Why graduate jobs in Derby could be your next career move

Have you been weighing up where to launch your graduate career? Have you considered graduate jobs in Derby? 

As a perhaps sometimes overlooked graduate destination when compared with London and Manchester, Derby is a vibrant city bursting with opportunities, especially if you’re venturing into engineering, consultancy, project management, or tech. 

AtkinsRéalis just happens to have a plethora of graduate roles available in Derby for you to choose from. And, did you know that Derby is the birthplace of industry and engineering? Pretty exciting stuff, especially within the context of the consultancy, design, project management and engineering we deliver at AtkinsRéalis.

We’ve compiled some reasons why graduate jobs in Derby could be your perfect next step after university.

Culture and community

If you’ve got your eye on moving to Derby, you could be wondering, “Is Derby a friendly city?” as well as thinking about the local culture and community. 

Derby is a diverse city that is constantly developing, with new bars and restaurants popping up all the time. Many residents report feeling quite safe in the local community and enjoy the city’s central location, housing, parks, and walkability.

If you’re looking to move to a green city with plenty to do outdoors and in the surrounding areas (the Peak District is pretty close by!), then Derby could be perfect for your graduate career.

Diverse career opportunities and the chance to work on exciting projects

At AtkinsRéalis, we pride ourselves on our projects that impact communities locally, nationally, and globally - these projects also offer diverse career opportunities for those in the early stages of their careers, as well as experienced professionals.

Derby’s industrial significance positions it as a gateway to exciting and meaningful work that you can play a huge part in when you join AtkinsRéalis. 

For graduates, this means the chance to engage in projects that not only challenge and develop your skills but also provide tangible benefits to the community around you. Graduate jobs in Derby will see you be part of initiatives that drive sustainability, innovation, and progress.

FAQs

Is Derby a good place to live in?

Our early careers colleagues certainly think so! And for several reasons:

• Derby’s rail links mean that travel elsewhere is incredibly accessible
• Derby boasts a growing and improving University that attracts students from over 100 countries
• The city is very walkable, which can be great for cutting back on transport costs and keeping fit
• Property prices and the general cost of living in the area are very reasonable 
• The city is relatively close to East Midlands airport 
• The AtkinsRéalis Derby office is close to the train station and is pretty sizeable

Don’t just take it from us, though. In 2024, Derby was ranked as a great city to live and work in, according to the Good Growth for Cities Index.

Is it expensive to live in Derby? 

According to various sources, Derby is one of the most affordable cities in the UK. University Living reports that the cost of living in Derby is £850 to £1010 per month. Broken down further, this equates to:

• £500 to £800 in rental costs
• Around £250 per month on groceries
• An average utility bill of £160 per month

If you want a more accurate breakdown of your expenses, try a cost-of-living calculator to help inform your decision about places to work or study. 

What graduate schemes does AtkinsRéalis offer in Derby?

The graduate schemes we offer change each year. We also close many of our schemes for applications when enough candidates have applied, however, some schemes do remain open for applications year-round. So we recommend checking regularly to view the graduate schemes available in Derby at any given time. As a guide, the following graduate schemes are typically available in Derby:

• Civil and Structural Engineering Graduate Scheme
• Environmental Graduate Scheme
• Electrical and EC&I Engineering Graduate Scheme
• Rail Consulting Graduate Scheme
• Mechanical Engineering Graduate Scheme
• Software Graduate Scheme
• Nuclear Safety Graduate Scheme
• Human Factors Graduate Scheme

Derby graduate jobs with AtkinsRéalis

Choosing where to start your career is a significant decision with long-lasting impacts on your professional and personal life. 

When you join AtkinsRéalis in Derby, you’ll be helping to create sustainable solutions that connect people, data, and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. 

So, if you’re ready to shape the future and your career, consider Derby - it might just be the perfect place for your next career move.

Browse our Derby graduate jobs today. 

Browse our graduate FAQs