Ecology Apprenticeship

About the role 

We’re looking for someone who has a passion for the environment and wants to undertake a 4-year degree apprenticeship in Environmental Management and Sustainability. You’ll be covering topics such as biodiversity loss climate change, water management, sustainable energy and land use. 

Blending theory with hands-on experience is important, so fieldwork is at the heart of your learning. Each year includes trips to local sites to bring your studies to life. The standard degree programme features residential field courses, including international trips to Europe and South Africa. Apprentices will join a residential field course in their first year, and there will also be lots of opportunities to go out with your more experienced colleagues to learn on-the-job too. 

While we are a remote business, we believe it is important for our apprentices to have that face-to-face support which is why we are looking for someone who lives in either the York or Bristol area or who are willing to relocate to these areas, where we have hub offices and where you can learn from our team of Ecologists.   

You will have the opportunity to spend time with the ecology team, the habitat delivery team and the project management team to gain exposure to the wide range of career paths for an ecologist at Environment Bank. 

What will I be doing on a day-to-day basis? 

Year 1 – 2: Trainee Ecologist 

The main duties of this role include, but are not limited to: 

• Assisting senior staff in delivering Habitat Bank delivery tasks within agreed timeframes 

• Supporting with the carrying out of desk studies and collate pertinent ecological information in order to highlight ecological opportunities and constraints to more senior staff in the team 

• Assisting with ecological survey work (particularly site walkovers, UK Habitat Classification, habitat condition assessments and more specialised botanical survey work as necessary) 

• Compiling and assisting with interpreting and analysing site survey information 

• Supporting the team with organising of training and team days.  

Year 3 - 4: Assistant Ecologist  

Will continue to build on the duties above but these will be extended to include:  

• Contributing to Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and calculations utilising the Biodiversity Metric with support from senior staff 

• Contributing to Habitat Management Plans and associated strategies with technical support from the wider team as needed 

• Creation of digital maps and presentation of habitat baselines and habitat creation proposals with support from senior staff 

• Assisting with the organisation and undertaking of surveys and liaising with landowners and land managers to discuss and adapt management plans 

Following successful completion of the four year apprenticeship and a performance review, the candidates can expect to progress into a consultant ecologist, habitat delivery manager or project manager role within the business.  

How many days a week will I be studying? 

80% of your time will be at work and 20% working towards your degree.  Off job learning is through teaching weeks on campus each year, of which Environment Bank will cover the cost of your accommodation while there.  The rest of the 20% will be remote learning and assignments. 

How do I apply?  

To apply for this role we will need to submit:  

• an up-to-date CV (no more than 2 A4 pages).  We are not expecting you to have ecology experience, but key will be to demonstrate any relevant transferrable skills you might have from education, training or jobs in other industries.  Key skills we are looking for are: communication, teamwork, problem solving, attention to detail, and time management.  

• a covering letter (one A4 page or a 3 min video) on why you are interested in a career in ecology and habitat restoration and what drives you as an individual. If you decide to record a video, please send it to [email protected]

When applying for this role please be aware of the following dates:  

27th May application deadline (late applications past this date will not be accepted) 

Assessment centre (York – 11th June, Bristol – 12th June) – in person 

Interviews: 16th- 19th June – on Teams  

Offers: 1st July 

Start date: 4th August 

Please get in touch if you are concerned about not being able to travel to the assessment centre or being able to dial into an interview remotely on a computer.   

EDI & Belonging 

At the heart of Environment Bank are the people, who make it all possible. We employ individuals, who share the same passion to live our Environment Bank mission and values.  

At Environment Bank we believe that fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace makes us more innovative, dynamic, and competitive. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone is valued and respected, free from discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. 

• A minimum of 3 A’ Levels at Grade C or higher, their equivalent (in UCAS points) or a Level 3 apprenticeship in a construction or property-related discipline 

• A passion for nature and the environment

As an organisation, we believe that work should be fulfilling, inspiring, and balanced, so we’re creating a space where our team can thrive, both personally and professionally – providing flexible working arrangements, mental wellbeing support, and more.   

We offer...  
🎁 Performance-based annual bonus up to 10% of salary  
💸 Pension scheme with employer-matched contributions at 6% of salary  

🏖️ 30 days of annual leave, plus paid bank holidays, birthday, and wellbeing day  
➕ Option to purchase 5 additional days of annual leave after probation 

🏡 Remote and hybrid flexible working options  
💼 Regional and departmental team co-working days  

🌞 Expenses-paid whole company meet twice a year  
🎗️ Team fundraising and charity events  
🎓 Ongoing career development with training and mentoring  

🩺 Medical cash back scheme to cover everyday healthcare costs  
‍🧠 Employee assistance mental wellbeing support  
❤️‍🩹️ Enhanced sickness pay allowance