Bethany, Apprentice Catchment Delivery Adviser
What attracted you to Wessex Water, and how did you hear about your role?
When I saw the role of an apprentice with the Catchment team advertised at a sixth-form careers event, the work sounded perfect for my interest in working outdoors and protecting the environment.
I discovered that I could do an environmental practitioner degree alongside an exciting job that could make a positive environmental impact straight out of sixth form.
What does your job entail, and what do you enjoy most about the role?
My role involves collecting data and using software such as GIS and R coding software to analyse the data, create maps, and provide science-based recommendations for farmers.
I enjoy working outdoors, meeting different landowners, and undertaking hedgerow and wildflower surveys. As I didn’t come from a farming background, it has been interesting learning about agriculture, the barriers farmers face, and the many ways the environment can be enhanced.
I also go to UWE Bristol University once a week to study for my degree.
Tell us about your team and what you like most about working with them
The Catchment team is very friendly and supportive, and I enjoy being in a team that is making a meaningful impact.
I feel lucky to have been supported in gaining skills and knowledge from the team and have been given opportunities to work with other environmental teams in the company.
It is a sociable team, and we have done events together, such as beach meetups, hiking in the Lake District, and volunteering at Brownsea Island.
Where do you see your career progressing in the next five years?
If I am successful, I will finish my degree and gain an environmental practitioner qualification.
I would like to continue searching for as many opportunities as I can in the last part of my apprenticeship, to build my environmental knowledge and confidence further.
With several environmental roles and a growing team, I hope to stay with Wessex Water when my apprenticeship has finished.