Learn and return program

The Learn and Return training program has been in place since the establishment of the BMD Group in the UK in October 2022.

In the UK, the BMD Group operates its advisory business, Empower, and contracting business, BMD Infrastructure Services. Participants will work in one or both businesses, subject to client demand.

The program is designed as a ‘tour’ of UK sites over a three-year period, where successful applicants gain experience in locations that will give them the insights, skills, and the necessary discipline relevant to the program of work that AUKUS has created.

We see this as a win-win for everyone: clients in the UK benefit from the in-demand skillset that Australian engineers bring, clients in Australia benefit from the enhanced skills that the returning Aussie engineers bring, and of course, the participants benefit from having enriched careers as well as life experience, with Europe on their doorstep.

Learn and Return is a life-altering opportunity and a chance to be a part of something bigger.

We believe the success of Learn and Return is in the attitude of the participants. We’re looking for people who like the challenge of working in new teams and who back themselves to make a difference where they land. Successful participants are ones who are resilient and prepared to give new places a fair go.

We are interested in people who have already have experience working on construction projects as engineers or supervisors. We are particularly interested in people who have expertise in P6 programming, virtual digital construction, and estimating.

There is no age restriction but to date, the majority of people who have participated in our scheme have done so through the Youth Mobility Visa route that is established under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement.

This often involves sites that are nuclear licenced, such as:

• Hinkley Point C in Sommerset
• Sizewell C in Suffolk
• Raynesway in Derbyshire
• Faslane in Scotland
• Sellafield in Cumbria
• AWE in Reading
• Devonport in Devon

Candidates who work in these locations for their first two years are then afforded the possibility to work in London and the South East of the UK.

We understand that moving to a new country is expensive, so we cover the cost of flights (departure from Australia and return), initial accommodation and any visa-related costs. There are other incidental costs associated with moving and returning that we are happy to accommodate. In return, we ask that candidates who participate in the scheme stay in the UK for two to three years and stay with BMD after returning to Australia.

The pay rates in the UK differ across the country, with London having the highest salaries but also the highest cost of living. We benchmark our pay to sit above the UK regional pay rates to reward our participants during the three years they work with us.

This program covers multiple aspects of project management, from business development, risk management, bidding work, program management, commercial, and legal.

Our program is based on training with our UK management team, sharing their real-life stories and the projects and events which have shaped them.

We also involve our clients in this training, which creates a social bond between participants who experience the program over the two years of modules and training.

Australia needs to develop a skilled workforce of construction engineers and professionals to support the new AUKUS nuclear-licenced sites in South Australia and Western Australia.

By focusing on UK nuclear projects now and returning skilled professionals to the Australian market, we can proactively build the skills needed to meet this emerging demand in Australia and position the nation for success.

That said, participants don’t have to work on nuclear sites if they don’t want to, as our business in the UK has plenty of opportunities in rail, water, energy and highways.

Given our significant financial, personal and organisational investment in this program, we ask selected candidates to stay with us when they return to Australia.

That's all. So, what are you waiting for?

This program aligns with the UK–Australia Youth Mobility Visa and will also welcome experienced candidates eager to apply their skills to Australia’s growing infrastructure challenges.

Over the next decade, Australia will face unprecedented demand for engineering talent across sectors such as energy, defence, water security, and transportation, driven in part by Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

If you’re ready to apply now, please express your interest via the button below, and we’ll do our best to fast-track your placement.