Work experience opportunities in Geography, Environmental
Science and Earth Science
This leaflet has been designed to support students and graduates who are interested in
developing careers in the geography, environmental and earth sciences sectors to find
relevant work experience.
Enclosed you will find examples of organisations working both locally and nationally in who
currently offer (or who have offered) work experience opportunities, as well as other
resources providing more general careers advice in these industries.
Local organisations
www.adas.co.uk ADAS
ADAS is the UK’s largest independent provider of environmental consultancy, rural
development services and policy advice and is based in Wolverhampton. They are willing
to receive speculative applications for work placements which should go in writing to the HR
contact at the office location you wish to work. Check their website for details.
www.myspace.com/brumconservation
Volunteers
Birmingham
University
Conservation
The University Conservation group goes to local reserves in the Midlands and helps to
conserve natural habitats and local species. More details are available on their website or
through the Student Development Department in the Guild of Students.
www.btcv.org.uk/ British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
‘BTCV turns global environmental ideas into local ideas’. This organisation recruits
nationally and internationally for volunteer officers to assist with the management and
organisation of practical conservation projects. You must be able to commit to a regular
time slot over a period of weeks / months or in some cases be available for full time work
over a set period. Opportunities are advertised on the website or you can contact local
offices speculatively. They are also able to offer summer residential volunteering
opportunities. The nearest regional office is in the Black Country.
www.martineau-gardens.org.uk Metamorphosis at the Martineau Gardens
Metamorphosis provides opportunities for local people to learn about sustainable
development, conservation and biodiversity, organic food growing and therapeutic
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horticulture. They offer volunteering opportunities between May and September mostly on
wildlife surveys and project guides. Go to the Careers and Employability Centre online
vacancy database for more information on opportunities and visit their website for contact
details.
Local Authorities
The following local authorities may be able to offer work experience opportunities in their
environment and planning departments.
• www.birmingham.gov.uk Birmingham City Council Environment and Planning
Applications should be emailed to the Human Resources Manager, specifying the type of
work experience you require, the period and whether the request is for paid or voluntary
work. Before making an application check the type of work currently being implemented by
the department via their website and indicate which of these areas you would be particularly
interested in getting involved in and why. The Human Resources contact for the
Development Department is Ann Conroy – e-mail: [email protected]
• www.solihull.gov.uk/environment Solihull Environment and Planning
All applications for work experience at Solihull go to the Work Experience Co-ordinator at
[email protected]
• www.dudley.gov.uk/environment Dudley Environment and planning
All applications for work experience to be directed to Joanne
[email protected].
Lawley
at
• www.sandwell.gov.uk Sandwell Environment and Planning
All applications for work experience to be directed to
[email protected].
Evans
at
Steve
Local Wildlife Trusts
www.wildlifetrusts.org The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts is ‘the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full
range of the UK’s habitats and species’. There are 47 Wildlife Trusts in the UK offering
volunteering and potential work placement opportunities. Contact details for local branches
are as follows:
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www.bbcwildlife.org.uk Birmingham and the Black Country
www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/hereford Hereford
http://www.herefordshirewt.org/index.htm Shropshire
www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk Staffordshire
www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk Worcester
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Local private Sector Companies
The following companies have offices in the region and may be able to offer work
experience opportunities. Some are more appropriate for postgraduates, others more
relevant to earth scientists and engineers than geography and environmental science
students. Check individual company websites for more details.
www.arup.com Arup
‘Arup is a global firm of designers, engineers, planners and business consultants… We
exert a significant influence on the built environment and are the creative force behind
many of the world’s most innovative and sustainable designs’. Their teams include
consultant engineers with geotechnical and environmental divisions. The nearest regional
offices are in Solihull and Nottingham. They offer industrial placements (5-11 months) for
engineers that may include geotechnical projects; vacancies are advertised on their
website.
