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Tom Aplin

Partnership and Engagement Manager
What employment sector do you work in?

NGO Sector

How long have you had a green job for nature?

6.5 years

Salary Range

£30,001 – £40,000

Please describe the work that you do.

My role is managing projects that have an engagement focus, as well as establishing relationships with other key stakeholders for the River Trent that have an engagement focus. I also work on funding bids, as a line manager, delivering training and workshops, manage and coordinaate volunteers and support our policy development.

What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?

I love the fact that I get to speak to so many amazing and wonderful people, working hard to protect our natural environment and who are willing to share their amazing knowledge and experience. I also love speaking to people who are open and willing to learn about the challenges our natural spaces are facing. I’ve been able to learn so much about natural processes and the impacts to these through many different avenues. I really enjoy being able to integrate myself with so many groups and organisations and offer assistance where I can. On the flip side, it can often be frustrating when there is so much that needs to happen to help protect our green and blue spaces, where there isn’t enough resource or funding, or willpower from other groups, to make this happen. This can give a feeling of powerlessness sometimes, but this only makes the connections with other key partners so strong, knowing we’re working together to make change.

What inspired you into this career? 

I came out of University not sure where I wanted to go, after doing a creative course. I was initially interested in practical conservation work as a way to support my mental health, so I took part in volunteering at a local nature reserve to try and help. Just from speaking to other volunteers and staff leading the session, I came to learn more about how climate change, human impacts and other factors were harming the natural world, and I gained such a positive outlook from these volunteering sessions that I felt a strong desire that I needed to work and protect our natural world. I volunteered more for other groups as I discovered them, and I was able to get a role in a sustainability charity, where I could work and progress my career in line with my values.

Over time my values have been influenced by the amazing work of the charities and organisations i’ve interacted with, and I’ve been able to build a career from this knowledge and understanding this passion.

Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far? 

A lack of formal education in the field from an early onset has been difficult, I’ve not had the knowledge that a college course or university degree could provide to help move into the world of conservation. I’ve had to volunteer hundreds of hours to build up the skills and knowledge I feel are appropriate to fit into a career, where others may have had a head-start. The instability of funding and projects within the eNGO sector has also been a challenge, my first role was a 4 month contract, which I’m not sure I would take on now. I’m fortunate that my role is considered permanent, however I was notified that I was being made redundant in my last role, due to serious funding cuts to the sector I was in. There is little stability in the field, but I take this risk on board due to the necessity of the work required, in my view.

What education/training did you have?

Again, very little to begin with in the field of conservation and environmental studies. I have a university degree in scriptwriting with screen studies, which gave me an academic foundation but didn’t feed into the eNGO sector. Most of my training and learning has been through volunteering opportunities, which have come through weekend and evening sessions whilst in full-time work. I still volunteer now as there are always more skills to learn and develop.

What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession? 

Headbutt your way into volunteering and education roles as much as you can. There are so many amazing volunteering opportunities out within the green and environmental sector that can give you the connections and skills to get into the green jobs market, it’s about committing to them and showing your willing to learn and be passionate about your topic. The world needs environmental heroes now more than ever.

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Tags: England, NGO sector, Project manager, Community and volunteer engagement, Policy adviser

Date profile submitted: 19/11/2024

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