2027 UK Degree Apprenticeship Programme: Environmental Practitioner

Before making an application, please browse all apprenticeship opportunities available as we will only accept one application per candidate.  Once you have made an application you will not be able to make changes to your selection or make a new application.  The exception is if we open new vacancies in Spring 2027.  

These opportunities are for those who have A-levels or equivalent and looking to undertake a degree apprenticeship (level 6).  We will close for applications on 15th January 2027.

Application process

• Application form
• Online strengths-based assessment

CVs and cover letters are not required as part of the application process. Candidates will be assessed through a single-stage strengths-based interview.

Eligibility

If you are successful and are offered an apprenticeship with us, you will enrol onto the Environmental Practitioner BSc at UWE Bristol.

Their eligible are as follows:

• Tariff points: 112
• GCSE: GCSE: Grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent (we accept Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths).
• A-level subjects: Points from A-level General Studies and AS-level subjects (not taken onto full A-level) can be included towards overall tariff. You must have a minimum of two A-levels. No specific subjects required.

More details here - Environmental Practitioner - BSc(Hons) Environment and Sustainability - UWE Bristol: Courses

Are you ready to start your career journey with purpose, passion, and possibility? Our apprenticeships offer more than just a job - they’re an opportunity to shape your future.

As a paid degree apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience working on real projects while studying towards your degree. You’ll develop your technical and professional skills alongside experienced engineers, applying what you learn through your studies directly in the workplace.

Shape a more sustainable future

Imagine starting your career by helping to tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our communities today.

As an Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprentice, you’ll combine university study with meaningful, hands-on experience, contributing to projects that help protect our environment, strengthen communities and create more sustainable places for the future.

You’ll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team where your ideas and perspectives are valued. You’ll learn from experienced environmental professionals, collaborate with specialists across different disciplines and have the opportunity to discover the areas of environmental practice that inspire you most.

Most importantly, we don’t expect you to know everything from day one. This is an apprenticeship designed to help you learn, grow and build your confidence as you develop your career.

The team: Water and Environment

With more than 100 years of experience in the water sector, our Water and Environment specialists work with clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, from early planning and design through to permitting, operation and management.

We bring together technical expertise, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to achieving positive environmental, social and economic outcomes. Our teams assess and manage environmental risks while identifying opportunities to improve the world around us, creating solutions that deliver lasting value for clients, communities and the environment.

We’re also helping to set new standards through systems thinking, connecting infrastructure with nature-based solutions and looking beyond individual projects to maximise their wider social, environmental and economic benefits.

Your apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to earn while you learn, combining a paid role with structured academic study towards a nationally recognised qualification.

As an Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprentice, you’ll put your academic learning into practice on real projects while developing the technical, professional and interpersonal skills that will help you build a rewarding career.

You’ll have people around you to support your development. This includes your line manager, a professional mentor, other apprentices and early career professionals, as well as your university tutors. Regular reviews between you, your university and Mott MacDonald will help you reflect on your achievements, celebrate your progress and identify the next steps in your development.

What you’ll be doing

From the beginning, you’ll have opportunities to contribute to real environmental projects while learning from experienced colleagues.

Depending on the projects you’re involved in, your experience could include:

• Supporting the development of sustainability strategies, Environmental Management Plans, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Sustainability Appraisals.
• Helping with EIA screening and scoping and contributing to environmental assessments and reports.
• Collecting, managing, reviewing and analysing environmental data to help teams make informed and responsible decisions.
• Supporting environmental surveys, site visits and assessments, which could include areas such as ecology, air quality and noise.
• Helping prepare environmental drawings and plans and developing your skills using digital tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Undertaking research and literature reviews and exploring relevant environmental policy and legislation.
• Working with multidisciplinary teams to understand potential environmental impacts and develop practical mitigation measures.
• Contributing to technical notes, reports and other project documentation.
• Supporting environmental modelling and quantitative analysis as your skills develop.
• Engaging with clients, stakeholders and colleagues from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
• Supporting project, programme and bid management activities and building your understanding of how projects are delivered in a commercial environment.
• Exploring innovative approaches and solutions that can deliver better outcomes for people and the environment.

Your safety and wellbeing are important to us. Where you support surveys and site-based activities, you’ll learn how to plan and undertake work safely, including preparing appropriate health and safety documentation and working alongside experienced colleagues.

Some travel during the working day may occasionally be required, alongside any travel associated with your apprenticeship studies.

Discover where your interests can take you

One of the exciting things about environmental practice is its breadth.

During your apprenticeship, you could gain exposure to areas including:

• Air quality
• Archaeology and heritage
• Carbon
• Climate resilience
• Contaminated land
• Ecology
• Landscape and visual impact
• Noise and vibration
• Water
• Waste and resource management

You could also contribute to projects across sectors including water, flood management, roads, rail and defence, working with public and private sector clients.

This variety will give you the opportunity to build a broad understanding of environmental practice before developing your own areas of interest. As your experience and confidence grow, you’ll be encouraged to take greater ownership, explore what motivates you and shape the direction of your career.

Candidate Specification

As well as the eligibility criteria detailed, above, we are looking for future apprentices with the following strengths: 

• Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently.
• Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues.
• Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity.
• Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving.

UK Immigration

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

About your development 

An apprenticeship should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our apprenticeship roles we aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge you need to progress your career.  From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training needs.  You will join our three-year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, which is designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long-lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald. 

Our social side 

 
Being part of Mott MacDonald means more than just work; there’s a huge range of fun and exciting things that you can get involved in.  

From the moment you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your social and professional network, whether it’s meeting other apprentices, graduates or joining forces with other members of staff from around the company at our annual sports day. Each of our offices have a sports and social committee which will give you the chance to be part of a variety of sports, social and charity events. We’re committed to promoting a strong culture of social responsibility and encourage our staff to play active roles in the local community. 

It's worth noting that sports and social committees tend to vary from office to office, so as well as getting involved in what’s already on offer, don’t be afraid to suggest new events or initiatives that you think could be a great addition. It doesn’t stop there. From your first day, you’ll have access to Perks at Work, giving you discounts on cinema tickets, travel, utilities and much more, helping you make the most of our employee benefits.   

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• Biannual salary reviews: We believe hard work should be recognised and rewarded. To support your development and progression, you'll be eligible for salary reviews twice a year during your first three years with us, subject to successfully completing your probation period
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.