What made you choose Arbtech?
I was aware of Arbtech and its reputation as a maverick employer in the field of ecology prior to applying to work here.
Many ecological positions – particularly those within traditional, multidisciplinary consultancies – are frankly drab, hierarchical fun sponges.
Spending the majority of my life in an outdated working environment had begun to wear thin.
This is when I decided to put Arbtech’s reputation to the test; they did not disappoint.
What do you love most about the company?
The independent working environment.
I became progressively tired of working in a corporate atmosphere.
I had two key issues with this:
- People ‘above you’ dictate your workload.
- Your daily autonomy is wholly influenced by non-flexible office hours and timesheet requirements.
The way Arbtech processes and distributes work to consultants deals with these two issues excellently.
I am now able to pick and choose what jobs I take on and when I am able to fit them in, all from the comfort of home – a system unheard of in ecological consultancy.
This newfound independence in the workplace has enhanced my work-life balance and allowed me to take on better work that pushes my development.
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
My passion in life is endurance sports.
Having been a keen cyclist for 10-plus years, I have recently been pursuing long-distance trail running.
Nothing feels better than being outside somewhere beautiful and pushing your body to its limits.
I am currently training for ultramarathons and hope to run two or three this year.
My downtime is not always active though. I feel most relaxed when sipping on a pint at the local pub or cooking alfresco-style with my partner in our campervan.
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
Finding the perfect balance between rewarding hard work and relaxation.
No one has ever achieved anything good without hard work, and even if they did, it would have been more rewarding if the journey was more challenging.
However, the challenges of modern life can easily cause burnout, so finding an enjoyable balance between work and play is the true key to success.
Did anyone ever retire wishing they had worked harder? I doubt it.
Do people wish they spent more time indulging in hobbies and relaxation? Probably.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
The Christmas socials are always excellent.
Although socials throughout the year are becoming increasingly glamorous – be it skiing in Austria or group surf trips – the Christmas social is guaranteed to bring the whole team together for a knees-up.
Where do you want to travel to next?
My partner and I have long dreamed of driving through Europe in our campervan.
Travelling this way facilitates the perfect balance between city and rural exploration.
One day, you can be trail running in the mountains; the next, you can be clubbing in Berlin.
Living this way for a prolonged period would be hard to beat.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I see myself continuing to strive at Arbtech.
I am particularly interested in refining more complex ecological skills in hopes of progressing the expertise of the company, allowing us to take on larger and more ecologically complex projects.
However, I also want to have kids and spend much more time outside doing cool stuff.
I am hopeful I can find the balance to happily achieve this lifestyle.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
I love to work towards goals, more than anything because I find them motivating and rewarding.
My key goals this year include completing two ultramarathons and my first 50-mile marathon.
I also hope to spend a good few days/nights fast-packing the Cornish coast path. Fastpacking is essentially running all day and then sleeping in a bush when you get tired. Cool, no?
I am also keen to progress my GCN licencing and mitigation expertise. Those guys are everywhere!
Jonathan joined Arbtech in June 2021.
