Natural Prospects
Training the Next Generation of Urban Conservationists
Do you love wildlife and working outdoors?
Are you practical and willing to learn new skills? Ever thought about a career in nature conservation?
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country is providing a series of 24 one-year practical conservation training placements to highly motivated individuals with a keen interest in wildlife and conservation.
If you are looking to start your conservation career in Birmingham or the Black Country, you could be eligible for Natural Prospects.
We are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £544,900 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver the Natural Prospects programme. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this work based practical training will equip 24 trainees with the skills to to gain an entry level role in the urban conservation sector including a City & Guilds Level 2 Work Based Certificate in Environmental Conservation. In 2021 additional funding was received by Green Recovery Challenge Fund to host 2 additional trainees on our Love Your River Stour project.
The Natural Prospects programme has been specifically designed to challenge the barriers that exclude some people from working in the environmental conservation sector. To be eligible, you must be 18 or over, based in Birmingham or the Black Country, and either:
- a non-graduate, or
- in receipt of benefits/from an economically deprived area, or
- from a black or minority ethnic group
You only need to meet one of these three criteria to be eligible.
This year five trainees will be hosted by The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country:
- 2 trainees will join the Love Your River Stour project
- 2 trainees will join our conservation team working across Birmingham and the Black Country
- 1 trainee will join our Education and Engagement team based at Centre of the Earth
Three further trainees will be placed with Local Authorities:
- 1 trainee will join Birmingham City Council at Lickey Hills
- 1 trainee will join Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council at Walsall Arboretum
- 1 trainee will join Wolverhampton City Council at Pendeford Mill
All applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to work hard outdoors in all weathers, the motivation to connect with people from a range of backgrounds, the desire to learn new skills, to work as part of a team and the personal commitment to complete the training programme. Some kind of volunteering experience in a related activity will be beneficial, as will good practical skills and basic IT skills.
A monthly bursary of £675 per month will be paid to trainees, a total of £9,000 over the year with the remaining 10% retained and awarded upon completion of Diploma.
The recruitment process will include working as part of a team on practical conservation tasks at different location across Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
If possible, it is recommended that you attend a Taster Day throughout October, November and December to find out more about the traineeship, meet current trainees and get a taste for practical conservation. Scheduled Taster Days are listed below and at bbcwildlife.org.uk/Events.
To find out more about any aspect of the traineeships, please contact Jen Jones, Natural Prospects Coordinator, on 07791 070895 or by email at jennifer.j@bbcwildlife.org.uk.