www.atkinsglobal.com/careers Atkins
‘Atkins is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help
resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment’. The company
has an environmental services division and recruits graduate environmental scientists,
ecologists and geologists. They offer paid summer and industrial placements, as well as
gap year opportunities across all of the company’s functions; these are advertised online
and through the Careers and Employability Centre online vacancy database.
www.burohappold.com Buro Hapold
‘Buro Happold aims to produce high quality engineering design in concept, in detail and in
execution, on time, to programme and delivering excellent value for money’. Buro Happold
offer summer internships between July and September for students on engineering related
disciplines including geotechnical subjects. Vacancies are advertised on their website from
November onwards and recruitment is generally closed by April. They have a local office in
central Birmingham; check their website for further details.
www.capitasymonds.co.uk Capita Symonds
Captia Symonds is a multidisciplinary consultancy operating in the building design, civil
engineering, environment, management and transport sectors. There have two regional
offices, one in Birmingham and one in Redditch. They are open to speculative requests for
work placements and can offer summer and year out opportunities which are generally
advertised online.
www.enviros.com Enviros
Enviros is a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy with offices in the UK, Ireland and
Eastern Europe (their nearest regional office is Shrewsbury). They offer sandwich, summer
and shorter term industrial placements to students of a variety of disciplines including
environmental science.
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www.fabermaunsell.com Faber Maunsell
Faber Maunsell is a multi national company with local offices in Birmingham, Coventry and
Nottingham. They offer paid vacation work, industrial placements and sponsorships in a
variety of work areas for students from disciplines including environmental scientists,
ecologists and development planners. Applications are accepted all year round, but most
places are filled by April. Comprehensive details of all their opportunities are available on
their website.
www.grontmij.co.uk. Grontmij
Grontmij’s local office in Solihull offers up to four summer internships in engineering.
Placements are brokered through the University’s Civil Engineering department and/or are
advertised on the Careers and Employability Centre’s online vacancy database. For year
placements and summer internships located in other regional offices check their website.
www.hyderconsulting.com Hyder
An international consultancy, Hyder have environment, geosciences and water divisions.
They do not advertise internships on their website but encourage interested applicants to
contact their local office for possible opportunities. Their Birmingham office is located at
Rocky Lane, Aston Cross, B6 5RQ; 0870 000 3007.
www.careers.mottmac.com Mott MacDonald
Matt MacDonald has environment divisions in several of their UK locations including
Birmingham. They offer summer internships (4-12 weeks) and industrial placements which
are advertised on their website. Across the whole company they take on 60 vacation and
offer 30 industrial placements recruiting from environmental, hydrogeology and engineering
disciplines.
www.mouchel.com Mouchel
‘Mouchel is a consulting and business services group that provides many of the design,
managerial and engineering services that support modern society’. Mouchel have energy,
land and environment teams and offer a variety of paid summer and industrial placements
advertised online via the Mouchel Academy. Recruitment involves online applications which
are usually advertised from January onwards. Internships are available in nearly all the
company's functions and can take place in most of their UK offices. Their nearest local
offices are in Birmingham, Sutton and Solihull. Summer internships (for which penultimate
year students are given preference) are for 2-3 months and industrial placements are 6
months to a year.
www.neftex.com Neftex
Neftex are petroleum consultants in Oxfordshire. They offer a 3 month paid summer
internships to undergraduate geoscientists. Enquiries should be e-mailed in the first
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instance to Amy Delany at [email protected]. Recruitment takes place in spring
(closing date early May). Details generally posted on the Careers and Employability Centre
online vacancy database.
www.scottwilson.com Scott Wilson Consulting Engineers
Scott Wilson ‘provides sustainable, integrated solutions to meet the planning, engineering,
management and environmental needs of clients across the transportation, property,
environment and natural resources market sectors’. They offer 6 months, 12 months and
vacation internships in natural resources for undergraduates in earth sciences/engineering.
