Shea Bunyan, 20, is doing a degree level apprenticeship to become an environmental practitioner with the Environment Agency in Kent.
He decided on an apprenticeship because he values hands-on experience and putting theory he learns into practice. He believes that blending education with his day-to-day work has helped him learn faster.
The thing that fires him up most every day is knowing that his role is helping to save the environment.
Environmental practitioners support their employers to promote sustainable growth in a manner that is practical whilst responsible, using fewer natural resources, producing less waste, and without compromising the quality of the built and natural environment.
“I took the opportunity of starting a role that would make a difference. Having grown up in an era where environmental protection featured more and more in the news and throughout society, I knew that it was partly my responsibility to take control and make a real change.”
At the minute, Shea is working in South London as part of the waste team, which regulates the storing, treatment, recycling and disposal of waste. Part of his role in this team is to coordinate paperwork for waste visits which ensure environmental measures are in place and contact waste owners who aren’t complying with regulations, handing them enforcement notices and requesting evidence of compliance.
Looking to the future, Shea wants to work in the flood and coastal risk department. He has also volunteered for a role in flood incident and environment management, which is open to all Environment Agency employees. The role will help to develop his skills in major flood and environmental incidents and get more understanding of the wide breadth of work the Environment Agency does.
Shea has no regrets about the choices he made and believes he made the right career decision. His apprenticeship has allowed him to get his foot in the door in a sector that is becoming more important every day:
“My apprenticeship is important to me because it is important to the environment. Careers in the green sector are becoming ever more vital in the world we live in to regulate and protect our precious planet. My role is great as it allows me to join as a complete blank sheet and whereas other employees would very rarely leave their specific team they have joined, I get to rotate into all the different branches of the Environment Agency which means I get a greater understanding of the different and important work we do.”
Shea is currently doing a level 6 environmental practitioner apprenticeship
