Graduate scheme offers me the chance to define my environmental career direction more clearly

From an early age I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. With my dad being a geologist, we often went hiking, not just in the UK but abroad too. I’ve always been in awe of the natural world, in part thanks to watching Sir David Attenborough documentaries. In high school, I had an amazing geography teacher who supported my initial understanding, which then led me to study geology and physical geography at university.

My time at university was incredible. The academic staff were amazing, I had supportive friends and was studying a truly dynamic subject that offered a range of learning environments, from the lab and the lecture hall to the mountains! I really enjoyed the multidisciplinary aspect of my course.

I applied to the RSK Graduate Scheme because I wanted to build on my undergraduate degree. At the same time, I wasn’t certain which specific job role would suit me best, so the rotational structure of the scheme was appealing. It would offer me the chance to experience different positions, develop a broad skill set and find the career path that aligns most closely with my interests.

I was so happy when I found out I’d been successful in securing a place on the scheme. It felt like a huge relief to have the next chapter in my career journey secured, especially after spending so much time in my final year applying. I happened to find out on the day of my graduation ball, which made it even more special, as I could celebrate knowing I had a job lined up. I was also really excited about the opportunity to meet the RSK team and get started.

My time at RSK Environment will see me based in the Manchester office. I am working as part of the central and north-east environmental managers team, which provides expertise in securing signoff for planning, Development Consent Order (DCO) and Development of National Significance (DNS) requirements. We also develop and implement practical strategies to address complex environmental issues and help clients maintain compliance with environmental legislation and provide support with sustainability strategies and reporting. The environmental management plans prepared by the team cover areas such as waste, surface water, noise and wider sustainability requirements. This position is mostly desk-based; however, there is also the opportunity to go onto sites as well.

From my first placement, I hope to gain practical experience and develop my technical skills, while learning how different teams collaborate to deliver projects successfully. More broadly, I want to gain knowledge from colleagues across disciplines, strengthen my professional network and grow both my confidence and capability as an environmental professional. Overall, I hope my time on the scheme gives me a deeper understanding of how the industry operates in practice and helps me identify where my interests best align for a future career path.