What made you choose Arbtech?
I was looking for a job in ecology following on from my master’s in Restoration Ecology (MSc) at MMU. At the time, I was working for two consultancies during the summer alongside my master’s, but neither consultancy seemed like the perfect fit for me. They were nice, and I loved the work itself, but I wanted to work for a consultancy where I felt more like I fit in.
I discovered Arbtech through LinkedIn. It is a moderate consultancy that mostly focuses on smaller jobs and household jobs, providing services to everyday people as opposed to enormous schemes. All communications were nice between Arbtech and me, and in the interview process, I didn’t feel like I was under the spotlight, but rather that they wanted to get to know me, my previous experience and what I had studied.
I was told about the seemingly endless list of perks working for Arbtech, such as the ability to work from home (self-regulation and independence), brilliant start-up salary for graduates (to my knowledge, higher than other consultancies at the same level), and Slack (an online messaging platform which allows you to have access to numerous resources and receive instant support on any queries you may have). All of these things sounded great, and fortunately, I was offered a job as a graduate ecologist.
When I started, I was nervous, but I loved the work and everyone was so supportive, including the head office team, my mentor and other seniors and colleagues.
I love my job and can’t think of anywhere better to work!
What do you love most about the company?
There are lots of things I love about the company:
- I love the support I receive from my lovely colleagues.
- I love the systems the company has, which are extremely slick but also simple to use (especially for a technophobe like me!)
- I love working alongside people that I now consider friends more than colleagues.
- I love that if I feel that I would like training in a certain area, Arbtech encourages and accommodates this.
- I love that there is always someone on Slack who is able to help with any ecology-related queries I have at any time, whether I’m on-site or back home with photos of something I’m unsure of.
- I love that I am treated nicely and respected, even as a graduate.
There are endless things I could list about what I love most!
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
When not working, particularly at weekends, I like to do a variety of things.
I enjoy walking my dog Isla, who is a Labrador/shar pei mix – a greedy breed, meaning that extra walks are needed!
I enjoy cooking and baking, especially curry, and I also like to go out for coffee with my friends, and – as a big family person – spend time with my family as much as possible.
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
My biggest tip – or what I usually go by – is to be grateful and work hard.
My family have always taught me to be grateful for what I have in life, and to work hard in life for the things I’d like (i.e., a home and family of my own one day).
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
The best social I have been on at Arbtech would have to be ArbCon 2024.
It included a mixture of informative training sessions to ensure that all of the team was up to speed on the different aspects of ecology and the relevant guidelines (i.e. bats – updated 2023 guidelines, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), etc.) and a social aspect.
One of the evenings included a casino night where the team dressed up in their glad rags and played casino-type games with faux chips, mixed in with opportunities to dance and socialise.
It was a great way to boost employee rapport, as well as being fun and educational.
I am very much looking forward to the next ArbCon event.
Where do you want to travel to next?
I would love to travel to the Greek islands next. I went travelling when I was younger and visited Santorini. The views were stunning, the beaches were beautiful, and the culture was fun. I would love to go back there and get some gyros!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
In the next five years, I would like to have obtained some of my own protected species licences (e.g, bat class 1 licence, GCN licence) and continue progressing my knowledge in the constantly evolving ecology world.
I would also like to delve deeper into more complex projects and projects which challenge me further but also teach me more about my own abilities and how far those can be pushed.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
My life goal has already been achieved. I always wanted to get into ecology, and I am thrilled to be in a role I love.
Another goal I do have, however, is to have a family of my own at some point in the future, but I’m not in a rush to do that.
I would also like to see more of the world and spend as much quality time with my family and friends as possible.
Jessica joined Arbtech in October 2022.
