CAREERS AT RLB

EARLY CAREERS

CAREERS AT RLB

BUILD YOUR CAREER AT RLB

RLB Future Professionals are chosen for their potential, ambition, energy and interest in exploring the built environment.

If you are looking to start your career in the built environment with an independent, inclusive, employee-owned business with a ‘people-first’ mindset, we want to hear from you.

Explore our Future Professionals pathways to discover the best route for you.

Which of our routes could be right for you?

  • Graduate to professional in real time

    Our two-year graduate rotational programme provides a dedicated and focused route to professional status. You will gain exposure to high profile projects, supported by unrivalled learning and development.

    There is no better way to learn than being immersed in teams working on leading, landmark projects around the world, sharing ideas and expertise, building relationships and collaborating.

    Our first-class professional programmes include the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and the Professional Review Programme (PRP). Both are RICS and CIOB accredited and are completed over a two to three-year period. We also support other routes to chartership including Association for Project Management (APM) and other specialist professional qualifications.

    And you’ll be doing all this with an award-winning, Investors in People Gold accredited employer. We’re also members of ENEI, bringing to life their ethos of equality and inclusion in the workplace, a RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark signatory and a Disability Confident Level 1 Employer.

    Apply here.

  • How does the programme work?

    We recruit exceptional graduates onto our two-year rotational development programme consisting of four six-month placements.

    You will be supported by a network of managers, mentors and colleagues throughout the programme and assisted financially all the way to attaining chartership. You will also be joining the reverse-mentoring programme, where graduates are matched with one of our Partners to provide insights and perspective from a graduate point of view.

    When you qualify, you’ll get support in mapping out your Personal Career Development Plan and can take advantage of learning and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) designed to equip you with the skills and experience you need to build a fulfilling career.

  • Who can apply?

    If you’re a UK-based undergraduate or postgraduate in any discipline looking to pursue a career in the built environment, please apply.

    How to apply

    Please submit your application form below outlining your preferred location and service area. Once we’ve received your application, we will be in touch by e-mail to let you know if you have been shortlisted. If successful, you will be invited to an assessment day.

    Applications open in September.

    Apply here.

    Have a look at our Future Professionals brochure.

  • Opt in to an exceptional year out

    Make the most of your year out by working with and learning from RLB teams in a variety of sectors, gaining invaluable, career-building experience.

    You will be working on fast-track projects for a variety of dynamic clients, working in cost management, project management, building surveying and health & safety, advisory services and specialist disciplines.

    You will gain experience in a range of sectors including commercial, residential, retail, healthcare and education.

    Many of our placement students continue their Future Professional career with us after their graduation.

    Applications open in September.

    Apply here.

    Have a look at our Future Professionals brochure.

  • Earn while you learn

    Earn while you learn, have your degree funded and benefit from career-building, real world experience when you embark on an Apprenticeship with RLB.

    RLB’s apprenticeships are an exceptional opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a work environment whilst working towards academic and professional qualifications and being paid a salary.

    Structured training and support are enhanced through working on exciting, live projects with opportunities for travel. As well as Apprenticeship opportunities in building surveying, project management, cost management and quantity surveying, we also offer Level 3 apprenticeships in areas such as I.T. and business administration.

    All our live vacancies are published on the National Apprenticeship Service Website.

    Have a look at our Future Professionals brochure.

  • Building a bigger future starts here

    Internships

    During your internship, you will gain a structured insight into our business and the built environment that will inform your future career plans.

    We offer internships across our services and locations for a period of four to eight weeks. During your internship, you will have the opportunity to contribute to exciting projects, attend internal and external meetings and participate in site visits.

    Our internships are open to anyone interested in finding out more about RLB and the built environment. We invite applications from anyone:

    • aged 18 and over who have completed their A levels (or equivalent);
    • studying at/or recently graduated from university at undergraduate or postgraduate level; or
    • career changers or career returners, including maternity / paternity returners or ex-armed forces.

    Applications will open on our careers page from January to April each year. In your application, you should outline you preferred discipline(s), location and duration.

    Apply here.

    Have a look at our Future Professionals brochure.

  • Work Experience

    We offer one-to-two-week work experience opportunities across our disciplines and locations.

    During your work experience, you will shadow RLB employees with their day-to-day work including attending internal and external meetings on a range of projects. You will gain insight into the built environment and what it is like to work at RLB.

    Work experience is open to students aged 18 and over including career changers.

    Apply here.

    Have a look at our Future Professionals brochure.

    If we don’t have the right job at this point in time, please take a look here.

  • I enjoy working on a large range of projects and gaining invaluable experience as well as enjoy the social aspect that is encouraged regularly at RLB. The company provide training to me on a regular basis and within the M&E team there are training weeks once a year for the apprentices which provide useful knowledge that is vital for my day to day work.

