Green Careers Week 2024: Keeping up with the interns
PUBLISHED ON: 6 NOVEMBER 2024Our former National Park Interns Josh and Hayley have both secured jobs within the New Forest National Park Authority since completing their internships earlier this year.
For Green Careers Week 2024, we caught up with them to talk about their career progression and the advice they would give to others starting out in the green sector.
Josh was our first National Park Intern, starting in spring 2023, he has since joined our planning team. Hayley joined a few months after Josh and is now an administrative assistant working across the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme and the Species Survival Fund project. She has also become a member of the New Forest Youth Board and the National Parks UK Youth Voice group.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Josh: ‘Well, my name’s Josh and I’ve lived in this country for most of my life but spent a few years travelling around the world with my family whilst being homeschooled over my GCSEs. I started my career fresh out of college after completing my A levels in Geology, Environmental Science and Law, following my interests in the conservation sector. Being able to visit so many special places at such a young age gave me a real appreciation for national parks all around the world and nature in general.’
Hayley: ‘Hi, I’m Hayley, I have a huge interest in nature, wildlife and animals and I’m also a keen photographer. I studied Conservation and Ecology, which I completed at both the University of Salford and University Centre Sparsholt. I graduated from this course in July 2023, a week before starting my role as an intern at the NFNPA. Through my time at university, I volunteered for a range of organisations to gain practical experience and meet new people, including with the Salford Rangers, Forestry England, Marwell Zoo’s conservation department, and Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the South Downs. I completed my dissertation with Marwell Zoo on the Scimitar-horned Oryx and its movements in a wildlife park in Tunisia, using camera trap images and data.’
Tell us about your time as a National Park Intern
Josh: ‘When I first started as an intern, I was completely new to any workplace, getting to know how things worked and learning how to interact in a professional environment was a steep learning curve!
‘Some of my recurring duties included things like habitat management (cutting invasive species back), interacting with the public alongside the ranger team, helping out the planning and enforcement crew and any and all training opportunities I could get my hands on. After settling in and getting to know the amazing staff, it was great to know that we’re all doing our jobs for a similar reason, protecting the natural environment and educating the public on how to do the same.
‘My internship did amazing things to help me get to where I am today, without it I wouldn’t even have known that the planning department existed! Getting a chance to experience what the planning and enforcement teams do within the Authority gave me the knowledge to be able to apply for my current role as a planning officer. Meanwhile, working with the engagement team built up my confidence to be able to present and communicate effectively so that I interview well. I couldn’t have got to where I am without having the experience in those things beforehand and I am so grateful to everyone who got me here.’
Hayley: ‘I applied for the internship role, not necessarily new to nature but new to working in the environmental sector. I found it hard to get a job in this industry, even with a degree and volunteer experience, due to the high demand and competition in the field. I wanted to do the internship because I struggled to know what I really wanted to do and thought it would be perfect for trying out a variety of roles.
‘I love working at the NPA because of the amazing people I get to work with! I’m so glad that I had Josh here as another intern, he also started a few months before me, so he helped me through and taught me everything I needed to know about working at the NPA.
‘I learnt so much during my time as an intern; I had opportunities to work and lead projects, undertake weekly practical work with volunteers at RSPB Franchises Lodge, and help the education and engagement teams at various events, such as school career fairs, the New Forest Show and Dogstival. I also had chances to work on skills I wanted to improve, such as public speaking, project management and coordination, and GIS software, to name a few.
‘I gained so much confidence and did things I never thought I’d be able to do, such as presenting at two Authority meetings in front of the Members, the Chair and CEO, speaking to over 70 people on an online webinar, attending work trips to national parks I’d never been to (Dartmoor and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs) and meeting a member of Parliament!’
What is your favourite thing about your current role?
Josh: ‘My favourite thing about being a planning officer is the chance to get to visit all corners of the National Park on site visits, getting to know everywhere really well, communicating with residents and seeing that they have the same appreciation for the natural environment as I do.’
Hayley: ‘I love the variety of the role. One day I’ll be in the office, writing up meeting notes or scheduling meetings, the next I’ll be out at an event, such as Pass the Pedall, and the next I’ll be digitising maps for archaeology. It’s similar to the internship which I enjoy, I get to help a range of people on a variety of tasks and learn from everyone.’
‘During my internship, I got to be a part of the creation of the New Forest Youth Board, working with other young people, the education team, and members of the Authority, to create a group that can be a voice for young people in and around the national park. Continuing this work is one of my favourite aspects of my new role, and it’s through this work that I have gained so much confidence in myself and achieved new things from a variety of opportunities. I became a New Forest representative for the National Parks UK Youth Voice, with which I got to attend the Defra Summer Reception and meet the new Minister of Defra, Steve Reed. I also had the opportunity to attend the National Parks UK Conference as part of this group, hosting a stand with other members to talk to CEOs and Chairs of National Parks about the importance of having a youth voice.’
