Evan has been our Sustainability Communications Placement this last year and he’s now leaving to continue his studies in London. Plenty has happened over the year and he’s been a part of lots of the work we’ve been doing, so we wanted to ask him about his experiences in the role and whether he’d have any advice for our future placements!

I can’t believe it’s been a year already! How has it been for you?

Amazing, yeah! Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much I’ve learnt and grown over the past year. The team are so welcoming, friendly, and generous and I’ve had the chance to experience so many different aspects of sustainability work with their guidance. In this way it’s been a brilliant introduction to both the sustainability sector, and the world of work in general, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone in the team for that.

Your job touches on several different aspects of the team’s work. Have there been any areas that you’ve focused on more and which aspects have you enjoyed the most?

The team works on a really wide variety of interesting topics and being able to explore and get involved in these has been one of the things I’ve liked the most about this role. I’d say that points of focus change depending on what’s happening at any given time, though. So, over Winter there’s more to do around the University’s heating and ventilation systems and software, early Spring often brings engagement activities like Sustainability Week, and late Spring/Summer is audit season. Each of these periods brings its own opportunities, challenges, and a new type of working – from conducting site visits and writing up observations to making promotional materials and chatting with students and colleagues.

I’d say one of my favourite things, however, is the sustainability blog that’s been running throughout the year. Being able to focus in on the sustainability considerations of different areas, from agriculture to medicine, and learning about projects including solar PV and innovative heating/power technologies has been really fun and interesting. Writing about these varied topics in an easily digestible way is also a good challenge that helps you to engage with the content further and I’ve really enjoyed the chance to do that this year.

Have you been able to pick up/ hone any new skills this year? And do you feel like this role has introduced you to the sustainability sector?

Absolutely! Getting stuck into a range of different tasks is a great way to learn and I’ve been able to gain and practice lots of skills that I’d never come across before. A good example of this is the website project I’ve been working on alongside colleagues for much of the year. Here, I’ve improved my written communication skills, gained insights into navigability and accessibility, and I’ve been trained in how to use several different website management system. All of this is supported by the team’s strong desire to invest in its members, and I’ve had the opportunity to complete fully certified ISO140001 auditing training and Carbon Literacy training. This is all in addition to the organisation, communication, and technical skills I’ve picked up while completing regular responsibilities such as helping organise events and utilising the building management system.

I also feel like I’ve been given a really good introduction to the sustainability sector in general. I’ve had the chance to get involved in team meetings and discuss the University’s approach to a variety of environmental issues and sustainability projects, to chat with colleagues in different roles across campus, and even to attend regular sessions of the EAUC to hear about the actions and plans of other higher education institutions. This is really interesting and insightful because you get to understand and consider both solutions, including renewable energy, colleague action programmes, and district heating, but also more challenging areas, including the execution of offsetting and managing travel emissions.

Have you been able to link your work to wider goals and contexts, including those of the University, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the climate crisis more broadly?

Definitely, and in many cases these three separate sets of goals often align very closely. In terms of working towards the University’s goals, my auditing responsibilities were an important part of the University’s wider energy and environmental sustainability management systems and it felt significant being able to play my part in maintaining that for such a large organisation. The UN SDGs and broader climate issues are worked in throughout the various themes that the team works on and I feel as though I linked to these mostly strongly in my communications work. Here, answering questions and sharing ideas around everything from renewable energy to biodiversity, and active travel to water, allowed me to expand upon many important issues and solutions and I’m very grateful to have been able to do that.

How have you found working for the University, and in Estates and Facilities especially?

It’s been really nice. The office is full of kind and welcoming people, and you never have to look far for a helping hand. I’ve gotten to know everyone in the Sustainability Team really well, of course, and these friendships fostered a real sense of community within the team, but I’ve also met lots of colleagues working in a variety of other fields within Estates and Facilities. Chatting to these lovely people has added new perspectives to my work and given me further insights into the way that the University works.

Additionally, on a wider scale, working for such a large organisation on a beautiful campus and towards the University’s important missions has been really exciting and interesting. Chatting to colleagues from across the University at events, seeing various workspaces during audits, and simply wandering between the buildings throughout the year reminds you of just how much important research and teaching is going on here, and that’s amazing to be part of.

Do you have any advice for someone applying for or starting a placement with the Sustainability Team?

For those applying: Definitely go for it – it’s given me such a great start and I cannot thank the team enough for all they have done for me.

For those lucky enough to be starting a placement: Initially, well done! The first few weeks of any new job are stressful as there’s just so much to take in, but the team are absolutely lovely and your main task is to just get comfy with how everything works. Regarding this, my big piece of advice is to not be afraid to annoy people in the team! Ask lots of questions, however small, and don’t place too much pressure on yourself to learn super fast or find everything out on your own. Your colleagues want to help you, and you’ll soon settle in enough to begin helping them too!

I’d like to say a huge final thank you to the Sustainability team and for all they’ve done for me over the last year – it’s been a real privilege to be part of the team and I’m going to miss you guys!