Meet Amelia, 17, from North Yorkshire, to find out more about life as an apprentice conservation officer at the Ribble Rivers Trust. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Having a break between school and work helped me develop my confidence and skills.
Can you explain what your job is and the kinds of things you do day-to-day?
I'm an apprentice conservation officer. My work is very seasonal so it depends on the time of year and what needs to get done. I do practical tasks like tree planting and building fences in the winter. In the summer, we do other work like preventing the erosion of river banks.
I also do engagement work with school groups and the community to try and get them into volunteering with the Trust.
As part of the apprenticeship, I go to college once every two weeks. At college, it’s theory-based, so I'm getting in-depth knowledge about why we do the work we do.
What skills do you use at work?
Communication skills are very important. I have to give clear instructions to volunteers who work with us.
I have to have good time management skills. You need to be aware of how long volunteers are working for. Organisation is important as well, because if you don’t take the correct tools and resources, then your volunteers won’t have anything to do.
Because we sometimes work with teams of volunteers in remote areas, it's especially important to be aware of any health and safety risks.
Was there anything you studied at school that made you interested in this kind of work?
I was always very interested in Geography and Science but when I chose to do it at A-level I found I didn’t enjoy it.
My apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to take the practical aspects of those subjects which I really love and turn those into a job. For example, at work I use the surveying and geographic information system (GIS) mapping skills that I learnt in Geography.
Top tips
- Research your options and make sure you pick subjects that you enjoy
- If you want to work with charities and smaller companies, I’d strongly suggest volunteering and work experience placements, because getting references (recommendations from people you have worked with) really helps when you look for jobs
- Finding the right job can help your mental health. I wasn't in a good place when I finished my A-levels but I've been much better since I started my apprenticeship.
Amelia’s conservation apprenticeship will provide her with relevant experience to apply for a job as a countryside officer. Countryside officers manage, protect, and improve the rural environment.
What to expect if you want to be a countryside officer
- Countryside officer average salary: £19,000 to £34,000 per year
- Countryside officer typical working hours: 39 to 41 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a countryside officer?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course (such as a Level 2 Diploma, a Level 3 Certificate or a T-level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production - England-only, from Sept 2023) or an intermediate apprenticeship for countryside workers or higher apprenticeship for countryside rangers. Check with your course provider which alternative qualifications they accept. Paid or unpaid work experience can be very useful when applying for jobs. Organisations like , the and offer training for volunteers.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service,
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the for more on T-levels.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .
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