They accept continuous applications process online. There is a local office in Birmingham
Centre and in Solihull but placements could be nationwide.
www.watermangroup.co.uk Waterman Group
The Waterman Group is a multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy,
delivering small and large-scale projects nationally and internationally. The company
includes environmental and sustainable technology divisions, with their nearest offices in
Birmingham and Solihull. See their website for details of year placement opportunities.
www.wspgroup.com WSP Group
WSP Group a design, engineering and management consultancy offer work experience
placements mainly to civil and structural engineers but also some opportunities for
environmental planners. Applications must be made via the company's recruitment portal
after registering online. Opportunities are offered throughout the UK; their nearest office is
in Birmingham Centre.
National organisations
www.bgs.ac.uk British Geological Survey
BGS ‘provides expert services and impartial advice in all areas of geoscience’… with a
‘client base drawn from the public and private sectors both in the UK and internationally’.
Each summer BGS provide places for students with an active interest in geology and the
earth sciences to undertake fieldwork in areas throughout the UK. Although classed as
voluntary workers, individuals are paid a set allowance to cover the costs of their
accommodation and/or meals. Placements can be offered for periods of between one and
six weeks. Details are sent to universities each January/February. Also see www.gsi.ie
Geological Survey of Ireland
www.bto.org British Trust for Ornithology
The trust specialises in the design and implementation of volunteer wild bird surveys.
Scientific posts offered on a short term basis are advertised via their website. Scientific
staff are recruited from universities and research institutes across the UK, almost all have
degrees in ecology or equivalent practical experience, many have Master’s degrees and a
PhD is generally required for senior posts.
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http://www.defra.gov.uk/ DEFRA
Civil Service departments offer work experience placements for undergraduates in offices
nationwide, the details of which are on the main Civil Service web site. Applications for
placements need to go to individual Human Resource departments and most have a
closing date at the end of March. In your application detail the type of work you are seeking,
staff will circulate your details and if anyone is interested the office will contact you in
person. Work experience and placements are unpaid.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk Environment Agency
The Environment Agency produce a guide to careers in geosciences and have offered
internships previously; check their website for future developments. Also see
www.sepa.org.uk Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. They advise students to
check website for short term jobs and technician level opportunities to gain work
experience; they do not accept speculative requests.
The Geological Trusts
The following organisations rely on the voluntary support of geologists and can provide the
opportunity to gain work experience:
http://79.170.44.138/earthheritagetrust.org/pub/ Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trust
www.oxfordshiregt.org. Oxfordshire Geology Trust
www.shropshiregeology.org.uk. Shropshire RIGS
www.wgcg.co.uk. Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group
www.neyorksgeologytrust.com. NE Yorkshire Geology Trust
www.wiltsgeology.org.uk. Wiltshire Geology Group
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ Joint Nature Conservation Committee
JNCC is the statutory adviser to the Government on UK and international nature
conservation. The organisation relies heavily on the work of volunteers for various habitat
and species surveillance and monitoring programmes. Information on how to apply for
work with agencies including The Mammals Trust, the Bat Conservation Trust and the
People’s Trust for Endangered Species can be found on their website.
www.naturalengland.org.uk Natural England
The purpose of Natural England is to conserve, enhance and manage the natural
environment. They offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities – go to their website to
search their Volunteer Directory.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk National Trust
Opportunities are available nationwide for volunteers throughout the year. The website
allows you to search for a variety of volunteering opportunities by location. They also run a
‘Working Holidays’ scheme which lasts for 2 to 7 days. The cost of food and staying in
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hostel accommodation is around £60 for a week’s stay and you could be involved in
anything from stream clearing to building a deer enclosure!
www.RSPB.org.uk Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The RSPB recruit volunteers for a wide range of projects nationally some of which require a
few hours a week, others are longer term placements. Some of the residential long term
placements are a minimum of four weeks but many require a commitment of up to 6 months
and some fall in term rather than vacation time. Locally there are opportunities at Sandwell
Valley in West Bromwich and survey opportunities across the region. See the website.
www.woodland-trust.co.uk Woodland Trust
‘The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated solely to the protection of our
native woodland heritage’. Volunteering opportunities exist in surveying and mapping,
biodiversity monitoring, research and planning as well as acting as a wood warden. The aim
is to match a candidate’s expectations, availability and experience with tasks identified for
volunteers. Opportunities advertised online.
