Job Description

Project Overview

Cadent is the UK's largest Gas Distribution Company, operating 4 of the 8 UK Gas Distribution Networks (East of England, London, NorthWest and West Midlands). Their service spans over 131,000 kilometres of pipes supplying to 11 million homes & businesses.


Costain is the preferred bidder for the East of England Construction Management organisation (CMO). Central to Costain's role will be the strategic planning and programme management of Cadent's capital investment programme, with a focus on delivering improved regulatory performance and future proofing the network for the benefit of Cadent's customers.

About Costain

At Costain, we help to improve people's lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet to thrive. We work together to shape, create, and deliver pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the UK's infrastructure ecosystem across energy, water, transportation and defence markets. Through our collaboration with customers, partners, communities, and wider industry we will deliver an infrastructure fit for a better future.

This role will be located on site in Peterborough

Costain's Graduate Development Programme

The programme will focus on helping you to grow your personal and leadership skills, alongside business and of course, the technical skills you will learn day-to-day on the job.


The programme is delivered in a variety of formats throughout the 2 years and will allow you to establish a network of contacts that will help and support you through your first 2 years and beyond. We expect some of our graduates to rotate after a period of 8-12 months, to another project/sector of the business to fully understand the depth and breadth of the services offered by the company. Our line managers are fully supportive of the Graduate Development Programme and will be involved in helping you along the way.


In addition to the programme, we offer mentoring and support in every area of work, as well as a structured training programme to enable graduates to work towards achieving Chartership. Graduates may have the opportunity to work on a number of exciting and progressive projects around the UK during the 2-year period, in sectors including nuclear, highways, rail, water, airports and tunnels.

Extra information

Please note that for some of our roles, and in order to rotate around the business as part of the graduate scheme, you may be required to obtain and maintain security clearance of at least Security Check level (or SC clearance). To satisfy the requirements, you will need to have been a legal UK resident for a minimum of 5 years and be able to successfully complete the vetting process.



The role of Graduate Quantity Surveyor is to assist in administration and management of costs and contracts relating to projects. The role may involve all aspects of work from the initial tender to final account and close out, seeking to minimise the costs and enhance value for money whilst achieving the required standards and quality. This role will work under the close direction and supervision of a more senior quantity surveyor.


Scoping packages, quantifying works, collating enquiry documentation, issuing tender enquiries, analysing tenders including documenting queries Engaging and liaising with supply chain to ensure level playing field for all tenderers Work with construction package managers during procurement process Produce final subcontract tender comparison for presentation to Commercial Lead Procurement of subcontractors for acquired packages including drafting of subcontracts and adherence with company and contract governance Management of the supply chain packages [SM1] Provide support to the commercial and wider team where necessary Project life cycle management of subcontractors including assessment of monthly applications for payment, management of change under the subcontract, regular forecast review and agreement of final accounts. Liabilities entered onto cost management system (E1) within required deadlines Entering of payments onto cost management system within required deadlines Implement commercial procedures and reporting to ensure compliance with company and contract requirements Ensure appropriate commercial records are maintained in line with the contract requirements Liaise with design and programming team as required Identification of Risk and Opportunities for the subcontract packages you are responsible for

You will have or expected to achieve a good result in a Quantity Surveyor degree or equivalent Hold an RICS/CICES accredited degree, or enrolled on an accredited part-time post-graduate degree with at some relevant experience Enrolled and working towards Full Membership of either RICS or CICES Full UK Driving Licence is required for this role Minimum 2:1 achieved or expected Have passion for Costain's Carbon Net Zero targets IT proficient Able to work accurately and appreciate its importance to the team A willingness to learn with appropriate instruction Excel at building and maintaining positive relationships The ability to thrive in pressured situations The ability to empathise and communicate with all people, regardless of their background or circumstances Excellent organisation, communication, and time management skills Mobility to work on various projects over the 2-year programme throughout the UK

Please note that if you are invited to interview, we will require you to produce your passport and/or right to work documentation.

As some of our project sites are based in remote locations, it is worth noting that you will be required to have the ability to travel to site

Costain helps to improve people's lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK's energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK's leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.



A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.


It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.





For more details please go to the Disability Confident website:


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign