Environment and agriculture : Entry and progression

How do I find a job?

• See typical employers for a list of large companies with graduate training schemes.
• Jobs for new graduates are rarely advertised. Speculative applications are the most common way in to the industry. Advertised vacancies usually target experienced people as they are harder to recruit. Networking will increase your chances as many jobs are filled by word of mouth.
• Other positions are filled by internal recruitment. Getting a foot in the door by starting in a junior or administrative role can lead to future opportunities. Voluntary work or work experience can also get you noticed and help when applying for vacancies.
• Industry specific jobsites include Countryside Jobs Service (CJS), Environment Jobs, Environmental Careers , Environmental Data Services (ENDS) and Land-Force .
• Professional associations also advertise vacancies. See, for example, the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), The Landscape Institute (LI), the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Royal Forestry Society (RFS).
• Relevant newspapers and journals with vacancies include the Farmers Guardian, Farmers Weekly , The Grocer, Horse and Hound, The Environment Post and Nature Jobs.
• Directories of companies or of member organisations can be useful for speculative applications, e.g. the ENDS Environmental Consultancy Directory, Fresh Produce Consortium, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).
• Specialist recruitment agencies include Noble Futures for animal health, equestrian and agricultural jobs and MorePeople and Horticruitment UK for horticultural roles. 
• The careers sites of agricultural or land-based colleges also advertise vacancies.

Find out more about job application advice.

What skills do I need?

Practical skills specific to your area of interest are vital. The industry is becoming increasingly technical and there is a shortage of suitably skilled managers. A relevant degree and work experience, either paid or voluntary, will make you more attractive to employers.

Other key skills include:

• problem solving and creative planning;
• teamworking;
• time management and the ability to work to deadlines;
• customer service;
• management and leadership - knowledge of business strategies, business law, financial management, risk management and global trading are increasingly sought after;
• an understanding of environmental issues, particularly auditing, sustainable development and waste management, health and safety and EU legislation.

See A future in, the careers website of Lantra: The Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land-based Sector, for more details of skills requirements for specific roles.

Where can I find work experience?

Work experience, through a graduate placement scheme or internship, summer vacation work, a gap year or voluntary work, is essential for getting in to most jobs within this industry. Be prepared to be flexible. Speculative applications are often effective, particularly for voluntary work. You might also obtain work experience by networking with people who already have contacts in the industry.  

Organisations offering work placement schemes include:

• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)  - runs gap year placements and summer vacation work for agriculture students.
• StudentForce for Sustainability , together with the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges - operate the College & University Sustainability Placements (CUSP) .
• large companies - likely to have work placement schemes. Visit individual company websites for more information.

Organisations offering environment-related voluntary work include:

• British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
• Groundwork
• Natural England
• The Wildlife Trusts

See opportunities abroad for more ideas for work experience overseas.

Is postgraduate study useful?

Postgraduate study is not usually necessary for entry and some employers will prefer relevant work experience. However, competition for environmental jobs means that a relevant postgraduate qualification may enhance your employment opportunities.

As much of the workforce is self-employed or working in small to medium-sized companies (SMEs), further study often depends on the motivation and career development needs of the individual.

Some government or research posts may expect accreditation. Self-employed workers may find accreditation a useful promotional tool. 

See Find a Masters  for details of postgraduate courses. Many professional bodies also list relevant postgraduate courses and/or training on their websites.

How can my career develop?

• As most graduates work in SMEs or are self-employed, career progression depends on networking, geographical mobility and taking a proactive approach to job seeking/business expansion.
• It is vital to maintain and update practical skills in order to take advantage of career opportunities.
• You can expect a more structured training scheme and career progression with the larger graduate recruiters.