Black & White Engineering, a global engineering design consultancy specialising in mission-critical buildings and infrastructure, has grown its global graduate and apprentice workforce to 217 people as demand increases for engineering skills across data centres and other critical infrastructure markets.

The total means graduates and apprentices now make up 17.3% of the business, with nearly 1 in every 6 employees on a structured development pathway.

In 2025, the consultancy welcomed 137 graduates and apprentices into the business, as it continues to invest in long-term training routes at a time when employers are under pressure to build stronger skills pipelines.

Graduates and apprentices are based worldwide, with teams in Dubai, Dublin, Edinburgh, Gurugram (India), London, Manila (Philippines), Newcastle, Noida (India), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

The programme offers routes across a broad range of disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil, CFD, sustainability engineering, BIM as well as Learning & Development.

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.”

Black & White Engineering’s graduate and apprentice routes are designed to give people practical experience of technical work, client requirements and multidisciplinary project teams. The programme includes structured support from line managers, mentors and senior colleagues, alongside training in technical and professional skills.

Graduates and apprentices also take part in development events designed to broaden their experience beyond technical engineering.

There is the opportunity in October for those nominated to attend the Graduate Global Gathering in Boracay, Philippines, bringing graduates together from across international teams and strengthening relationships across Black & White Engineering’s future workforce.

Caff continued: “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.”

The consultancy also offers international work experience where graduates and apprentices in our front office can spend time working with their colleagues based in the Global Design Hub in Manila, building relationships across the wider business.

Caff added: “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 supports the delivery of data centre and critical building infrastructure projects across key international markets.