Energy and Utilities
Energy and Utilities
About
The energy & utilities sector has a wide range of opportunities available to students and graduates, whether in large international companies or small organisations developing specialist technology.
In these pages, you can find information and advice on careers in:
- Renewable energy - wind, marine, wave & hydroelectric power, solar, and bioenergy
- Nuclear
- Oil and gas
- Utilities - power generators, distributors and suppliers and water companies
You may also be interested in our Environment pages, which includes advice on careers in environmental management and consultancy, conservation, sustainability and waste management/recycling.
Careers advice
The energy industry has historically been dominated by the use of fossil fuels. The impact of climate change has, however, accelerated the need to develop alternative clean, sustainable sources of energy, such as renewables, nuclear and hydrogen and find ways to capture and store carbon.
While oil and gas still account for a high percentage of today’s energy, it’s predicted that these will be replaced by renewables, biomass and waste as heat sources and to power transport and industry. (Source: PwC report: Inventing tomorrow’s energy system)
According to the UK Government’s Energy White Paper: Powering our Net Zero Future, almost half a million people across the UK are employed in the low-carbon economy and its supply chains, including electric vehicle manufacturing, reconditioning, recycling and offshore wind. The global markets for low-carbon technologies, electric vehicles and clean energy are growing fast: zero emission vehicles alone are predicted to support 40,000 jobs by 2030.
Useful links: General
- Prospects: Energy and utilities
- Overview of the UK's energy and utilities sector
- Energy & Utilities Jobs - information on the range of industries in the sector, including gas, power, water and waste management
- Energy Careers – from the Energy Institute
Renewable energy
- Prospects: Renewable energy careers
- Renewable UK: Careers
- Biofuel.org.uk - information on the biofuel industry
Nuclear
- Prospects: Getting a graduate job in nuclear energy
- Science Career Pathways: Nuclear careers gives examples of the different roles within the industry
- Nuclear Graduates also gives insight into the industry
Oil and gas
- Prospects: Jobs in the oil and gas industry
- TARGETjobs: Energy (oil and gas) industry overview
- My Energy Future - includes information on careers in the oil and gas sector
Utilities
Industry news
Power-technology.com provides industry news on current and future projects in the power industry.
ReNews.biz has global news and articles on renewable energy, including wind, solar, wave and tidal. See also BBC: Renewable Energy in the UK.
Nuclear Engineering International has articles and a company A-Z of buyers and suppliers to the industry.
Utility Week gives you news and articles about the UK utilities industry.
ENDS Report has energy news and analysis.
Oil and Gas Journal provides news and industry updates.
Professional bodies
These represent people working in the sector, providing training and networking opportunities. They often provide careers support for students and graduates.
They also provide development for people already working in the sector. Follow them and sector skills bodies on LinkedIn or visit their websites for news, contacts, work experience and vacancies.
Find professional bodies outside the UK on GoinGlobal by selecting ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each of the individual country guides.
Professional societies/institutes
- Energy Institute
- The Nuclear Institute - includes link to their Young Generation Network
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
- Geological Society
- Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Research councils and research centres
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- British Geological Survey
- National Nuclear Laboratory
- Natural Environment Research Council
Sector skills councils/industry associations
- Cogent - sector skills council for a range of industries including nuclear
- NOF Energy - business development organisation for UK oil, gas, nuclear and offshore wind sectors
- Energy UK - trade association, includes information on the energy industry in the UK
- RenewableUK - trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries
- Renewable Energy Association
- Energi Coast - North East England's Offshore Wind Cluster, which includes list of partner organisations within the cluster
- Wind Europe (formerly European Wind Energy Association)
- Nuclear Industry Association
- World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) - includes a directory of members worldwide
- Oil and Gas UK
- UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) - includes information on the future of the industry
- FuelsEurope - represents refining industry in Europe and includes links to member companies and national associations
- Water UK - information on the UK water industry, including water and sewerage companies
Intergovernmental and not-for-profit organisations
- International Energy Agency
- World Nuclear Association - includes a member directory
- Forum for the Future - not-for-profit organisation which promotes sustainable development
Making contacts
Talking to people in the sector can give you an insight into roles and be useful for networking and speculative applications.
You could start with:
- Newcastle alumni on LinkedIn – find out what they did after graduation and contact them for advice
- Graduate Mentor and The 1 Hour Project - both platforms aim to match students with industry professionals who can provide invaluable insights. Sign up to be connected for a one hour meeting
Social media, particularly LinkedIn and Twitter, is useful for making contacts, finding employers and opportunities. Find out more about how to use social media for your career and subscribe to our Energy industry Twitter list.
Events
Recruitment fairs, open days, talks and events give insight and opportunities to make contacts. Regular events include Employer and sector insights and Recruitment events.
Related sectors
You may also be interested in Environment, Engineering or Civil Engineering, Geomatics and Construction.
Or see our other Explore Occupations pages for more options.
Roles & Skills
Many large companies offer graduate training schemes, particularly in the nuclear, oil and gas and utilities industries.
There are opportunities in both technical or commercial roles.
