How to Land a Graduate Electrical Engineering Job in Building Services in 2027
Most 2027 graduate electrical schemes in building services close in November 2026, and none of the big consultancies publishes a starting salary. That leaves you guessing on deadlines and pay. This page sets out who’s hiring, what graduates earn, which routes count and how to get shortlisted for 2027.
Key Takeaways
- Glassdoor puts the UK graduate electrical engineer average at £28,179 in total pay, with London at £29,575 (October 2026).
- Hoare Lea’s 2027 graduate electrical scheme closes on 6 November 2026, Cundall’s on 8 November, Arup’s on 12 November and Stantec’s on 30 November.
- Cundall pays graduates a £1,500 joining bonus and a further £2,000 on gaining chartered status.
- Hoare Lea’s Level 6 Building Services Design Engineer degree apprenticeship pays £25,878 a year over five years.
- BESA reports that over 50% of building services vacancies are hard to fill (June 2026).
Which Firms Run Graduate Electrical Schemes in 2027
Hoare Lea, Cundall, Arup, Stantec, Sweco and Mott MacDonald all had 2027 graduate electrical roles in building services open on 25 October 2026. Most close in November 2026, and several warn they may close early. None publishes a salary, and each describes pay as competitive.
| Employer | Locations | Closes | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoare Lea | Bournemouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Edinburgh and other offices | 6 Nov 2026 | IET or CIBSE accredited 2:1, 9-day fortnight |
| Cundall | London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast | 8 Nov 2026 | £1,500 joining bonus, £2,000 chartership bonus |
| Arup | Bristol and other UK offices | 12 Nov 2026 | Accredited course required, profit share |
| Stantec | Reading, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Plymouth | 30 Nov 2026 | Four office days a week, CIBSE or IET progression plan |
| Sweco | Maidenhead | 3 Jan 2027 | Two professional subscriptions paid |
| Mott MacDonald | London, Croydon, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol | Ongoing | For 2025 onwards graduates with under 12 months’ experience |
Demand for new entrants is high. BESA reports that 75% of firms struggling to recruit find apprentices and trainees hardest to hire (June 2026). The ECA’s February 2026 Skills Index found electrical apprenticeship starts fell 5.5% while all apprenticeship starts rose 4.1%.
Do graduate schemes ask for an accredited degree?
Most consultancy schemes screen on accreditation. Hoare Lea asks for an expected or achieved 2:1 in an IET or CIBSE accredited degree, and Arup asks for an IET, CIBSE or Engineering Council accredited course. Cundall accepts a 2:2, with an accredited BEng or MEng in electrical engineering desirable.
Mott MacDonald accepts a Bachelor’s or Master’s in building services, electrical, or energy and building services engineering. Electrical is one of several graduate routes into building services design, alongside mechanical and public health engineering.
What Graduate Electrical Engineers Earn
Graduate electrical engineers in the UK average £28,179 in total pay on Glassdoor, from 50 salaries, with a range of £23,530 to £35,036 (October 2026). Prospects, citing CIBSE data, puts graduate building services engineers at around £28,000 (July 2025). London graduates average £29,575 and Manchester graduates £28,642.
| Pay point | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate electrical engineer, UK | £28,179 average | Glassdoor, Oct 2026 |
| Graduate electrical engineer, London | £29,575 average | Glassdoor, Oct 2026 |
| Graduate electrical engineer, Manchester | £28,642 average | Glassdoor, Oct 2026 |
| Graduate building services engineer | Around £28,000 | Prospects (CIBSE), Jul 2025 |
| Graduate Electrical Engineer, Baily Garner, Eltham | £25,000 to £28,000 | Employer advert, Oct 2026 |
| Degree apprentice, Hoare Lea | £25,878 | GOV.UK apprenticeship service, Oct 2026 |
| Junior Electrical Design Engineer, BSV client, Bolton | £30,000 to £45,000 | BSV Recruitment, 25 Oct 2026 |
Which consultancies pay graduates the most?
Atkins graduates report a £31,000 median on Glassdoor, the highest of four named consultancies, ahead of Arup at £30,000, AECOM at £29,000 and Hoare Lea at £27,000 (October 2026). Bonuses change the first-year picture. Cundall adds £1,500 on joining and £2,000 on chartership, and Hoare Lea offers stock options and a 9-day fortnight.
