Building talent for the future
Build essential skills for Construction and Civil Engineering
Scotland's Construction sector is facing a number of key skills challenges, including an ageing workforce, lack of new talent, and new emerging skills needed for sustainability and net zero. A recent report from the Construction Skills Network highlights that over 26,000 extra workers will be needed in Scotland between 2024 – 2028.
Read on to discover how Graduate Apprenticeships can be your ready-made solution.
Heriot-Watt | Your talent partner for construction and civil engineering
At Heriot-Watt University we're proud to work with some of the UK's leading construction and civil engineering companies. We have a strong track record of building skills for these key sectors.
Our fully-funded Graduate Apprenticeships are a highly cost-effective way to fill skills gaps – either by upskilling existing employees or by attracting new talent to the business. Here are some key reasons why we should be your partner of choice for developing talent.
- We’re ranked No.1 in the UK for Building (source: The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
- We’re ranked in the Top 15 in the UK for Civil Engineering (source: The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
- Our Construction & Built Environment programme provides specialist pathways in construction project management and quantity surveying, enabling you to develop skills tailored to your business needs. It is also fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
- Our Civil Engineering programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) of The Institution of Civil Engineers, The Institution of Structural Engineers, The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Institute of Highway Engineers.
- Courses within both programmes deal specifically with energy technology/ systems, sustainability and business awareness.
Graduate Apprenticeships at-a-glance
Who can apply?
Our GA programmes are open to both new and existing employees - making them ideal for recruitment AND upskilling.
How much does it cost?
Our programmes are fully-funded for eligible candidates, meaning there are no additional costs for employers or the students.
How long does it take?
Students will typically study for an Honours degree over a four year period. (Note: advanced entry is possible in some cases).
How is it delivered?
GAs offer a unique combination of academic and work-based learning. Broadly speaking, the split is 20% at university and 80% at work.
Why Graduate Apprenticeships are an ideal solution
Our Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are fully funded and offer a unique combination of academic and work-based learning, creating degree qualified employees with key skills tailored to the needs of your business.
- GAs can be a key way to fill critical skills gaps in your business.
- GAs are ideal for developing ‘work-ready’ individuals with core engineering skills PLUS the meta skills that firms are looking for, such as critical thinking, self management and social intelligence.
- In a difficult recruitment market, GAs are the ideal way to upskill existing employees. They allow people with existing in-depth knowledge of the business to develop new skills.
- GAs can be a great retention tool for employees – demonstrating that the company is investing in the development of the workforce.
- For firms employing Modern Apprentices, GAs are an ideal progression route for those looking to develop their career further.
How our apprentices are making an impact
Follow the links below to discover how our apprentices are making an impact across a range of construction and civil engineering companies.
Alis Marshall - MARCH Engineering
In this case study Alis from MARCH shares some valuable insight from her GA journey so far.
Kayla Miller - Story Contracting
Read about recently-graduated Kayla's Graduate Apprenticeship journey with Story Contracting.
Matthew Thomson - GRAHAM Group
Former GA Matthew, from GRAHAM, shares how his Graduate Apprenticeship has helped him to progress his career in quantity surveying.
Mollie Gilmore - McLaughlin & Harvey
Mollie from McLaughlin & Harvey describes how much her Graduate Apprenticeship has enabled her to develop in her role.
Explore our Graduate Apprenticeships for the Construction industry
Follow the links below to find out more about the specifics of our Construction and the Built Environment and Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship programmes.
Construction and the Built Environment
Explore the detail on our CBE programme, including course content, entry requirements etc.
Civil Engineering
Explore the detail on our Civil Engineering programme, including course content, entry requirements etc.
Built for Success!
If you're an employer in Construction or Civil Engineering sectors looking to develop key skills, then we're here to help. Our dedicated team is here to help you understand how our Graduate Apprenticeships can support your talent development to help your business thrive. Follow the link below to get in touch with the team today.
Contact us today