your initial placement area to kickstart your superpowered career.

What you'll need to apply

You'll need to achieve, or be working towards, a minimum 2:2 in an Environmental Science, Geography, Sustainability, Building Services, Engineering, or another relevant/related degree. It doesn't matter when you graduated or if you are currently working towards your qualification. We just need you to be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

Due to the amount of travel to our site locations, you'll need to currently have a full valid UK driving license or have completed your theory test (and have a practical test booked) at the time of your assessment centre (if your application is progressed) will allow you to drive in the UK. You'll need adaptability to travel occasionally within role and throughout your graduate development programme rotations

Location

This role is based in central Birmingham. We offer adaptable hybrid working, where possible.

What You'll Get in Return

We are proud to offer a graduate starting salary of £36,640.

Benefits
Not only will you receive a tailored development programme to progress a superpowered career at National Grid, we also offer some great rewards and benefits too:

• £2,000 bonus, once joined and started on programme
• 26 days holiday
• £2,400 payment on successful completion of the programme
• Up to £200 per month accommodation allowance as you move around the business, and additional annual leave for when you move between placements plus assistance with moving personal belongings
• Other benefits include pension and share-option schemes, Adaptable Benefits, close mentorship and regular feedback & volunteering opportunities.

More Information

You can only apply for one graduate opportunity during this recruitment cycle. We kindly ask that you review all our graduate opportunities and apply for the one that aligns closest with your aspirations and interests.

We recruit on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close our vacancies once we have enough applications/based on volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process.

Assessment centres will be held between November - April 2026.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, successful applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

At National Grid, it's our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us greater, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer adaptable and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed.

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the unique differences people bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer adaptable and tailored support, at home and in the office.

Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation that comes with having diverse teams and business need.

We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and provide a working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.