Growing demand for data centres has seen Black & White Engineering significantly increase its global graduate and apprentice workforce.

The global engineering design consultancy specialises in mission-critical buildings and infrastructure and now employs 1,256 people.

Black & White Engineering has grown its global graduate and apprentice workforce to 217 people – meaning they now account for nearly one in six of its employees.

It follows a surge in demand for engineering skills across data centres and other critical infrastructure markets.

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

Graduates and apprentices are based worldwide, with teams in Dubai, Dublin, Edinburgh, India, London, the Philippines, Newcastle and Saudi Arabia.

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Caff Allen, global director of learning and 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.”

The programme offers routes across a broad range of disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil, CFD, sustainability engineering and BIM, as well as learning and development.

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

Caff Allen added: “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.”