01 Aug 2025
10 minutes to read
RED Graduate RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Welcome to RED's comprehensive graduate recruitment process. Our award-winning engineering graduate programs are designed to launch your career in building services engineering, offering structured pathways into graduate engineering roles across electrical, mechanical, and ICT design disciplines.
GRADUATE ENGINEERING ROLES AVAILABLE
We typically hire for the following graduate engineering roles:
- Electrical Design Engineers - Join our electrical systems team designing cutting-edge power and lighting solutions for data centres and commercial buildings.
- Mechanical Design Engineers - Develop expertise in HVAC, cooling systems, and mechanical infrastructure for mission-critical facilities.
- ICT Design Engineers - Shape the future of digital infrastructure and telecommunications systems in modern buildings.
Please keep an eye on our vacancy page, where we post all available graduate engineering roles!
GRADUATE RECRUITMENT APPLICATION PROCESS
Graduate recruitment applications usually open around August of the year prior to the cohort start year, e.g., For September 2026 starters, our graduate recruitment will start advertising and interviewing from August 2025.
We hire on a rolling basis for our engineering graduate programs. Get your CV prepared early to apply as soon as recruitment starts.
HOW TO APPLY FOR OUR GRADUATE ENGINEERING ROLES
To apply for a graduate engineering position:
- Visit our vacancies page and select the role that suits you.
- Click Apply, complete the short application form, and upload your CV.
Tip for success: Make your CV stand out by emphasising your building services engineering experience and your fit for RED. Apply early - our graduate recruitment runs on a rolling basis, so the sooner you submit, the better your chances.
Include key modules and project work to illustrate your skills and fit for our graduate programs. You can find the modules we look for in the job adverts.
GRADUATE RECRUITMENT SHORTLISTING:
Once your application is submitted, RED’s Talent Acquisitionist (TA) will review it carefully. Candidates selected for the next stage will receive a follow-up form to provide more detail on qualifications, preferred work locations, and motivations for joining RED’s engineering graduate programs.
1ST INTERVIEW - TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
If your application progresses, RED’s TA will contact you to arrange a first-stage interview via Teams - typically lasting around 1 hour. During this session, you will meet two of our Engineers who will ask a mix of technical, competency, and situational questions relevant to our graduate engineering roles.
Tip for success: Prepare by familiarising yourself with RED, our projects, and our work in building services. It’s also important to review the specific engineering discipline you are applying for and understand how it relates to building services.
ASSESSMENT CENTRE - IN PERSON:
If you succeed in the first interview, you’ll be invited to attend our in-person assessment centre, typically hosted at our London office.
The session runs for approximately 4 to 5 and a half hours and includes a variety of exercises designed to evaluate your suitability for our graduate engineering roles. Some activities will require preparation ahead of the assessment, and full instructions will be provided in the email from our TA.
Tip for success: Make sure to read all emails and preparation materials related to the assessment centre thoroughly, then double-check you haven’t missed anything.
Offer
If your application to our graduate engineering program is successful, you’ll be notified within 3 weeks of attending the assessment centre.
FAQs about our graduate recruitment process
What locations are available?
When we have multiple graduate engineering roles open across our offices, each location will be listed in the job advertisement. If you’re shortlisted for our graduate program, you’ll have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s).
International candidates – Do you offer sponsorship?
At present, we do not offer work visa sponsorship. We encourage international students to explore other pathways to join our graduate program in the future.
What is RED’s Graduate Program?
RED’s graduate program is a CIBSE-accredited, two-year scheme designed to fast-track your career in building services engineering. Through our graduate engineering programs, you’ll join a specialist data centre team, tackling high-impact projects from day one while building deep technical expertise.
The programme combines hands-on experience with structured support, including mentorship, industry-specific workshops, and professional development courses. You’ll also develop essential skills in communication, collaboration, and leadership through client interactions, team projects, and cross-functional initiatives.
On completion, your performance is reviewed, and we’ll help you transition into one of our graduate engineering roles. RED’s graduate recruitment focus is on creating capable, confident engineers ready to grow with the company over the long term.
Will I receive support towards chartership? What does this consist of?
Yes. RED’s graduate program is structured to prepare you for chartership by combining hands-on placements, CPD opportunities, and onsite visits with structured training aligned to Engineering Council competencies. You’ll gain the practical experience and professional exposure needed to develop your skills effectively.
As part of our graduate engineering programs, you’ll have access to dedicated mentors who guide and support you throughout your graduate programme and beyond. RED is accredited under the CIBSE Training and Development Scheme, an approved in-house programme that helps engineers achieve Engineering Council registration and corporate membership of CIBSE. We also work with professional bodies such as IMechE, IET, and BSRIA to ensure broad, high-quality professional development.
What is the typical start date for graduates?
Our graduate program usually begins in the second week of September each year. This timing ensures all participants in our graduate engineering programs go through a structured induction and onboarding process, giving every graduate a consistent, thorough introduction to RED and the skills needed to succeed in their role from day one.
Can I start earlier/ later?
We are unable to offer alternative start dates for our graduate engineering roles. Our onboarding and induction schedule is carefully structured to give all graduates a comprehensive introduction to RED, ensuring a smooth transition into your graduate engineering role and setting you up for success from day one.
What salary do you offer?
RED regularly reviews graduate recruitment and graduate engineering role salaries to remain competitive within the industry. Salaries are benchmarked against market averages and are therefore fixed and non-negotiable, ensuring fairness and consistency for all graduates.
How often are graduate salaries reviewed?
Salaries for our graduate engineering roles are reviewed annually. Additional reviews usually take place at the end of the graduate program, especially when graduates transition into full engineering roles. All salary adjustments are at RED’s discretion and may be subject to change, ensuring our graduate recruitment remains fair and aligned with company policy.
What shall I do if I am running late to my interview or I can no longer attend?
If you anticipate being late or are unable to attend your interview, please let us know as soon as possible. For general interviews, email us directly, and for assessment centre delays, contact us immediately using the provided phone number. Prompt communication helps us manage schedules effectively and supports a smooth process for all candidates.
Can I claim back travel expenses from my interview?
Travel expenses are reimbursed for candidates attending our assessment centres. Eligibility criteria and instructions for claiming expenses will be provided in the email you receive before your assessment centre.
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