For Green Festival 2024, our Careers Centre hosted an exciting panel all about exploring the kind of green careers you can pursue and how to approach employers across the sector with a range of industry experts.
For a quick recap of what green careers are, check out our ‘Green Festival 2024 – what are green careers?’ blog.
Who attended the panel?
Dr. Holly Tipper is a Molecular Biologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Gaining her degree in Biology at the University of Gloucestershire and masters in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Bath, she gained a PhD in Medical Studies at the University of Exeter. With responsibilities including environmental sampling and researching the effects of anthropogenic pollution on microbial community and environmental health, her department’s aim is to better the organisation’s three goals: Build resilience in a changing climate, enhance ecosystems and human health, and restore biodiversity for a sustainable future.
Benjamin Crampin is a Flood Risk Manager at the Royal Borough Windsor and Maidenhead. While studying Physical Geography at the University of Portsmouth, he did a placement year with a local government and work experience with Wokingham Borough Council, which paid off later as he’d return to Wokingham as a Technical Officer before working for Surrey Council in flood management for six years. Responsible for ensuring the council undertakes statutory and legal duties in regards to flooding, his department’s main strategy is to mitigate its impact on residents and properties.
The other Holly for the panel, Holly Gray is a Planning and Policy Officer for the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), the only voluntary trust in the region that manages 86 nature reserves. Responsible for the local and wider conservation strategy around Berkshire, her work ranges from reviewing planning applications of infrastructural developments that could damage local wildlife, to forming partnerships with community groups, landowners and farmers, to campaigning with national wildlife trusts at Westminster.
Samantha Sharp works as a Technical Expert in Environmental Fate at Syngenta, one of the world’s leading agriculture companies. Gaining her Biology degree at Southampton University, she pursued her masters in Agriculture, Ecology and Environment at the University of Reading after discovering her passion for it. Getting into Syngenta’s graduate scheme, she moved her way up internally and now assesses plant protection products including how they will break down in the environment and how farmers will utilise them.
George Stokewell is a Lead Environmental and Sustainability Advisor at The Clancy Group, one of the UK’s largest privately owned construction firms. Another Reading alumni, he studied Environmental Management in 2018 and started his career as an Environment Officer before moving onto enforcement, reviewing water companies and small and large-scale waste operations. Mainly responsible for signing off energy contracts, they can include moving power from one substation to a newly built one – and that includes one in Leicester Square!
Luke Cantellow is an Energy Officer for the University of Reading whose journey was fascinating. After gaining a degree and masters in Photography, he decided to forgo the academic route and set up his own business before moving onto EPCs reviewing deck building. Inspiring him to pursue a career at ESOS, he then joined the University of Reading as an Energy Officer as he said it felt ‘purposeful – doing something with an organisation that seemed to have some of the goals I started to acquire.’
What top tips did they offer?
Use LinkedIn
Networking is vital in any sector, and LinkedIn is a great option for connecting with potential employers. Samantha found her job at Syngenta via LinkedIn, saying ‘It’s really worth getting because you can snoop on other people and figure out what they’re up to, but you can also look at what each job actually entails.’ Holly Tipper agreed, adding ‘it’s where I keep up to date with everything that’s going on in my research area.’
If you want to learn more about using LinkedIn for your career pursuits, why not read our blog Navigating the job search with LinkedIn: Advanced Tips and Techniques?
Everyone’s career path is different
As the panellists and their wide range of backgrounds show, there’s not one set path to get into your desired sector, especially one as diverse as environment. As Ben summed it up, ‘Don’t worry if your career path doesn’t start how you wanted it to start. Always look at what sort of things do you want to get into and where can give you the sort of skills that can then take you to those career paths.’
Volunteer
‘If you want to get into any kind of role with any environmental NGO (non-governmental organisation), I would 100% volunteer. It’s important to show that you are keen and you want to get that practical experience’ Holly Gray said, referring to her previous experience and the fact that BBOWT utilises over 1,100 volunteers during peak season. ‘Charities could not exist in this sector if it was not for their volunteers.’
Search for placements and graduate schemes
As Samantha said, ‘Placements are a really good way of getting your name out there. I feel like [graduate schemes] are quite competitive, but they are a really good way of getting into it. Companies are now realising you don’t need 20 plus years of experience when you were 21…they teach you what you need to know in one job and it’s a nice starting ground.’
Highlight your soft skills
It’s always a plus getting a degree in your desired sector whether it’s Environmental Management or Agriculture, what will take you the extra mile is your soft skills. As Luke said, ‘Who you are as an individual and what you can offer them are just as important. If you’re really passionate about getting a job somewhere, research the company and tell them what you’re going to do and what you offer to the individual company.’
If you’re interested pursuing green careers, there are so many ways to access this area. Make sure to connect with us or book an appointment with a careers consultant on My Jobs Online (MJO) if you have any questions or are searching for advice.
Author: Mica Blackwell, Careers Information and Engagement Assistant