Undergraduates from the University of Birmingham have experienced ecology in action during their student placements.
As the UK’s largest natural environment consultancy that’s owned by a Wildlife Trust, Middlemarch is in a unique position to offer student placements in ecology to help the next generation of professionals gain real-life experience in the natural environment sector.
Developing the next generation of ecology professionals
Students Simran Kainth (pictured above) and Finlay Webb, both from the University of Birmingham, have been working with us since Christmas to complete work-experience modules as part of their degrees.
Simran is in the final year of a BSc in Environmental Science. During her student placement, she helped plan and prepare Middlemarch’s colleague engagement survey.
The survey is designed to assess how well colleagues are engaged with the consultancy, their preferred working styles and their views on the business, such as how well Middlemarch is performing on its own sustainability strategy.
Next stage in her career
Simran said: “My studies at university have taught me some of the theory behind environmental science, but my placement has given me a greater understanding of how things work in the corporate world.
“I’d never really considered joining an environment consultancy before, but this experience has opened my eyes to the possibly of joining a business such as Middlemarch as the next stage in my career.”
As part of his work-experience placement, Finlay identified online data sources that will help map the state of UK biodiversity. This information will feed into Middlemarch’s field-based biodiversity surveys to give clients a more complete picture.
Useful new skills
Finlay added: “I’ve been working with online data and also ArcGIS software. This has helped me develop useful new skills in real-life situations that you can’t really experience at university.
“I’ve learned such a lot at Middlemarch. Putting this experience on my CV will really help me as I apply for jobs after my degree, and particularly within environment consultancies.”
Training practice for ecology professionals
Harry Barton, Executive Director, said: “Middlemarch prides itself on being a training practice for professionals in the fields of ecology, arboriculture and environmental science at all stages of their careers. Student placements are just one of the ways that people who join us receive all the support they need to develop as individuals and progress in their careers.
“As well as shorter placements like these, we also offer a year-long placement scheme that provides a structured, entry-level position at Middlemarch with a clear route for progression and a structure to develop a well-rounded, natural environment skillset.”
Find out more
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