Inspiring the next green generation

By Athena Allen, Marine Ecologist

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the National School and College Leavers Festival at the Birmingham NEC. I was invited to help run the stand of the Green Jobs for Nature initiative under the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) alongside colleagues from consultancy and public sector backgrounds.

The festival is one of the largest of its kind, with over 20,000 students attending over the two days, and more than 50 companies running stands, the largest of which was run by the British Armed Forces (sponsors of the event) and featured a tank, a landrover, and a helicopter!

Other companies in the green sector included the Royal Horticultural Society, Lantra, and the Arboriculture Society. Attending students ranged from 16-18 years of age and were seeking information on the next steps toward their dream careers after school or college. It was an inspiring two days speaking to a range of students from those who are budding ecologists who are keen to get into the field, to those who perhaps hadn't thought of working in a green career as an option. It is vital for our future that the green field continues to recruit and grow, and that the next generation of ecologists are encouraged, trained, and brought into the fight to protect this amazing planet.

All the students that I spoke to seemed committed to a career in nature and to ensuring that humans and wildlife can live in harmony. They were also keen to learn more about the range of field equipment that we had on the stand from bat detectors to camera traps and infrared cameras. In an unexpected turn, there were also several career changers visiting the stand, many of whom were biology or geography teachers looking to make a lifestyle change to be able to spend more time outdoors. It was encouraging to see that, as well as the students at entry level, more experienced people with a range of transferable skills were interested in joining the field.

Whilst this career path is understated in schools and colleges, with little to no resources or advice provided in the area, the role of green careers in our world is vital. Those of us who are lucky enough to be in this amazing field should seize any opportunity to encourage a love of nature in young people. After all, our hard work protecting this wonderful planet will be handed on to them.