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The BRE graduate programme

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Elevate is our fast-track programme for graduates who want to become experts in the built environment space.
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Graduate Scheme Overview

If you want to become a subject specialist and join a world-leading organisation advancing safety and sustainability in the built environment, this is the graduate programme for you. You’ll get coaching and support to help you develop your skills and start your journey to becoming an expert in your field.

Programme structure

Your first placement within one of our teams will be your home role, where you’ll spend your first nine months. You will then have the option of completing two skills development placements of three months each, which will help you hone your expertise in pre-identified areas. Finally, you’ll have another nine months back in your home role, working on an exciting project and presentation to showcase your work.

Benefits of the BRE graduate programme

  • Become a subject matter specialist within the role.

  • Receive coaching from an experienced BRE Colleague

  • Receive mentoring from a business leader

  • Join group coaching sessions

  • Attend development workshops with excellent facilitators

  • Deliver a project and pitch to senior leaders and member of the executive team.

 

Hear from our 2020 graduates

 

Ewan Clegg

I joined the BRE graduate scheme having completed a masters in Sustainable Urbanism as I felt my background and interest in sustainable built environments was very well aligned with BRE’s area of expertise. The scheme is a great transition into the workplace, providing opportunities to learn and develop both in your specific areas of interest as well as in terms of broader workplace skills. Through the placement rotations, mentor scheme and contact with senior colleagues, it also provides a strong network of contacts throughout the business.

My first placement has been in the Housing and Health team. This has involved working on a number of client projects, providing local authorities with insights including the condition and energy efficiency of their housing stock and the health implications of this. It is particularly rewarding to receive positive feedback from local authorities describing how they plan to use this insight to improve the local housing stock. I have also been involved in internal development, including work on the team’s HSCD tool, which will help provide a better experience to clients in the future.

Despite not yet working on site due the COVID-19 situation, there have also been plenty of opportunities to interact with fellow graduates and colleagues both through work projects and social events, and to complete online training and development modules. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the graduate scheme so far and have been made to feel very welcome at BRE!

 

Ellie Turner

The graduate scheme at BRE seemed a great opportunity to work on practical solutions for creating a sustainable built environment and in my first six months I have been able to do just that. Whilst on placement in the Strategic Advisory team I have contributed to projects on a variety of topics such as circular economy, biophilic design, CaliBRE and LCA (life-cycle assessment). One highlight of the graduate scheme so far has been the ability to collaborate with people across the organisation and explore different areas of the business.

Starting a new job remotely has certainly been an interesting experience however weekly catch ups with team members and the other graduates has certainly helped to create a sociable office feel at home. The support received from mentors, managers and everyone else has been valuable in creating a good (virtual) work environment.

 

Cameron Franssen

I chose the BRE graduate scheme so I could be a part of an organisation tackling many of today’s most pressing global issues.

My first graduate placement at BRE has seen me split my time between BREEAM Operations and SmartSite. Having graduated University with a Chemistry background, this has provided a change of scenery for me.

As a result of this joint placement, I have developed a fresh set of skills. The most prominent of these include data analysis, effectively engaging stakeholders during project delivery, communicating with customers, and delivering technical support for online software: the experience has been diverse.

While my early experiences at BRE have been business operations-focussed, BRE delivers an expanse of products and services, meaning there are many opportunities for graduates to develop technical knowledge within the built environment, on top of their professional skillsets.

Working alongside knowledgeable, enthusiastic teams has provided not only insight, but just as importantly, a more than pleasant ‘workplace’ environment. The definition of ‘going to work’ has been reworded for a huge number of us, but BRE have done all that they can to seamlessly integrate their new staff into the business remotely, and make us feel welcome and empowered.

 

Jennifer Potter

September 2020 was an interesting time to start a new role but everyone at BRE was so welcoming that I quickly managed to get stuck into my first placement despite it being entirely virtual.

I am currently working in the BREEAM Digital Applications team where I will be for both my first and second placements. From this position, I’ve been able to learn a lot about one of BRE’s main products, BREEAM. From the start, I was able to get heavily involved in the development of new functionality, such as the online implementation of the BREEAM in Use Residential scheme.

During my Engineering degree, I discovered an interest in sustainability in the built environment and the graduate scheme at BRE has been a great place to explore this further.