Specialist opportunities designed to launch your professional journey
QUEST
QUEST has been established to encourage young people to pursue careers into civil engineering, with educational support payments and paid summer placement opportunities.
The scheme is designed to support and encourage you on your journey to becoming a professionally qualified civil engineer.
You will be a QUEST scholar for the duration of your degree course and will undertake paid placements with the Environment Agency for 8 weeks, for each summer between university years, with the option of then joining our Graduate Training Scheme.

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You need to be starting a full-time accredited civil engineering undergraduate degree at a UK university in September/October 2026 and have predicted A-level grades of ABB or higher.
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During your 8 week summer placements, you will be able to experience engineering activities undertaken at the Environment Agency first hand, being able to attend site visits, and contribute to work that directly affects our asset base and flood risk management. You will be part of a team local to you within flood risk management and be made to feel comfortable and confident with the work they do, as well as getting further exposure to the wider organisation and other teams.
You will be assigned a technical mentor who will help you as you embark on the start of your engineering career to becoming professionally qualified. They will support you as you start to provide evidence for Initial Professional Development (IPD) online, guide you as to the work that will help you achieve this, advise the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions that will be of use to you, and encourage you throughout your time with us.
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- Eligible for up to £8,000 over the course of your university study
- Undertake a paid placement with the Environment Agency for 8 weeks each summer between your university years.
- Once you satisfactorily complete your degree course at university, and your summer work placements at the Environment Agency, you may be eligible for a position on our Engineering Graduate Training Scheme.

Example career pathway in organisation:
- Engineering Graduate Training Scheme
- Deputy Catchment Engineer
- Catchment Engineer
Specific recruitment information:
For further information about QUEST and how to apply, please visit the ICE website at: QUEST scholarships | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)


