Black & White Engineering expands early careers programme to strengthen skills pipeline
Engineering consultancy Black & White Engineering has expanded its graduate and apprentice programme, with more than 200 people now on structured development pathways as demand for engineering skills continues to grow across the data centre and critical infrastructure sectors.
The consultancy said graduates and apprentices now account for 217 employees across its global business, representing 17.3% of its workforce. During 2025, the company recruited 137 graduates and apprentices as part of its long-term workforce development strategy.
The programme spans multiple engineering disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil, sustainability, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM), alongside learning and development roles.
Engineering skills investment targets future workforce
Black & White Engineering said its graduate and apprentice programme is designed to provide practical experience through live engineering projects, supported by mentoring, technical training and multidisciplinary project teams.
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The consultancy operates across several international locations, including London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin, Dubai, Riyadh, Manila and offices in India.
Caff Allen, Global Director of Learning & Development at Black & White Engineering, said: “Graduate and Apprentice development is a significant part of how we build and future proof the business.
“Welcoming 137 people into these routes shows the scale of our investment in our people, but the more important point is the type of experience they are getting.
“They are working with experienced colleagues, learning on live projects and building the skills needed to support complex, mission-critical buildings and infrastructure.”
Graduate programme supports critical infrastructure delivery
Alongside technical training, graduates and apprentices take part in professional development initiatives, including international collaboration events and opportunities to work with teams across the consultancy’s global network.
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The business said the programme is intended to develop the skills needed to support increasingly complex projects within the data centre and mission-critical infrastructure markets.
Caff Allen added: “The engineering skills challenge will not be solved by recruitment alone. Businesses need to give people options for developmental routes into the industry, clear responsibility and the support to develop over time.
“Our graduate and apprentice programmes are built around that. They give people the chance to contribute early while learning how engineering decisions affect design quality, delivery and long-term performance.
“Bringing our graduates and apprentices together through events like our Technical Excellence and Innovation Conference and the Graduate Global Gathering helps create the connections and ideas that will shape both their careers and the future of our business.”
Long-term workforce planning remains industry priority
The consultancy also offers international work experience opportunities, enabling graduates and apprentices to work alongside colleagues in its Global Design Hub in Manila.
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Caff Allen said: “For Black & White Engineering, developing graduate and apprentice talent is part of long-term workforce planning.
“As demand grows across data centres and other mission-critical sectors, we need people who understand both the detail of design and the pace of delivery.
“That starts with giving them the right exposure, mentoring and training at the beginning of their careers.”
Black & White Engineering employs 1,256 people globally and delivers engineering design services for data centres and other mission-critical infrastructure projects across international markets.
