Mechanical Engineering Industrial Placement (Bristol)

Join us and help be the energy behind the change.

National Gas is the backbone of Britain's energy system. We're responsible for securing the UK's energy, whilst leading the way to a net-zero future. We keep gas moving safely and reliably to power stations, industry and over 23 million homes. As the UK transitions toward a net-zero future, we’re also pioneering new solutions such as hydrogen transmission to help decarbonise the energy sector.

We’re looking for a Mechanical Engineering placement student to join National Gas for a year in industry, before returning to university for their final year of study. This role is based at our Bristol office and will be a mix of office based engineering work and site visits. You’ll gain hands on experience across the full lifecycle of engineering projects on the National Gas transmission network, from early surveys and design, right through to construction and delivery.

You’ll be supported by a buddy and experienced engineers, and you’ll complete a meaningful end of placement project, which you’ll present to members of the leadership team.

What you’ll be doing

As a Mechanical Engineering placement student, you’ll be involved in real engineering work that matters. Your responsibilities may include:

•    Supporting mechanical and civil engineering teams, with a primary focus on mechanical engineering activities
•    Visiting sites across the network to help assess asset condition and integrity, including defects, corrosion and maintenance needs
•    Supporting surveys, inspections and early-stage design work during the FEED (Front End Engineering Design) phase of projects
•    Getting hands on exposure to mechanical assets and equipment across the gas transmission network
•    Helping to develop business cases for investment in new or upgraded equipment and sites
•    Seeing projects through end to end, from initial site survey, through concept and detailed design, into construction and delivery
•    Supporting project development activities and working closely with delivery and construction teams
•    Learning how engineering decisions are made safely, sustainably and efficiently in a regulated environment
•    Completing an end of placement project, aligned to real business needs, and presenting your findings to senior stakeholders

This is a strongly engineering focused role, designed to give you depth as well as breadth of experience.

Many of our graduates started their journey with us as placement year students. We hope to consider strong performers for future graduate roles or final year research placements. 

About You

We’re looking for a student who is keen to learn, curious about how things work, and comfortable getting out on site as well as working in the office.

You’ll ideally be:

•   Studying towards a Mechanical Engineering degree (or closely related discipline)
•   Will be undertaking a 12 month industrial placement as part of your degree in the next academic year (26-27)
•   Comfortable working in different environments, including operational sites
•   A self starter who takes initiative and explores problems thoroughly
•   Proactive, organised and keen to take responsibility for your own learning
•   Interested in how large scale infrastructure is designed, maintained and improved
•   Able to communicate clearly with engineers, contractors and wider teams
•   Committed to safety, safeguarding and doing the right thing at all times

The Essentials

This is a 1-year fixed-term industrial placement. To be considered for this scheme, you’ll need:

•    To be in your second year of study at university
•    Due to the nature of the role and regular site visits, you’ll need to hold a full UK driving licence (or be able to obtain one before starting).
•    This role requires a regular on site presence, alongside office based engineering work so you’ll need to be comfortable with this setup 
•    A cover letter is essential to help us understand why you're a great fit for the role. Check out our guidance below!
•    You'll need to have permanent right to work in the UK for the entirety of this programme, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. 
•    As you’ll be working on Critical National Infrastructure, you’ll also need to pass enhanced National Security Vetting, meaning you’ll need to be able to provide a 5-year UK address history. Your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Given the nature of the placement, it’s particularly suited to candidates who are from the Bristol area or studying at a nearby university.

Studies suggest that women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you resonate with our mission, the role excites you and your skills align, we encourage you to apply.

What should you include in your cover letter?

A cover letter is a chance for us to get to know you as a person – we understand you may not have workplace experience yet, and that’s absolutely fine! Let us know about your personal qualities and interests. Your cover letter should be no more than one A4 page. Make sure it includes:

•    Why you’re interested in a placement year at National Gas
•    What personal skills and qualities you have that would make you a great placement student

What you can expect from us

You’ll receive a range of benefits that reward your great work.  

•    You’ll be paid £24,212, for your 12 months with us
•    A generous holiday allowance of 26 days plus statutory bank holidays
•    2 paid days each financial year to volunteer for a worthwhile cause
•    Professional development and career progression 
•    Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24 hours per day 

At National Gas, we pride ourselves on a supportive and collaborative work environment. We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and support our employees in achieving it.  We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can perform at their best. Whether you’re starting out after school or looking to build on your existing experience, you’ll find an apprenticeship where you’re valued, supported, and encouraged from the moment you join.

You'll be mentored by experienced professionals and have opportunities to work on impactful projects. We ensure that you gain hands-on experience, with opportunities for career advancement and professional development. 

We encourage all apprentices to take ownership of their journey. You'll strive to grow and develop, taking advantage of all that National Gas has to offer. 

The 'nice to knows'

Our industrial placements typically begin between June and September, so there’s flexibility to agree a start date that works for you.

You’ll have the option to an in-person induction in early September 2026, fostering strong workplace relationships with other placement students, graduates and apprentices that will build the foundation of your future networks.

Your next steps…

You'll be offered additional support and guidance throughout the application process by our Early Careers team. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a human, every step of the way.

If your online application is successful, you’ll be invited to complete a virtual solo-interview. The final stage is then an in-person Assessment with the team you’ll be joining in Bristol, so please keep this in mind. Our office is located near Bristol Parkway. Support is available towards travel costs if required.

Applications close on Sunday 15th March 2026.  Each year, we receive a large volume of applications, so we'd encourage you to apply early.

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At National Gas we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you require reasonable adjustments to complete the application process, please contact us at earlycareers@nationalgas.com