Case studies : Catchment officer: Stuart

Stuart returned to full-time education as a mature student, following a long period of self-employment. Although he didn’t have a typical academic background, Stuart graduated from the Scottish Agricultural College (University of Edinburgh) with a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Environmental Management in 2008.

I decided to enrol as a student after 14 years of self-employment as a ground works contractor. I had become increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied with my daily routine and incredibly physically demanding job, and I questioned whether I would be able to continue working to retirement age. I felt that at 40, it was time for a change but was unsure what I could do.

The Scottish Agricultural College (University of Edinburgh) was recruiting students for a new course in sustainable environmental management. I decided to try to enrol despite my lack of qualifications. Four days later I started my new career path and I haven’t looked back since.

During the course students were encouraged to volunteer with organisations to gain employment experience in a field they hoped to eventually work. I didn’t have much available time but whenever I could, I assisted the biologist at the Ayrshire Rivers Trust (ART) with surveys and anything else they needed. They also proved to be an invaluable source of advice for certain subjects during my studies.

During my third and fourth year at university, my elective subjects largely related to the water environment in some way or another. My dissertation investigated diffuse pollution and agricultural impacts on trout and salmon habitat. Linking agriculture with the water environment gave me an edge when it came to securing a position with the ART as an assistant biologist and project manager following my graduation.

I have found volunteering to be an effective way into a chosen career. In today’s financial climate it may be more important than ever and the ART regularly receive enquiries from eager students looking for experience and employment. It is important to be not only enthusiastic, however, but also tenacious and reliable. Without a doubt, those who want a job the most are those who are banging on the door the hardest.

Currently I’m reintroducing water voles to lowland burns, project managing invasive non-native species control and also the removal of barriers to fish migration. Of course not everything I do is as interesting as this and a large proportion of my work involves fundraising to enable projects.

I expect my long-term future lies with ART or in a similar fishery management role. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.