Careers in energy and environment

• Renewable energy – the distribution of renewable energy is expanding rapidly as technology has matured and costs have reduced dramatically. Opportunities exist across the value chain from technology providers (for example Vestas wind turbines and General Electric) to large renewable energy groups (for example Orsted and Vattenfall) and energy services groups (for example ENGIE and Bouygues Energy). The Renewable Energy Association has a members directory, searchable by technology and business activity. 
• Utilities – in the UK there are six big energy suppliers, each with graduate schemes: British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE. Which provides a useful list of smaller utility companies and alternative suppliers.  
• Oil and gas – typically with global producers operating across continents, for example BP and Shell. Rigzone features a comprehensive, searchable global oil and gas company directory, and the Transition Pathway Initiative tool provides insight into how prepared these companies might be for the transition to a low carbon economy. 
• Water – the UK has experienced its driest winter and spring since the 1970s. This has impacted the environment (crops, wildlife, and plants) and a drought has been declared in many areas of England and parts of Wales. Roles in the water sector include working as a consultant or an engineer which would require project management skills. You might work on finding solutions to water supply and storage issues, or play a part in solving the wider challenges facing the industry like the impact on the environment, high-energy costs, water scarcity, and rising water bills for households. In England and Wales, water companies include Anglian, Affinity, Severn Trent, and Thames, all of which have graduate schemes. Discover Water holds a comprehensive lists of water suppliers. 
• Environmental consultancies – typically includes divisions within management and engineering consultancies (for example ARUP and AECOM), national and local government, NGOs and smaller specialist consultancies. ENDS provides a searchable global database of over 1,000 environmental consultancies; a smaller list is viewable at Columbia SIPA.
• Policy and regulation – roles can be found in think tanks, research institutes, local and national government, charities, NGOs, and international organisations. The Environment Agency is the largest employer of environmental professionals in the UK. 
• Conservation – typical employers include charities, national parks and local authorities. Conservation Careers provides a list of organisations and further careers advice.

Roles and organisations in the energy and environment field are diverse. We've outlined some of the major ones with links to where you can find more information. It's always a good idea to try and talk to someone who is already doing the job you're interested in, particularly with some of the 'newer' career areas like 'impact investing'. 

While some roles are for engineers, there are a huge range of commercial, business and support roles available including IT, HR, marketing, trading, procurement, finance, data management and logistics.

Energy

In the energy sector, roles have different names depending on the organisation but may include titles such as: business development analyst; commercial advisor; economist; supply analyst and finance analyst. 

• Renewable Energy Jobs has a useful guide with an A to Z of renewable energy job titles. 
• OPITO, the skills body for the oil and gas sector, has a section which enables you to explore energy career options at My Oil and Gas Careers. 
• The Prospects overview of jobs in the oil and gas industry also provides further details. 
• Energy manager – regulates and monitors energy use with a view to improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and implementing policy. The Prospects energy manager job profile tells you more. 
• Energy engineer – finding efficient, clean and innovative ways to supply energy. Take a look at the Prospects energy engineer job profile.

Environment 

• Conservation officer – protects, manages, and enhances the local environment. Encourages awareness and understanding about the natural environment and may include a policy aspect. The Prospects nature conservation officer job profile provides further details. 
• Environmental consultant – may work on several environmental issues or specialise in one area, such as air, land or water contamination, environmental impact assessment, etc. Check out the Prospects environmental consultant job profile. 
• Sustainability consultant – oversees the environmental performance of organisations and audits corporate activities to ensure compliance with environmental legislation. For more information, visit the Prospects sustainability consultant job profile. 
• Policy officer – provides expert advice concerning environmental conservation, contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of an organisation's environmental policies. 
• Sustainable impact investor – incorporates environmental, social and governance factors in financial services decision-making. The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) is a useful source of further information. 
• Waste management officer – organises and manages waste disposal, collection, and recycling facilities. The Prospects waste management officer job profile provides further details. 
• Recycling officer – plans and develops waste recycling and reduction policies. Check out the Prospects recycling officer job profile. 
• Environmental education officer – promotes environmental conservation and sustainable development. Includes education, marketing, and publicity. The Prospects environmental education officer job profile and the TARGETjobs environmental education officer job description are useful resources. 
• Hydrogeologist – works in different sectors, conducting site visits to analyse and investigate underground water quality and distribution. Read more by looking at the Prospects hydrogeologist job profile.