Had you considered a green career before joining the NPA?
Josh: ‘I have always considered working in the conservation sector, never really identifying that as a “green career”, but my heart was set on helping the natural world. After spending some time with the Authority, I realised all the different work opportunities that could actually be helping nature in the background. Who knew planning was actually all about protecting the landscape and environment?’
Hayley: ‘It took me a while to realise I wanted to work in the environment sector. I was 18 when I finally decided on this, after trying many other different things such as dance, make-up, chemistry and physics. I then started A-level Geography and Biology and that’s when I knew that this was the field I wanted to work in.
‘During my degree, I did a placement year as a ranger at a country park in the South Downs and loved it, but I also thought that was the only form of a green career – ‘working outdoors’. It wasn’t until I started working at the NPA that I learnt a green career doesn’t have to mean spending all your time outside, it can mean working in an organisation that contributes towards conserving and preserving the environment. So as an admin assistant or intern, I have a green career. A planning officer, IT technician or communications assistant can all be green careers, which is awesome!’
Why are green career opportunities so important for young people like yourself?
Josh: ‘Green career opportunities are vital for my generation, and the younger generation in general, because the awareness of the climate crisis and actions on how to stop it will only be driven by us in the near future. How can we as a generation be able to help revert this crisis when we can’t even get through the door?’
Hayley: ‘It’s so hard to get into any career at the moment, especially a green career, but it’s important we open these spaces up for young people, diverse and under-represented groups. Inclusion is so important within a workforce in any industry as it allows for diversity in decisions and discussions. Youth voice is an important topic to me as I’ve had so many instances in previous workplaces where I wasn’t listened to or heard and know many other people have suffered this too. There is an assumption that young people don’t care or lack enthusiasm towards the outdoors, but this isn’t true. The younger generation care deeply about nature and the outdoors, especially as our generation will be key in future discussions, being the ones facing the most impacts from climate change. It’s important that young people are able to enter a green career and help to make meaningful change.
‘After being asked to contribute to a panel for the Women’s Leadership in Protected Landscapes: The Policy Edit webinar with Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature UK Policy at National Lottery Heritage Fund, it was interesting to hear some facts about the scheme. The New to Nature program had around 2,500 applications globally and 54% of these were from women. Of the 98% positions created, 64% of these were women. An amazing 98 young trainees were recruited for this program, and 86% were from priority, underrepresented groups. I’m proud to have been a part of this inclusive work program.’
What has been your biggest highlight during your time at the NPA?
Josh: ‘Definitely being able to work alongside my fellow intern Hayley. It was really comforting to know that there was another person in a similar career stage as me to talk to and work with. She made the year a whole lot more fun and I made an awesome new friend along the way!’
Hayley: ‘My biggest highlight has to be visiting Loch Lomond for the Society of National Parks Staff (SNPS) annual conference in September 2024. I’d never been to Scotland but had always dreamed of going, and it was more beautiful than I had imagined. Granted, we happened to be there on the best weekend of the year weather-wise, it being the first proper sunny and warm period for a while, and there were no midges! I had a great time meeting staff from other national parks all over the UK, and getting to know more about the cultural history of Loch Lomond. It was a great experience.’
What advice would you give to someone starting out and looking at green careers?
Josh: ‘My advice is to make as many connections as possible in the area you want to go into. Volunteer with as many groups as possible and find people who are part of the larger organisations. And, for anyone already in a green career who is doubting it, experience is everything; a lot of the stuff we do is learn on the job, it will get easier, and you will get better. Stick with it, it really pays off!’
Hayley: ‘Networking is a great way to get into a green career. Get on LinkedIn and share all the amazing work you do, big or small, and connect with some amazing people who are like-minded and doing the job you wish to. Ask them or organisations for advice and mentorship, you never know if someone is willing to help you along your career journey if you don’t ask. Through this role, I’ve managed to connect with some really amazing and inspiring individuals, but I wish I had done it sooner!
‘I also recommend joining volunteer groups, societies or advisory groups which can help you build experience and develop new skills. For the younger generation, I suggest joining a youth board/voice group which can also help build experience, allow you to be involved in decision making and can help build on soft skills, such as public speaking or chairing a meeting. This is something that has helped me immensely by growing my confidence, and has given me new opportunities.’
Josh and Hayley both completed 12-month internships with the NPA under the New to Nature Scheme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and organised by Groundwork UK, with multiple partners including the Youth Environmental Service (YES), The King’s Trust (Formerly The Prince’s Trust), Disability Rights UK and Mission Diverse. This month (November 2024) the National Lottery celebrates 30 years of supporting good causes.
