New to Nature Work Placement

New to Nature is an exciting programme of paid work placements in nature-focused roles. Ours is one of around 70 roles that will be created across the UK to encourage young and diverse talent into the Natural Environment sector.

We’re particularly interested in receiving applications from young people (aged 18-25) who are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, who are living with a disability or who are from low-income households.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and King's Coronation, the programme provides paid work placements for at least 70 young people from diverse backgrounds to undertake a range of environmental roles. New to Nature will be delivered through a partnership with Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse.

You’ll get paid a good wage from a placement that helps the environment, learn loads of skills to boost your CV and get access to a Youth Employment Coach to help you plan your future career. There’ll also be opportunities to learn about potential careers in the natural environment, and (should you wish to) connect with the other young people working in New to Nature roles across the programme.

Our New to Nature role is for a Nature Reserves Assistant. This role will involve assisting our Nature Reserves team with the practical day-to-day management of our 19 nature reserves. This includes tasks such as habitat management, hedge and grass cutting, path maintenance, and invasive species removal.  As well as practical nature conservation tasks and survey work, the trainee will also assist with public and community engagement events and activities at our nature reserves.

Transport to all work sites will be provided from our office base in the Harbour Estate in Belfast.  Full induction will be provided.  On and off-the-job training will be provided in practical conservation work as well as in how to run outdoor events and activities. 

Other conditions and benefits of the role include –

·         Paid 12-month work placement

·         35 hours a week at £10.90 an hour

·         24 days paid holiday and 12 public holidays

·         Dedicated supervisor and support from Employment Coach

·         Access to on and off-the-job training

·         Should be available to start on Monday, 17 July 2023

APPLICATION PROCESS

You can apply for this placement via the following link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NTNPlacementApplication22 The deadline for applications is 17.00 on Wednesday, 17 May 2023

The application process is hosted by Groundwork UK which will check the suitability of applicants, before passing the application on to us, we will then shortlist applicants and shortlisted applicants will be invited to an informal interview process.

Please ensure you carefully select the correct role from the drop-down list, to ensure your details are passed to the correct placement organisation.

If you have any questions about the application form, contact Groundwork UK at: newtonature@groundwork.org.uk 

INTERVIEWS

We will contact you to let you know whether you have been shortlisted for an interview after the closing date of  17 May 2023.

We expect to conduct interviews in person the week beginning 5 June 2023.

If you have any questions about the role or interview process please contact us at: recruit@ulsterwildlife.org or call 028 96935249.