Green Careers Week Festival 2026
We are delighted to once again be supporting Green Careers Week to help raise awareness of the range of careers available in the ecological and environmental sectors and to inspire the next generation.
Green Jobs for Nature (GJfN) is all about making careers geared towards restoring and replenishing our natural environment more visible and achievable for all those thinking about their future work. In a Green Job for Nature, you could work in a variety of roles, which could include desk-based work, be primarily outdoor-based, or have a mixture of the two. You could work in a variety of employment sectors to benefit nature.
Below are a series of online events with booking links that we will be hosting throughout Green Careers Week.
Monday 2 November
| Why Nature Needs You – Green Careers Week 2026! |
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| Time: 09:30 – 10:00 Recommended age group: 10–12 |
| Could your future career help tackle climate change, protect wildlife or create greener communities? This introductory session explores the exciting world of green jobs, revealing the wide range of careers making a difference for nature and society. Students will discover different pathways into the sector, from apprenticeships to university, and start building their own Green Careers Mind Map using the accompanying classroom resource. |
| Surveying Skills |
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| Time: 11:00 – 11:30 Recommended age group: 10–13 |
| Discover some of the key skills involved in conducting wildlife and habitat surveys using a variety of scientific methods. This session features insights from leading conservation bodies, including Butterfly Conservation, NatureScot, and the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI). |
| Learning on the Job: An Environmental Apprenticeship Journey |
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| Time: 13:30 – 14:00 Recommended age group: 10-12 |
| Could an apprenticeship be your route into a green career? Join Emmie Barker to hear about her experience as a Degree Apprentice Environmental Practitioner with Severn Trent. Learn what it’s like to combine work and study, develop practical skills, and gain valuable experience while helping to protect the environment. Students will discover how apprenticeships can open the door to exciting careers in the green sector. |
Tuesday 3 November
| Managing Waterways for Wildlife |
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| Time: 09:30 – 10:00 Recommended age group: 10–12 |
| Discover how waterways can be managed to benefit both people and wildlife. Emily Askew works as an Environment Officer, helping to protect habitats, monitor wildlife and improve biodiversity across rivers, drains and wetlands. Find out how conservation, mapping technology and environmental management come together in a career that balances the needs of nature, farming and local communities. |
| Mapping Skills |
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| Time: 11:00 – 11:30 Recommended age group: 10–13 |
| Discover how mapping skills are used to manage and protect critical habitats and species. Experts from NatureScot, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels will demonstrate the real-world importance of spatial awareness in conservation. |
| Together, we’re Saving Wildcats |
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| Time: 13:30 – 14:00 Recommended age group: 10-12 |
| Would you like to help save a species from extinction? Senior animal keeper, Rachel Williams, and Outreach and Engagement manager, Gemma Shooter, will share details of their unique roles in the Saving Wildcats partnership project, which aims to restore wildcats to Scotland through conservation breeding and release. Students will hear how species recovery involves a huge team effort of varied skills and expertise, all working together to secure a fair coexistence for both wildlife and people. |
Wednesday 4 November
| Science Outdoors: The role of an Ecologist |
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| Time: 09:30 – 10:00 Recommended age group: 13-17 |
| In this session, pupils meet Marie McAvan, a practising ecologist who works to understand, protect and enhance wildlife, habitats and biodiversity across the UK. Marie introduces students to the role of an ecologist, explores the challenges that can arise when development and wildlife interests overlap, and explains how ecologists help ensure nature is protected while supporting essential infrastructure and development projects. Drawing on her experience as both an ecologist and a former biology teacher and examiner, Marie brings the subject to life through real-world examples and clear explanations. Pupils discover the wide range of work ecologists undertake, from surveying birds, bats and plants to assessing habitats and developing measures to protect wildlife. They also learn about the variety of career opportunities available within ecology and environmental conservation. Marie shares her own career journey, from studying Marine Biology to retraining later in life and pursuing a new career in ecology, highlighting the different pathways young people can take into the sector. |
| Species Identification Skills |
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| Time: 11:00 – 11:30 Recommended age group: 10-13 |
| Learn the importance of species identification skills for different plant and animals in the field. Representatives from Buglife, NatureScot, and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) will guide you through some basic identification. |
| Votes for Nature! Politics and the Environment |
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| Time: 13:45 – 14:15 Recommended age group: 13-17 |
| How can we encourage our elected representatives to think about the environment when they’re making new laws? In this session, we’ll hear from Andy Marks, Parliamentary Officer at Scottish Environment LINK, about how careers in environmental policy can make a real difference for nature. Learn how environmental organisations support politicians and other decision-makers to put nature at the heart of government, and how international climate and nature agreements are translated into everyday life. |
Thursday 5 November
| People Skills |
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| Time: 11:00 – 11:30 Recommended age group: 10–13 |
| Hear about some of the interpersonal skills needed to engage the public, share impactful stories, and work effectively within the environmental sector. Experts from NatureScot, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, CIEEM and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels will demonstrate the importance of soft skills in conservation. |
| Nature Detective – A Career in Environmental Research |
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| Time: 13:30 – 14:00 Recommended age group: 10-12 |
| How do we know whether nature is improving? Join Shivangi Bose from Earthwatch Europe to discover how environmental researchers use data, science and citizen action to better understand and protect the natural world. Learn how projects such as Tiny Forests are monitored, how communities contribute to research, and how careers in environmental science and data analysis are helping shape a more sustainable future. |
Friday 6 November
| Conservation Makes Scents: Working with Wildlife Detection Dogs |
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| Time: 09:30-10:00 Recommended age group: 10-12 |
| Did you know that dogs can use their sense of smell to help protect wildlife? Join us to discover how dogs become conservation heroes! Join Louise Wilson, founder of Conservation K9 Consultancy, who will share her unusual career journey, from working with dogs trained to find explosives and drugs to pioneering the use of detection dogs in UK conservation. She recognised their potential to support wildlife surveys and research and helped establish this exciting field in the UK. You will learn how wildlife detection dogs help find signs of animals and plants, why training and teamwork are so important, and how dogs can make a difference while being treated with care and respect. Through real-life examples, Louise will show how curiosity, determination and a love of animals can lead to an exciting career helping protect nature. |
| Outdoor Skills |
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| Time: 11:00-11:30 Recommended age group: 10-13 |
| Explore the hands-on, physical techniques required to manage and restore Scotland’s natural landscapes. Experts from NatureScot and the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative share practical demonstrations on tree-planting and share input on building bird boxes, controlling invasive species and analysing soil textures. |
Wednesday 11th November
| Choose Geography: Careers in Ecosystems and Conservation |
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| Time: 16:00-17:00 Recommended age group: 11-17 |
| CIEEM have teamed up with the Royal Geographical Society to bring students a careers webinar on all things geography and conservation. Speakers will showcase how the geography classroom – think ecosystems, landscapes and climate change – links to real-world jobs in the conservation sector and why studying geography is an excellent choice for students interested in pursuing a career that has a positive impact on nature. The webinar is aimed at secondary school students and teachers. |
“Great session that inspired and enthused a class of 30 children.”
Teacher who attended 2025 Green Careers Week Festival