If you were to think about careers at The Wildlife Trusts, what would you imagine? Maybe a site ranger looking after the practical management of a nature reserve, or an ecologist surveying precious species? While you’d be right to picture the conservation experts at the heart of our work to protect and restore our natural world, you might be surprised by the diversity of job roles that play an essential part in our mission.
Visit any Wildlife Trust office and you may find colleagues in IT mapping our land holdings, Finance looking after our project budgets, Communications getting our success stories in the media, Events organising engaging activities for our supporters…and lots more. Bringing wildlife back requires a huge range of skills and roles, which means we need a range of people too!
T-Level industry placements are just one way we’re looking to expand accessible career pathways outside of traditional conservation in The Wildlife Trusts. With a focus on vocational skills, T-Levels are qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds which involve a period of work experience. We’re thrilled that four Wildlife Trusts are currently piloting placements for Digital and Business T-Level students, who are already making an impact.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust welcomed a Digital Production, Design & Development student to their team last November. Leo is working on an important project to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of the Trust’s website, and says "I have been with the wildlife trust for a couple months now and it has been a fantastic opportunity to help build my skills – including around things like writing inclusive content and understanding accessibility guidelines - with help from numerous staff across the different Trusts”
At the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, our Campaigning & Communities department has been joined by a Management & Administration student. Kyian is working with our Youth Activism Manager to support networks of young staff and supporters, as well as youth-led campaigns. Kyian says:
“I’m looking forward to developing important skills like project management and computer skills. I've had the chance to work in various roles, and my favourite experience was making a short documentary about otters. Spending 56 hours here so far has really enriched my understanding of The Wildlife Trusts and having a job as a whole.”
Last month Derbyshire Wildlife Trust welcomed Dom, a Management & Administration student, to their HR department. She says:
“Undergoing a T-Level placement in the Wildlife Trust has been an exciting journey. I have been introduced to job opportunities working in the environmental sector, integrating with teams across departments, and I’ve been encouraged to explore software and systems.
Collaboration as part of a team and with external stakeholders is a key driving force in The Wildlife Trusts’ cultural organisational structure. I am hoping to gain a deeper understanding in the way environmental sectors operate because I enjoy making a difference to society, as well as developing my skills and knowledge by integrating myself in different functions of the job role, to adapt and fully be a part of the team environment.”
The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has also recently embarked on a placement with a Management & Administration student. This placement is rotating around the organisation, offering a range of experience in a variety of departments.
None of these students necessarily thought that the environmental sector was a career option for them, but hopefully their time with The Wildlife Trusts will prove that there is a place here if they want it. You don’t have to be a wildlife expert – or even a dedicated enthusiast – to be a brilliant management accountant, graphic designer, HR officer or a dozen other examples!
As we raise awareness of the breadth of roles and routes into working in The Wildlife Trusts, this pilot will help us learn how we can support people at the start of their careers, especially those from backgrounds currently underrepresented in our sector. We’re growing our confidence and capacity to offer different types of work placements and entry level roles, while supporting people to develop skills for their future careers and offering opportunities to connect with nature.
Everyone can do something to help bring nature back, from signing a petition to creating a community group. And when it comes to a career, in the thousands of roles at The Wildlife Trusts, odds are there’s a place for you.