While many of the larger energy and utility companies and government departments offer graduate schemes, many smaller, more specialised organisations will advertise on specialist websites or rely on interested applicants making a speculative approach. Building your network and connecting with relevant alumni and others in the field, eg, through LinkedIn, can be an important way of finding out about possible openings.

If you're looking to gain experience:

Large energy companies have well-established schemes including insight days, spring weeks, internship schemes and competitions. Larger management and engineering consultancies like Deloitte, AECOM, Arcadis and Environmental Resource Management (ERM) and relevant government departments also have internships and graduate schemes.

In a competitive space, relevant experience is vital to demonstrate your commitment to the environmental sector. Gain experience through volunteering, organise work shadowing, and make speculative applications. Could you choose an undergraduate or master's level dissertation with a relevant focus? Many applicants also have a relevant master's degree.

If you're early in your career:

Several energy companies have graduate schemes that won't require prior knowledge or experience. However, specific schemes may specify that applicants need to hold a related degree (eg, if applying for an engineering programme). Others will require you to have gained some level of relevant work experience (particularly if it’s a graduate scheme which is offering a permanent contract which means you’d stay working at the company after the scheme ends).  

For entry-level roles with an environmental focus, you would usually be expected to have relevant experience.

Arrange to speak to current practitioners working in the sector about what they do – this offers a great opportunity to find out more and to build your network. There may be opportunities for volunteering or part-time research. 
Some organisations may have insight days, industry placements, and other opportunities aimed at students or recent graduates.

If you have more experience:

Specialist recruitment agencies can be useful for graduates with several years of relevant experience. For example:

• acre – includes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), environment, energy, and responsible investment.
• Allen & York – includes international development, energy, environment, and CSR.

If you're changing career:

If you choose a master's degree to support your move into the environmental sector, you should also look to gain some practical experience in any areas you are interested in. Make the most of the LSE alumni network and relevant LinkedIn groups, talk to people and see how you can leverage your dissertation to undertake relevant project work. 

• Discover | Sustainability programme

LSE Careers resources:

• Blog post: Will my career make a positive impact?
• Blog post: Careers in environment and development
• Podcast episode: Sustainable students and getting involved on campus
• Careers in sustainability employment sector webpage

External resources: 

• Prospects – Energy and Utilities – provides a useful overview of the sector along with links to a range of professional bodies and other sources.
• Energy and Utility Skills – list of members, useful for finding out which organisations and companies work in or with the energy industry.
• The Renewable Energy Association – showcases news, jobs, and events in the renewable energy sector, also includes a member directory.
• Renewable UK – focuses on wind, solar and tidal energy and has a searchable global members' directory.
• Vault Guides – LSE subscription to guides including Energy, Oil and Gas and Alternative Energy. Scroll down to ‘Vault: Career Insider' and click on the link to log in.
• Prospects – Careers in the renewable energy industry – provides an overview of the sector.
• The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) – a worldwide alliance of environmental and sustainability professionals. Has communities including impact assessment and climate change and energy. Student membership is £26.75.
• Ofwat – regulates the water sector in England and Wales.
• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – keep up to date with press releases and news stories.
• edie – sustainability professionals' network and news board.
• Ethical Corporation magazine – a sustainable business news board and magazine by Reuters.
• Sustainability magazine – a sustainable business news board and magazine.

How to network with alumni in this sector:

• Look up at LSE alumni on LinkedIn. Find some people you’d like to connect with. Perhaps they studied your course, or are working in a role / company that you’re interested in. Think about how you will introduce yourself, and what you’re hoping to get out of connecting with them.  
• Attend LSE Careers Meet our Alum events.
• Check out LSE Alumni Groups.

• Environment Job – an interesting range of sustainability, conservation and climate change roles advertised. 
• acre – market-leading sustainability and ESG recruitment agency. 
• ENDS – Environmental Data Services is a source of environmental and sustainability intelligence and includes a searchable global database of over 1000 environmental consultancies and a jobs board. 
• LANTRA – sector skills and training organisation with career resources for the environment. 
• The Green Jobs Network of Websites – links to a wide range of job sites including renewables, energy, and environment. 
• The Green Directory – a searchable directory of green organisations including ethical finance and alternative energy. 
• Student Ladder Energy and Utilities Graduate Schemes page – browse available graduate scheme opportunities in the sector.  
• Environment Agency jobs – search for a range of roles, including graduate positions.

If you’d like to discuss your options in this sector, or chat through your current plans, please book an appointment with an LSE Careers Consultant.