Technical roles
Examples of the type of technical roles found across most sectors of the energy industry include:
- Energy engineer
- Energy manager
- Geographical information systems (GIS) officer
- Hydrogeologist
- Land/Geomatics surveyor
You can find more examples of specialist technical roles below.
Commercial roles
Examples of commercial careers include:
- marketing and communications
- IT and data science/analysis
- finance and trading
- logistics and supply chain management
- human resources
- sales
- consultancy
You can also find opportunities in policy, law and regulation.
The following job profiles include descriptions of typical duties and entry requirements.
Roles (renewable energy)
Electrical engineer
Wind analyst
Hydrographic surveyor
Roles (nuclear)
Nuclear engineer
Roles (oil and gas)
Drilling engineer
Petroleum engineer
Mining engineer
Minerals surveyor
Mudlogger
Wellsite geologist
Geochemist
Geophysicist
Geoscientist
Engineering geologist
Exploration geologist
Commercial diver
- National Careers Service
- Careers in diving - information on different roles within diving from a training provider
Roles (utilities)
Power/utilities engineer
Electrical engineer
Control and instrumentation engineer
Geoscientist
Hydrologist
Water quality scientist
Skills employers look for
Employers in this sector are looking for skills including:
- an ability to project manage, prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and work with minimum supervision
- leadership and the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
- a logical and methodical approach to problem-solving
- an ability to research, analyse and communicate complex technical data to others
- flexibility and willingness to work outdoors, offshore, or overseas
Gaining Experience
Finding a job in the energy industry is competitive.
Relevant work experience is invaluable in developing expertise. It helps show motivation and commitment to this area of work. Below are some suggestions for finding relevant experience.
Internships and placements
Many large engineering companies, particularly in the power and oil and gas sectors, advertise summer or year-long placements early in the first semester.
These are usually aimed at students in and above their second year of study. Applications open early in the autumn and closing dates are usually between November and March.
Some examples of companies that offer placements and/or summer internships include:
- GE
- Centrica
- EDF Energy
- AECOM
- National Grid
- Northumbrian Water Group
- Amey
- Mott MacDonald
- UK Power Networks - offers 10-12 month engineering power placement
- Westinghouse Electric Company - provides services to the nuclear industry and offers internships for students
- The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - offers summer research experience and supervision for Masters projects
Work experience opportunities with smaller companies are not always advertised. You may need to contact the employer with a speculative approach.
You can also search for opportunities on these sites:
- MyCareer
- Internships, placements & shadowing - links to sources of vacancies
- Gradcracker
- Cogent - advertises placements and internships, including in nuclear and renewables
- IAESTE - work placements for engineering and science students (England is a non-member country, but it's still possible for students studying in non-member countries to apply)
- RISE Germany - summer internship program for undergraduate science or engineering students to undertake research in Germany.
- RISE Professional - summer research internships in Germany for Master’s and PhD students at companies and research institutions. Depending on the internship, recent graduates may also be eligible.
Professional bodies and research councils also advertise opportunities. See About for a list of organisations.
For more advice, read targetjobs' Engineering work experience: a beginner's guide.
Finding companies
Find companies that interest you and get in touch – with a named contact. Be specific about why you are writing to them and what you’re looking for.
Show your enthusiasm for the sector and highlight any relevant skills. Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply – follow up with a phone call or email to show that you’re keen.
- Find organisations on MyCareer - click ‘Search' then 'Organisations’ to find companies the Careers Service has worked with. Can filter by keyword, sector and region.
- Wikijob: Top 100 global energy firms
- CIWEM: Business partners - for areas of specialism in a particular country/area
- Environmental Expert - list of global environmental industry companies
- ENDS Directory - includes a list of renewable energy consultancies
- Energy Institute - lists of companies in a range of sectors including energy consultancy, petroleum, environment, electricity and renewables
- Energi Coast - North East England's Offshore Wind Cluster, includes list of related organisations under industry group and supply chain directory
- Renewable Energy Association - member directory
- North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) has members including chemical and biomass companies
- Power Technology: company A-Z - list of suppliers and contractors in the power industry
- The Geological Society - advice on finding work experience and placements
- National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN): Employer members
- The Nuclear Institute - list of companies which offer graduate opportunities
- Nuclear Engineering International includes a company A-Z of buyers and suppliers to the industry
- UK Groundwater Forum - list of companies which employ hydrogeologists in the UK
- The Construction Centre: Renewable Energy - includes links to companies
- Water UK - list of UK water and wastewater service suppliers
- The Geologists' Directory Online - search for companies
- FuelsEurope - members range from multi-national oil and gas companies to companies with alternative fuels interests
- Subsea UK - member directory and links to professional bodies/associations who work in the subsea industry, including marine renewables and oil and gas
- Rigzone - links to featured employers
Other ways to gain experience
All experience is valuable. If you can't find an internship or placement related to energy or utilities, why not try these alternatives:
- attend events and network to make contacts and connections. Newcastle University students can access free membership to the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), which includes access to sustainability events and networking opportunities
- the Sustainability Team at Newcastle often offer JobsOC internships to current students. They have also offered dissertation placements for students on the MSc Clean Technology course.
- join a related student society at Newcastle, such as Engineers without Borders
- think about voluntary work - see Volunteering for help with finding opportunities
- enter a related competition - prizes can often include internships.
- Sign up for a free online course to further your knowledge, develop new skills and demonstrate an interest in your field, for example, with FutureLearn, EdX or OpenLearn
You can also look at what to do if you can't find an internship over summer. These are specific to engineering, but offer useful advice for most degree disciplines.
Finding Jobs
Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and also research employers for speculative applications.
Roles within energy and utilities can be found across a broad range of sectors, including industry, local and national government, academia, NGOS and charity and voluntary organisations.
Several large employers offer structured graduate programmes, typically lasting 1 - 2 years. For example, EDF offer a renewables commercial graduate programme and one in nuclear science and engineering. PwC offer a graduate scheme in Sustainability and Climate Change Consulting.
Applications for graduate programmes generally open almost a year ahead, around August or September, with closing dates as early as October and November. You can also find graduate job opportunities all year round, which tend to be more immediate start positions.
For some roles, such as geochemist and hydrologist, a relevant postgraduate qualification may be preferred. See our Further Study for information on finding, choosing and funding further study.
Smaller companies often don’t advertise opportunities. It’s worth contacting them with a speculative approach - see the section Finding companies below to help you get started.
For sources of vacancies in universities and research institutions, see Research in Academia.
Professional bodies and research councils also advertise graduate positions. See About for a list of organisations.
Vacancy sites (general)
- MyCareer – search under 'energy, utilities and natural resources'
- Careers Service: Graduate Jobs and International Jobs - links to sources of graduate vacancies in the UK and overseas
- Gradcracker
- Energy & Utilities Jobs
- Energy Jobline - includes jobs in renewables and power and nuclear
- New Scientist Jobs: Earth, environment and energy jobs
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) - three-way partnerships involving a business, a graduate and an academic institution. Graduates work on research projects while gaining industrial experience with an employer. Projects are competitively paid, with funding for personal development (often including a higher degree qualification), and typically last 1-3 years. View current opportunities to check for any relevant vacancies
- Earthworks-jobs.com
- GIS Jobs JISCMail - job vacancies in GIS related fields
For additional sources of vacancies, particularly in environmental management and sustainability, see our Environment section.
Renewable energy
- Totaljobs: Renewable Energy jobs
- Renewable Energy Jobs
- Environment Job - includes vacancies relating to carbon management, climate policy and renewable energy
- EndsJobSearch - includes jobs in renewable and wind energy
- Greenjobs – includes jobs in renewable energy
- Scottish Renewables: Jobs in Renewables
Nuclear
- nucleargraduates - two-year graduate scheme with placements in more than 20 companies
- nuclearsectorjobs.co.uk
- NSAN: Nuclear jobs
- UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), based at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, offers opportunities for engineers and physicists and the UKAEA graduate scheme
- National Nuclear Laboratory - opportunities for graduates in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics and materials
Oil & Gas
Utilities
- Energy & Utilities Jobs
- British Hydrological Society - job vacancies and register of consultancy firms
- Ofwat (water services regulation authority) - includes vacancies
- Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) - careers section includes graduate development programme
- National Grid: Careers
- CIWEM: Jobs
- UK Power Networks - engineering, commercial and technology graduate programmes, based in London, the South East or East of England
Specialist recruitment agencies
- Allen-York - opportunities in environment, renewable energy, waste and recycling, and energy services
- Acre - environment and sustainability recruitment service
- Utility People
- NES Fircroft - includes vacancies in renewable energy, power, nuclear, water treatment and oil and gas
Finding companies
Find organisations that interest you and get in touch always with a named contact. Be specific about why you are writing to them and what you’re looking for.
Showing your enthusiasm for the sector and highlight any relevant skills. Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply – follow up with a phone call or email to show that you’re keen.
- Wikijob: Top 100 global energy firms
- CIWEM: Business partners - for areas of specialism in a particular country/area
- Environmental Expert - list of global environmental industry companies
- ENDS Directory - includes a list of renewable energy consultancies
- Energy Institute - lists of companies in a range of sectors including energy consultancy, petroleum, environment, electricity and renewables
- Energi Coast - North East England's Offshore Wind Cluster, includes list of related organisations under industry group and supply chain directory
- Renewable Energy Association - member directory
- North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) has members including chemical and biomass companies
- Power Technology: company A-Z - list of suppliers and contractors in the power industry
- National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN): Employer members
- The Nuclear Institute - list of companies which offer graduate opportunities
- Nuclear Engineering International includes a company A-Z of buyers and suppliers to the industry
- UK Groundwater Forum - list of companies which use hydrogeologists in the UK
- The Construction Centre: Renewable Energy - includes links to companies
- Water UK - list of UK water and wastewater service suppliers
- The Geologists' Directory Online - search for companies
- FuelsEurope - members range from multi-national oil and gas companies to companies with alternative fuels interests
- Subsea UK - member directory and links to professional bodies/associations who work in the subsea industry, including marine renewables and oil and gas
- Rigzone - links to featured employers