    Being an Everton football fan, the most interesting project I have had involvement in is the new Everton FC – The Peoples Project. The size, complexity and the fact it is a once in a lifetime experience project to work on makes the project that ever more interesting.

    Taylor Woods - Assistant M&E Cost Manager, Manchester
  • I have a good work and study balance and am supported by both my Line Manager and the university. My colleagues are supportive and are providing me with the right skills and training for my development as an Apprentice. Learning on the job has been fantastic, as this means I can apply what I have learnt at university, to real-life situations. RLB truly does have an excellent working environment, and the people really do care about your career development.

    From my very first day, I was made part of a team working on Consort Place in Canary Wharf London which is a multi-million-pound diverse development. I saw first-hand how RLB operate, and this has given me exposure to many aspects within the industry.

    Emily Walker - Assistant Project Manager (Apprentice), London
  • During my time as a project management Graduate at RLB, I have worked on several interesting projects in the West and Wales region including supporting a senior project manager on Bristol’s tallest Building. During the project, I was given responsibility to manage a number of key project management processes which excelled my own personal and professional development. Your efforts and growth are recognised at RLB, and I was subsequently given more responsibility on my next project which sees me project managing the day to day on a £20 million healthcare project. Alongside working on these projects I am currently near completing the CIOB Professional Development Programme and the support and guidance from my team has been valuable.

    Levi Jones - Assistant Project Manager, Bristol
  • Starting my apprenticeship straight after sixth form, I was a novice to the industry. The relationships I have built in my team and with fellow RLB colleagues has provided me with real life work experience as well as support towards my degree. Everyone is always willing to answer any of my queries and always offer a helping hand when approaching university assignments.
    One of the most interesting projects I am working on is Coventry Very Light Rail. As this is a first of a kind rail infrastructure project, it’s challenging but extremely rewarding.

    Isabelle Bowen – Assistant Cost Manager (Apprentice), Birmingham
  • Moving to RLB was the best decision of my career. I love everything about the company. The office environment is welcoming and inclusive for all, and the team are like one big family. It never seems like we are separate disciplines, as everyone is working together and approachable, from top to bottom.
    I have had a vast amount of project experience in various sectors, although my favourite project has been Alberton House which is an 18-storey commercial building, with a rooftop spa and leisure facility. It is being constructed to net zero carbon and it has been invaluable to gain experience in sustainable construction as we look towards the future.

    Andy Ridgway – Assistant Cost Manager (Graduate), Liverpool
  • I have learnt a lot and gained a lot of valuable experience. I enjoyed the way everyone made me feel welcome and made me part of the team, especially by making me feel comfortable to ask questions, without making me feel like I was asking daft things. I also appreciated being kept in the loop for projects and given many opportunities to go on site visits which was the most effective way of helping me learn.
    The most interesting project I have shadowed was a new modular building for a University client due to it being very similar to what I would need to focus on at university. It exposed me to the challenges when trying to design a sustainable building, utilising solar gains, natural lighting, and natural ventilation, which allowed me to learn a lot of vital information and potential solutions.

    Katy Smith – Assistant M&E Consultant (Placement), Yorkshire
  • After completing a master’s in building surveying, I joined the RLB Graduate Programme as a Building Surveyor and was instantly welcomed into the team. Since I joined, no two days have been the same. I often find myself working on multiple projects which has truly given me a wide range of experience to put towards my APC of which there is ample support available from senior members of the team.
    One of the best projects I have been involved with was a ‘building in use’ study of several schools in Hampshire where we worked alongside both Architects and the DofE to produce an in-depth study of how the buildings have changed over time and how the construction has lasted.

    James Durham - Graduate Building Surveyor, Birmingham
  • I have enjoyed many things at RLB but the one that stands out to me is the mentoring programme. I have found it useful as it is great to gain exposure to new ideas and different ways of thinking. For example, we often discuss challenges within our jobs and ask the other for advice and it is great to hear other views from people with different backgrounds. The mentor programme has also allowed me to develop many skills which help me progress my career, such as communication, goal setting and networking within the business.
    The most interesting project I have worked on was an office building in Edinburgh which achieved a SKA Gold Rating and 50% reduction in embodied carbon. This was an exciting project to work on as there was such a strong focus on sustainability and the environment which I am passionate about.

    Verity Topham - Assistant Sustainability Consultant, Birmingham
  • Working at RLB has been a fantastic journey. Being exposed to working in a professional environment, while working through my studies has really elevated my confidence around people and developed my skills. One of the best things is RLB makes studying easier with all the support and learning materials.

    Dyari Mahmoud – Learning & Development Apprentice, Birmingham