Professional development and career mobility
Professional development and career mobility
Unlocking people’s potential and talent
We’re building skills for the future whether that’s through early careers, upskilling people in line with their aspirations or reskilling people who want to try something new.
Key facts
>100
of our leaders have been through development programmes in the last 12 months
900+
chartered professionals in the business
>£100k
invested in sponsored programmes in the last 12 months
Once onboard, we have a range of opportunities to help you learn and grow your career at Costain:
- SHE Academy
- Graduate and Apprentices Network
Environmental and social responsibility is one of our core values at Costain and we are committed to helping the environment and communities thrive. Our SHE Academy runs alongside the Graduate Programme and includes apprentices and trainees from the safety, health and environment professions.
We’re really proud of our SHE Academy which has produced many senior advisors and managers who are now working across our projects.
You can read about our SHE Academy activities in this case study.
This network was formed to bring together a community of early-career professionals within the business. It's created a community for Costain’s graduates and apprentices, allowing them to connect with different parts of the business and learn from each other to aid their professional growth.
Our Emerging Leaders Programme has a strong emphasis on experiential learning through real work experiences. It's delivered in partnership with external professionals who support learners to develop capabilities from Costain’s Leadership Framework.
- Front Line Manager Programme
- Empower Programme
The Front Line Managers programme was developed to provide leadership skills training for our teams working closely with supply chain partners and other providers. We recognise the importance of these front line roles in providing leadership across our projects.
The programme focuses on developing talented individuals to become successful Front Line Managers and Supervisors within Costain and on supporting their career journeys.
Delivered in conjunction with Senior Works and Construction Superintendents, the programme includes modular workshops, mentoring, development assessments and networking opportunities with senior management.
Find out more from Bryan Williams, construction director and sponsor for the programme.
Diversity at all levels is fundamental to effective decision making and delivering high performance and Costain believes everyone should be able to participate, contribute and achieve their goals. The Empower Programme is one way we do this. Originally designed to support women with their next career move, its principles, tools and content can apply to everyone.
We have a clear set of leadership capabilities that we use to develop and underpin all our leadership programmes. From focusing on personal resilience through to leadership communication and strategy development, we believe effective leadership is key to unlocking the potential of our people.
- The Leadership series
- People Manager Development Programme
The leadership series has been co-created with internal leaders to embed our core leadership principles across our senior and middle manager populations. It covers the four areas of our leadership framework and builds leadership awareness, capability and networks which support leaders in demanding roles. The programmes enables leaders to communicate strategy and build ownership that enables tactical delivery while engaging and supporting their teams to develop and deliver.
“The way we lead our people is key to building teams that can sustain performance over the life of our projects. As leaders set the environment and maintain the culture, Costain are keen to equip and empower leaders to do this well. The leadership series creates the conversations and networks that enable and support leadership growth across the company.”
Tim Stone, group talent and development manager at Costain.
The People Manager Development Programme has been designed to help those promoted into a leadership or management role to develop the core skills of people management. It covers the essential tools through workshops, mentoring and self-study, creating teams that are inclusive, healthy, connected, and driven to succeed.
“Costain recognises its people managers have a huge part to play in unlocking the potential in others. This programme provides a dedicated space for them to network with their peers, share experiences, and explore different approaches."
Samantha Anthony, learning and development advisor at Costain