Alternative, renewable and sustainable technologies
www.cat.org.uk Centre for Alternative Technology
The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynleth runs a volunteering programme
throughout the summer taking 4 people a week. Places are normally allocated by end of
March so apply early and for applications to be well thought out as competition is fierce.
Accommodation is provided (youth hostel style) Full details are available on the website.
www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk/ - Sustainability West Midlands
A not-for-profit company that works with their members in the business, public and
voluntary sectors. Includes a careers and job vacancy section, and you can also sign up for
a regular e-newsletter.
www.sustrans.org.uk Sustrans
Sustrans is a civil engineering charity which designs and builds routes for cyclists, walkers
and people with disabilities. The website advertises regional volunteering opportunities as
a ranger and working holidays helping to build/maintain cycle networks.
www.res-ltd.com Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable Energy Systems develop renewable energies internationally. They run a
postgraduate placement scheme in their wind energy, heat and power and sustainable
buildings businesses. Students undertake a research task as part of their placement. See
the website.
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www.wastewatch.org.uk Waste Watch
Waste Watch is a UK based charity educating people about the environment and
sustainability. They offer occasional volunteering and internship opportunities open to a
wide range of disciplines including environmental sciences/management. See the website.
National Water and Energy Companies
The following water, energy and waste management companies may recruit geography,
earth and environmental science students as well as graduates of other disciplines and
could be worth contacting speculatively regarding work experience placements.
www.stwater.co.uk Severn Trent Water
www.anglianwater.co.uk Anglian Water
www.thameswater.co.uk/ Thames Water
www.veoliawater.co.uk Veolia Water
www.eswater.co.uk Essex and Suffolk Water Company
www.eon-uk.com E-on
General Careers Information
For information on careers in the geography and environmental sector you can use the
‘Explore Types of Jobs’ facility on the Prospects website at www.prospects.ac.uk
For general information on work experience, go to www.careers.bham.ac.uk and follow the
link to ‘How to find work experience’. From here you can also navigate to the Careers and
Employability Centre online vacancy database.
www.lantra.co.uk LANTRA and www.euskills.co.uk EUskills –
These are the Sector Skills Councils for environmental and land based industries and
energy, waste and water; they provide careers and labour market information.
www.environmentcareers.org.uk Student Force For Sustainability Environment
Careers Student Force produce general careers information for the sector as well as leaflets on
environmental placements, internships and volunteering.
www.cogent-ssc.com Cogent –
Cogent is the Sector Skills Council for the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Oil and Gas,
Nuclear, Petroleum and Polymer Industries; again providing careers and labour market
information.
www.thegeologistsdirectory.co.uk The Geologists Directory Online –
This is a comprehensive directory of employers working in the earth sciences sector, useful
as a source of contact details for speculative enquiries.
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www.geolsoc.org.uk The Geological Society This web page provides links to organisations offering internships and placements
nationally.
www.greencareersguide.com/ Green Careers Guide
Job vacancies, resources and articles (mainly US based).
www.britishdrillingassociation.co.uk British Drilling Association This website has a list of members’ addresses which may be useful for speculative work
experience enquires.
www.groundwateruk.org UK Groundwater Forum This website provides careers information and resources for groundwater specialists as well
as useful links to employers.
The following recruitment search engines may also provide useful leads for
speculative enquiries for work experience opportunities:
www.lowcarbon.com/jobs Low Carbon Jobs
www.treehugger.com Tree Hugger
www.greenjobsonline.co.uk Green Jobs Online
Updated Aug 2011 (JCR)
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