Routes Into Building Services Electrical Engineering
Degree apprenticeships, Level 3 technician apprenticeships and HNC or HND qualifications all lead into building services electrical engineering. Hoare Lea’s 2027 Building Services Design Engineer degree apprenticeship pays £25,878 a year over five years, with a BSc or BEng from Coventry University, and closes on 6 November 2026.
- Level 3 apprenticeship. Skills England’s Building services engineering technician standard (ST0063) runs for 32 months with up to £16,000 of funding and leads to EngTech registration. Its typical job titles include electrical engineering technician.
- Level 6 apprenticeship. The degree-level standard (ST0372) is now titled Building services engineer and has been open for new starts since 28 February 2025.
- HNC or HND. The IET says an accredited HND fully meets the academic requirement for EngTech and partly meets it for IEng (IET accreditation pack, 2026 to 2027).
BSV’s live Junior Electrical Design Engineer role in Bolton accepts a degree, HNC, HND or equivalent in electrical engineering. Technicians who start in CAD can also step up to electrical design once they’ve built drawing and calculation experience.
How do graduate electrical engineers become chartered?
Graduate electrical engineers become chartered by joining a licensed institution such as the IET or CIBSE and evidencing competence against the Engineering Council’s UK-SPEC. CIBSE Graduate membership costs £122 and is open to STEM graduates within five years of graduating. An IET accredited MEng meets the full academic requirement for CEng, while an accredited BEng meets part of it.
How We Help Graduates Into Electrical Engineering Roles
We place graduate and junior electrical engineers with building services consultancies through our electrical engineering recruitment desk. BSV Recruitment’s live board includes Junior Electrical Design Engineer roles in Bolton at £30,000 to £45,000, Fareham at £30,000 to £37,000 and Croydon at £30,000 to £40,000 (25 October 2026).
- Step 1. We check your degree against IET, CIBSE or Engineering Council accreditation, because most consultancy schemes screen on it.
- Step 2. We map your application deadlines, starting with Hoare Lea on 6 November 2026 and running to Sweco on 3 January 2027.
- Step 3. We review your graduate engineering CV so it shows your modules, dissertation and any lighting, power or small power design work.
- Step 4. We prepare you for assessment centres and technical interviews, and we coach the motivation assessors look for.
- Step 5. We match HNC, HND and apprenticeship candidates to junior roles that accept those routes, such as our Bolton junior design role.
Graduate Electrical Engineering Jobs FAQs
How much do graduate electrical engineers earn in the UK?
Graduate electrical engineers average £28,179 in total pay on Glassdoor, from 50 salaries, with a range of £23,530 to £35,036 (October 2026). London graduates average £29,575. Prospects, citing CIBSE data, puts graduate building services engineers at around £28,000, and Atkins graduates report a £31,000 median.
When do 2027 graduate electrical schemes close?
Most 2027 building services electrical schemes close in November 2026. Hoare Lea closes on 6 November, Cundall on 8 November, Arup on 12 November and Stantec on 30 November. Sweco’s Maidenhead role stays open until 3 January 2027, and Mott MacDonald recruits until its roles are filled.
Can you get a building services electrical job without a degree?
You can. The Level 3 building services engineering technician apprenticeship lasts 32 months and leads to EngTech. Hoare Lea’s Level 6 degree apprenticeship pays £25,878 a year over five years and ends with a BSc or BEng. Some junior electrical design roles, such as BSV’s Bolton role, accept an HNC or HND.
Do graduate electrical engineering jobs need an accredited degree?
Most consultancy schemes ask for one. Hoare Lea wants a 2:1 in an IET or CIBSE accredited degree, and Arup asks for an IET, CIBSE or Engineering Council accredited course. The IET says an accredited MEng fully meets the academic requirement for CEng, while an accredited BEng meets part of it.
Is there demand for graduate electrical engineers in 2027?
Demand is strong at entry level. BESA reports that over 50% of building services vacancies are hard to fill, and that 75% of struggling firms find apprentices and trainees hardest to recruit (June 2026). Six major consultancies, including Hoare Lea, Cundall, Arup and Stantec, were recruiting 2027 graduate electrical engineers in October 2026.
Ready to start your electrical engineering career?
Send your CV to BSV Recruitment and we’ll match your degree, HNC or apprenticeship to building services employers hiring graduate electrical engineers now.