Early Careers Challenge 2025 is now open for entries 

GE and BGA are delighted to announce the 2025 Early Careers Challenge

Now in its third year, the Challenge is hosted by Ground Engineering (GE) in partnership with the British Geotechnical Association (BGA). This national initiative shines a spotlight on emerging talent in ground engineering, inviting students and early career professionals to explore real-world challenges shaping the future of our industry.

Following the success of last year’s challenge, which focused on a basement design, the 2025 edition continues to encourage bold thinking, collaboration and practical innovation. If you're ready to share your ideas, expand your professional network, and gain recognition from industry leaders, this is your opportunity, submit before 22 August for the chance to work on this years challenge.

Our 2025 Early Career Challenge will show the teams that their talents and efforts will be making a difference for the future.

Early Career Challenge- Application Form

Ready to put yourself forward for the GE Early Careers Challenge, register your interest now to be in with a place of securing a spot.

Who can enter?

  • Civil engineering or geology undergraduate or postgraduate students
  • Early career professionals or apprentices with less than 5 years of experience


Who the Challenge is available for?

The Challenge will only be available for individuals working in the UK


Why take part?

  • Pitch your ideas to industry-leading judges and expand your professional network
  • Learn from sector experts and gain valuable insights
  • Get featured in Ground Engineering magazine as part of the winning team
  • Receive complimentary access to all GE conferences in 2025
  • Boost your CV with experience that sets you apart
  • Win industry recognition – and the prestigious Early Careers Challenge trophy

Hear what our past mentors said about the challenge:

Why enter

Put your ideas to industry leading judges, grow your own network and learn from sector expertise

Be mentored throughout the process by the industry experts

Gain complementary access to attend all of the 2025 GE conferences

Have your ideas and work published in the prestigious Ground Engineering Magazine if part of the winning team

Receive recognition within the industry and gain experience for your CV

Have a chance to win the Early Careers Challenge trophy

What's involved?

Applications are for individuals only, as teams will be created once the registration process closes. Potential challenge applicants will need to be able to attend all aspects of the Challenge: 

  • Virtual launch workshop  – discover the full challenge and meet your team and mentor
  • Mentor calls – teams will be invited to a catch-up call with the mentor during this period ahead of their first presentation
  • GE Sustainability – teams will be invited to join the GE Sustainability conference to learn more from our speakers
  • GE GeoTech  – teams will give their final pitch to our judges, with the winning team presenting on the conference stage

From start to finish the challenge will take a little over one month. Applicants will be required to attend a virtual kick off workshop (3rd Sep), have the opportunity to meet and attend the GE Sustainability conference (9th September), and then present to the judges at GeoTech on the 2nd October. Each team will gain feedback on their presentation from their mentor before the final presentation to the judges at the GeoTech 2025 conference.


Key dates:
Registration deadline
Launch meeting
GE Sustainability conference
GeoTech

FAQs

Below you'll find some frequently asked questions about the entry process and challenge.

To view the criteria, create your account, or login with your email and password used to create your account if you have already done so. Select ‘Enter Now’ against the category you wish to view where the criteria will be displayed. If you wish to start your entry at this point any information you add will be autosaved and you can login to complete the rest of the entry at any time.

Enter the email address and password that you used when you first started your entry on the log in page, you will then be taken through to your dashboard and will be able to continue your entry.

It's recommended to have a civil engineering background but you don't have to have direct geotechnical experience.

Between 4-5 people make up each team and each team will be supported by an industry mentor.