Graduate - Project Management 

Salary: £26,500 

Location: Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Wakefield 

Programme start date: September 2025 

Where Next? 

Start your career journey with National Highways and play a part in shaping the future of our strategic road network. 

Join our three-year Project Management graduate programme and start your journey to becoming a chartered project management professional, whilst being at the centre of exciting projects that help connect the country. 

What you’ll be doing 

As a graduate project manager, you’ll mix study with real-life work on a variety of projects that shape how we build and operate our roads. Guided and mentored by expert industry professionals, you’ll explore the full lifecycle of project delivery, planning and management, developing your skills and knowledge through inspirational placements across the business  

You’ll also complete a programme of apprenticeship learning, tailored to your developing project management career to become a full professional member of the Association for Project Management (APM). 

At the end of your programme, you’ll have opportunities to continue your career journey with us and be at the heart of projects that deliver real impact in connecting the country. 

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. 

What you’ll need to succeed 

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: 

• Any undergraduate (e.g., BA, BSc) degree at 2:2 or above in any subject, plus 
• A minimum of a Grade C / Grade 4 in Mathematics and English Language at GCSE, or be willing to take alongside the level 4 Apprentice Programme provided as part of the programme 

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. 

About us 

Our strategic road network is vital to connecting the country, carrying a third of all traffic and two-thirds of freight. Every single day, National Highways get millions of people to where they need to be as efficiently and safely as possible along more than 4,500 miles of motorways and major A roads. We bring people together, keep businesses moving and help communities to stay connected.  

We’re constantly innovating to stay ahead of the curve in building and operating our roads, investing in both the right projects and the brightest talent to help shape our future. And that's where you come in! 

Why you should join us 

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. 

Ready to Take the Next Step? 

If you’re excited about shaping the future of our strategic road network, apply today and start your journey with us! Don’t miss out – submit your application early as we may close applications before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of interest.