Nine New Graduate Trainees to Start Work at Leading UK Ecology Consultancy

Nine new graduates will join leading ecology consultancy Thomson Ecology as part of the company’s annual graduate trainee programme which is now in its ninth year. The scheme, which is always heavily over-subscribed, has so far created employment for more than 70 trainees within the company since it began in 2007.

The successful candidates will be joining the company on the 29^th February, when they will embark on four weeks of intensive training, after which their training will continue in the field. Their contracts will run up until the 31^st December, when Thomson Ecology hopes to offer them permanent positions as assistant ecologists, subject to their performance throughout their contract term.

Irfaan Junaideen joined the programme as a graduate trainee last year and has since secured a permanent job as an Assistant Ecologist with Thomson Ecology.  He said “As a graduate just starting out in the consultancy field, working at Thomson has been a great opportunity.  From the warm welcome I received to all the valuable training and support, this company has provided the ideal environment for me to advance my skills. They are also involved with some of the largest, most important developments in the country, spanning a variety of locations and sites, which has given me a broader view of the industry’s scope and the range of environments that we deal with.

“Because Thomson Ecology is a large consultancy, there is a massive amount of knowledge and experience here, as many staff have worked in the field for years. They are able to impart the specialist knowledge that’s necessary for me to grow as an ecologist. The extensive training  provided as well as the opportunities to obtain many useful qualifications and licences along the way, solidify how valuable my time here is.  I’ve learnt so much since I started and continue to learn something new every day I go to work.”

Katie Hamilton-Boxall, Thomson Ecology’s  HR and Recruitment Advisor said “As always, competition for places on the  graduate training scheme was stiff, and out of the 150 graduates who applied, 40 candidates were selected for interview.  The interview process included a half day assessment, which involved identifying plants and species, as well as a written test, and a verbal interview. Their behavioural and technical competencies were assessed as well as the applicants’  commercial awareness.  The interviews took place over six days and because of the level of competition, it is now a requirement for all applicants to have a relevant master’s degree. These have included applied conservation in ecology and ecological and environmental management.