Graduate - Environment

As a graduate solicitor trainee on our legal programme you'll work under supervision of qualified legal experts across various disciplines. You'll take on real responsibility from day one, providing legal advice on matters critical to National Highways' operations, which could include

• Civil litigation, health and safety law, and coronial law
• Regulatory and commercial issues, including drafting and negotiating contracts
• Procurement, planning matters, and highways applications
• Employment law, property law, judicial reviews, and managing legal challenges
• Managing reputational risk and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidelines
You'll play a key role in National Highways' legal affairs, responding to queries, providing clear, concise advice to client teams, and managing a variety of cases under supervision. You'll promote high standards of legal practice and compliance whilst advising a broad range of stakeholders. As part of your programme, you'll also study towards a Level 7 solicitor apprenticeship. Please note, in order to qualify as a solicitor you must be eligible to undertake the Solicitors Qualifying Exam 1 & 2 as part of your learning programme. What we are looking for What you'll be doing Throughout the programme, you'll work on exciting, impactful projects that enhance local communities and the environment. Guided by our experienced team, you'll be involved in a variety of tasks that will build on your environmental expertise, including:
• Providing technical advice to our major schemes and operations teams
• Contributing to the development of our environmental policy
• Reviewing proposals for environmental improvements
• Conducting environmental research and development projects
• Engaging with stakeholders, including environmental bodies and supply chain partners
  
  If you have the passion and dedication to succeed, you'll be a great match for our programme. To be successful, you'll have:
• An enthusiastic, collaborative approach to working with others
• The ability to communicate in different formats with a variety of stakeholders
• Excellent co-ordination skills
• The ability to plan and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines
• A focus on quality and integrity in everything you do, You must also meet these essential qualification requirements by the programme start date:
• An undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) in environmental assessment, environmental design, or related subjects aligned with our key areas of work, such as cultural heritage, ecology, noise, air quality, water or carbon management, landscape, or planning
Assessment centres will take place in January and February. To be eligible for a place on the programme, you must be available to attend the 4-day induction, 8th -11th September All offers for our graduate programmes are subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including Right to Work, reference, and DBS criminal record checks. Due to the salary level of this role, we cannot offer sponsorship for the position for individuals that don't have the Right to Work in the UK. Successful candidates will require Right to Work for the duration of the programme.Accepted degree subjects
• environmental science and ecology
  
  At National Highways, we believe in building a connected country. We're passionate about creating an inclusive, collaborative culture where all our people feel empowered, valued and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this.
If you share our values of safety, passion, teamwork, ownership, and integrity, you'll thrive as part of our team.

You'll also have the chance to apply your skills across a wide range of environmental disciplines, such as:
• Environmental assessment and design
• Cultural heritage/archaeology
• Ecology
• Noise and air quality management
• Water and carbon management
• Landscape and planning
• Beyond the programme, you'll have opportunities to continue your career journey with us and play a vital role in caring for the environments and communities surrounding our strategic road network for years to come.
What You'll Get in Return With our support, you'll enjoy the chance to own your development to get the best out of your time on the programme. So, if you're looking to grow your career in a large, evolving organisation and ready to invest in your development, all our graduate programmes offer:
• A mix of workshops, on-job-training and 'hands on' experience
• A dedicated line manager and mentoring from experienced colleagues to provide encouragement, direction and career planning support
• Flexible working arrangements
• Peer networking and support through our Early Talent community
• A permanent contract from day one
As well as a competitive salary and plenty of career development support, you'll also enjoy a fantastic employee benefits package which includes a generous pension scheme, life assurance, annual leave starting at 26 days (rising to 31 days with service) and retailers discounts and cashback.