Industrial Placement Student - Sustainability

We're looking for a Sustainability Student to join our Construction team based in Coventry for an Industrial Placement.

Within this role you can enjoy 26 days annual leave, 24/7 Wellbeing Support Programme, and even more https://jobs.kier.co.uk/benefits/

We are a leading UK national contractor delivering projects of all sizes and complexities in the public and private sectors, including education, healthcare, defence and justice and borders. We design and deliver buildings that are key to the UK's infrastructure – from hospitals and treatment centres, to schools, leisure centres and prisons.

Construction comprises our Regional Building, Strategic Projects, Kier Places and International businesses and we operate across all regions– London & Southern, Western & Wales, Eastern & Midlands and North & Scotland. https://www.kier.co.uk/who-we-are/our-business-divisions/

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a leading construction and infrastructure services company on our placement programme. These programmes have been designed to provide you with the experiences and tools needed for progression within your chosen career.

Location: Coventry – With flexibility to travel/relocate across the region 

Starting Salary: £26,208 per annum

Pathway: 12 Months – 40hrs per week, with the potential to lead onto a Graduate position

Starting date: September 2026

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.

What you will be responsible for?

As a Sustainability Industrial Placement, you'll be working within the Construction team on our University of Warwick STEM contract. You'll be exposed to a variety of activities related to environmental management on a construction project. Environmental topics likely to be covered during the placement are ecology, monitoring & data, audits & compliance, innovation & carbon, water & waste management, and sustainable design.

 What will your day-to-day duties include?

• Assisting in the planning, execution, and management of projects relevant to your field of study.
• Supporting the project environment team, and wider business environmental function.
• Collaborating with team members and stakeholders to support project objectives.
• Conducting research and analysis to inform project decisions and strategies.
• Preparing reports, presentations, and documentation related to project activities.
• Participating in team meetings and contribute to problem-solving and decision-making processes.
• Gaining exposure to various aspects of the project, including design, project management, and client relations.
• Supporting the implementation of new processes, technologies, or strategies on the project.
• Engaging in continuous learning and development opportunities provided by the company.

How does an Industrial Placement work?

Kier is committed to encouraging talent and providing opportunities for growth and development.

When you join, you will be enrolled onto our industrial placement scheme. The programme will take 12-months to complete and has been designed to immerse yourself in the world of construction, you'll get to see your learnings in real world situations and gain practical experiences to support the rest of your degree.

What are the benefits for you?

• Practical experience: gain valuable hands-on experience in your field.
• Skill improvement: develop technical and professional skills.
• Networking: build professional relationships and expand your network.
• Career insight: gain insights into your chosen industry and potential career paths.

What are we looking for?

We're on the lookout for students undertaking a degree in Environmental or Sustainability focus or a related field, who have the option or requirement to complete a placement year from 2026 - 2027. After your placement, you'll be returning to university with a graduation year of 2028.

The role of a Sustainability Industrial Placement is great for you if: 

• Strong interest in environmental management, developing sustainability strategies and reducing carbon footprint.
• Desire to learn and continuously develop, with an ability to challenge established processes and policies, identifying more effective solutions.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Data/statistical analysis, reporting, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Rewards and benefits

We are proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a variety of flexible benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a high priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives, and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here. 

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations we reserve the right to close adverts early.

Recruitment timeline

Sept - October 2025: Initial applications

November 2025: Application reviews

January 2026 onwards: Interviews