By Emma Randall, Nature-based Solutions Officer at Surrey Wildlife Trust (BSc Zoology 2017)
My journey into the environmental conservation sector began before I started my degree. I’ve always loved spending time outdoors and learning about the natural world, and I was fortunate to be offered a sixth form work experience placement at Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) where I spent a week helping out with a variety of activities including practical conservation work and office admin tasks. This taster of what it would be like to work in the conservation sector made me absolutely certain that this was the career path for me. Little did I know that I would be working at SWT full-time just a few years later…
Choosing a degree
I chose to study Zoology in order to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enter into this sector, however other degrees such as Biology or Earth Sciences are equally valuable. In fact, the environmental sector needs all kinds of people, including those with marketing, business or education backgrounds to name just a few. My degree gave me a really good grounding in areas such as practical field work, ecology, and statistical analysis. A real highlight was my third-year field trip to Samos, Greece, where I had the opportunity to visit a stunning location and survey some really amazing species.
What next?
When I graduated, I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in. There are so many possible opportunities such as ecological consultancy, data analysis and practical conservation. While I was considering my options and exploring the job market, I applied for an internship at Royal Holloway as a Biodiversity Research Assistant. I spent six weeks supporting a post-grad project investigating the effects of biodiversity sessions and outdoor learning on the wellbeing of children in schools and found this experience really rewarding. I had also come to the realisation that, while many jobs in the conservation sector do not require a post-grad degree, it would make me a lot more competitive during the application process. It wasn’t an easy decision as further study is a big financial commitment, but for me personally, it was extremely beneficial.
Getting the job…
After studying for an MSc in Wildlife Management & Conservation at Reading University, I successfully applied for a job as a Data Officer at the Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre (SBIC), which is hosted by Surrey Wildlife Trust. This was a real full-circle moment, and I was so excited to be part of an organisation that is dedicated to nature conservation. SBIC is one of a network of Local Environmental Records Centres in the UK. The role of these records centres is to collect, manage and share environmental data. My role involved lots of data management and GIS work, which is where my MSc really came in handy.
Three years (and a global pandemic) later, I had the opportunity to apply for my current role – Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Officer at SWT. Nature-Based Solutions involve working with nature and natural processes to protect and restore ecosystems, while also addressing challenges such as climate change or flood-risk management. It’s such an exciting, fast-paced area to work in, and it’s becoming ever more important as the climate crisis worsens. My team provides an advisory service for a broad range of landowners in Surrey who would like to manage their land better for nature but aren’t quite sure what their options are. While I still do plenty of data and GIS work, my weeks are now much more varied. Some days are more desk-based, while others are spent meeting landowners and visiting some really interesting places including small landholdings, farms and private estates.
Advice and tips
There are plenty of routes into this sort of career. If you are keen to get a job working outdoors in practical conservation, it’s worth trying to get some work experience or volunteering to gain those skills. There are also college courses on offer if you need to upskill in a specific area. If desk-based work is more your thing, you could look at jobs that involve data management, marketing or research. The SWT website has lots of useful tips on how to improve your CV and what experience you might need for certain jobs: https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/act-wildlife/wildlife-help-advice/careers-conservation
In summary
Working in this sector isn’t easy. Nature is still struggling despite our hard work, and it’s difficult to stay optimistic at times. However there is a real value to what we do, and I am lucky enough to be surrounded by so many knowledgeable and passionate colleagues who really care about what we are trying to achieve as an organisation - to improve the state of nature in Surrey and help more people to experience the joy and magic of nature.