Environment and Sustainability Placement Student Review

Working in the Environment and Sustainability department, my day-to-day consisted of supporting ongoing projects in improving biodiversity and the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). This was broken down into attending meetings, liaising with project stakeholders and analysing data on excel documents.

Learned new technical skills in a specialised software to a high level. I've also developed skills in other areas such as communication, data analysis and problem solving

I was given large amounts of responsibility in almost all of my projects, and eventually becoming the lead one one of my projects

The support I received was above and beyond my expectations. From the start I was always encouraged to ask as many questions and for as much help as I needed. The support extended personally as well when I fell ill during my placement and had to take things slow for a while, there was a lot of support offered from the company and personally from my coworkers which i was very grateful for.

The company culture was incredibly supportive and friendly. I felt welcomed and apart of the team instantly. They've perfected the blend of professional and casual/friendly. There is always a strong teamworking atmosphere and plenty of willingness to collaborate. Lots of emphasis and opportunities for professional and personal development as well.

I've extremely enjoyed my placement. From the people I've worked with to the role itself I have felt fulfilled and grateful the opportunities I've had over the past year. It's been an incredibly rewarding year and I definitely have accomplished and contributed much more than I thought I would have in a year. It's been a hands on year and I've learned and developed skills that will stay with me throughout my career.

Yes

You don't need to know the ins and out of steel before applying, as long as you have passion and an interest in the general field of work the more technical knowledge will be picked up naturally. Be prepared to take on new challenges even if you feel out of your depth as you'll learn a lot more by trying than avoiding difficult situations.