Environmental Apprenticeships

Calling those with green fingers and a love for the environment. Did you know you could turn that into a long and literal life-changing career?

The world is in desperate need of people to help lead the way to tackle climate change and make the Earth a better place for us and future generations. 

Environmental apprenticeships are perfect if you’re passionate about the environment and want to make an active difference. 

Read on to find out more about environmental apprenticeships, where to find them and how to land yourself a role.

• What are environmental apprenticeships?

• What types of environmental apprenticeships are there?

• What skills do you need for an environmental apprenticeship?

• How much does an environmental apprentice get paid?

• Are there green apprenticeships?

What are environmental apprenticeships?

Pretty much what it says on the watering can. These are apprenticeships that’ll give you the on-the-job experience and qualifications to gain a career in the environmental sector.

As an environmental apprentice, you can focus on areas including environmental science, conservation, ecology, sustainability and environmental policy. 

The great thing is, there’s loads of opportunity too. Environmental apprenticeships are on the rise so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect role. Some apprenticeships out there include;

• Arboriculturist

• Assistant farm manager

• Environmental scientist

• Professional forester

• Soil scientist

• Water treatment technician.

Read on to find out more about roles you can do within the environmental sector.

What types of environmental apprenticeships are there?

Whether you’re looking to work closely with local wildlife and helping to preserve their habitats or making sure our rivers, lakes and drink water remain clean - there are loads of environmental apprenticeships across all levels. Here’s some of what’s out there;

Environmental Practitioner

As an environmental practitioner, you’ll concern yourself with tasks across the ecological sector. Whether that’s climate change, pollution, or developments - you’ll find real solutions that’ll positively impact the environment.

Some of your tasks will include;

• Collect environmental data through field surveys

• Helping to assist in taking soil, water, and air samples for analysis

• Help to prepare environmental impact assessments

• Develop and implement conservation plans

• Get involved with public outreach and education on environmental issues.

Countryside/Park Ranger

We are lucky to have thousands of green spaces right on our doorstep. Believe it or not, 90% of the United Kingdom is countryside. That’s a lot of trees.

Have you ever thought about becoming a countryside or park ranger? There’s plenty of opportunity too, with over 27,000 parks in the UK, including 15 National Parks. 

An apprenticeship as a countryside ranger is perfect if you’re outdoorsy, nature-driven and interested in protecting ecology. Some tasks can include;

• Monitor and manage wildlife populations

• Maintain and repair trails and pathways

• Run educational talks and walks on local ecology

• Get involved with environmental conservation projects

• Patrol the countryside to ensure visitor safety and compliance.

Water Environment Worker

A water environment worker makes sure we get to enjoy lakes, rivers, wetlands, reservoirs, marshlands, coasts and their surrounding buildings by keeping them safe from pollution, minimising flood risks and creating habitats for species to thrive.

Some tasks can include;

• Monitor and maintain water treatment facilities

• Test and sample water quality water quality

• Help in the inspection and repair of water distribution systems

• Support environmental conservation projects and initiatives

• Record accurate documentation of water management activities.

Got the old green fingers? You can 200% turn that into a fruitful career. There are loads of apprenticeships that you can do with plants. These can sometimes be known as horticultural apprenticeships. Whatever route you decide where you’ll get to grips with;

• Landscaping

• Growing and potting and planting flowers and fauna

• Maintaining garden equipment

• Planting, felling and maintaining trees.

Gardening apprenticeships are super diverse, so you have loads to choose from/specialise in. Whether you want to become an Arborist, Land-Bases Service Engineering Technician or Landscape Supervisor, there is something for every budding gardener.

Who’s hiring environmental apprentices?

There are so many employers offering apprenticeships that it can feel a little overwhelming knowing where to start. Here are some of the employers leading the way;

• ARUP

• Animal and Plant Health Agency

• Environment Agency

• Severn Trent

• Southern Water

• University of Oxford.

Want to hear more about what it’s like to do an environmental apprenticeship?

What skills do you need for an environmental apprenticeship?

While apprenticeships are there to give you all the hard skills you need for an environmental career, there are probably loads of soft skills employers want that you already have. Some of these include;

• Able to cope with physically demanding tasks

• Adaptability

• Analytical skills

• Attention to detail

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Teamwork & collaboration.

Employers also really want to know what you do outside of school and college. Hobbies are always a great addition to your CV. You get to show off your passions and interests, they’re also a bonus if you can make them relevant to the apprenticeship you apply for. Are you…

• Part of a beekeeping club?

• Always cleaning up your local area?

• Volunteering at an environmental agency/charity?

• A member of a sustainability group at school/college?

• Working on an allotment?

All these extracurricular activities will go a long way in impressing a potential employer. There are so many soft and hard skills that can come from the above too.

Ready to apply and want to know how to show off all those golden skills you’ve picked up?

How much does an environmental apprentice get paid?

As always, this all depends on the apprenticeship level you do and the employer you’re with.

Currently, the National Minimum Wage for apprentices is £6.40 per hour. You’ll be glad to know that employers often pay way above this. Overall, here are the average salaries for each apprenticeship level;

Environmental apprenticeships can range anywhere between £18,000 and £35,000 per year depending on the level.

Are there any green apprenticeships?

Hundreds of apprenticeships are considered ‘green’ for several reasons, and they aren’t necessarily all about the environment either.

Climate change and working towards a sustainable future is super important for many companies. You’ll find that loads of them have environmental and sustainability pledges and frameworks to help them reach their sustainability goals.

Even if you’re not fully focused on an environmental apprenticeship, there are apprenticeships you can do that will actively contribute to the fight against climate change. Some of these include;

• Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner (Level 4)

• Low carbon heating technician (Level 3)

• Metal recycling operative (Level 2)

• Smart home technician (Level 3)

• Sustainability business specialist (Level 7).

If you want to know if you’re going to be working for a green company, or just want to know what’s out there, The Institute for Apprenticeships have created three categories to show the impact of different roles on reducing carbon emissions. These are;

Light Green - some apprenticeships that have sustainability tasks, but are not directly linked to Net Zero.

Mid Green - apprenticeships that play a part in Net Zero, but not the main purpose

Dark Green - apprenticeships that directly work to achieve Net Zero and sustainable goals. 

Another way to out what a company is doing to contribute to a greener world is by checking their websites for sustainability pledges or their Instagram - employers will always shout out about what they’re doing for the environment. Here’s ours!

All-in-all, environmental apprenticeships are well worth it. Getting to contribute to looking after the world, improving climate change and transforming your local community while earning and picking up life-long experience is the stuff dreams are made of.

Why not start searching for your way into a fruitful career in the environment?

Good luck!