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Michael Edmondstone

Communications and Engagement Lead
What employment sector do you work in?

NGO Sector

How long have you had a green job for nature?

5 years

Salary Range

£30,001 – £40,000

Please describe the work that you do. 

I head up the communications for SHOAL. This involves all owned media (website and blog, social media channels, reports), earned media (PR), and communications strategy. 

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

I love the fact that I get to work for something I’m passionate about: helping protect and restore populations of the most threatened freshwater species globally! There’s nothing I dislike about the role, though it can sometimes be depressing to think that the biodiversity loss the planet is already facing is predicted to worsen. Tales of doom and gloom go with the territory in conservation, though there are plenty of good news stories to counteract the negativity. 

What inspired you into this career? 

A love for the natural world. I believe people have a duty to care for what they love. 

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

I chose to go freelance from another environmental communications job just before the pandemic, and subsequently lost all my work with the instability of the times. Like many, I was unemployed for the first few months of 2020. I applied to countless jobs, kept the belief, and eventually my persistence was rewarded with a dream job! 

What education/training did you have? 

My Bachelors degree in Philosophy helped my writing skills, particularly with regards to ensuring what I’m saying remains clear and logical. After this, I did a foundation course in journalism, which helped give me the skills and confidence to elevate my writing further. 
The first few years of my career were working in marketing, for media agencies. This corporate experience helped hone my skills in digital marketing and PR. 
I have also undertaken online courses in my own time that have helped my skillset, including content marketing, web design, and Adobe suite. 

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

Come into it with passion and determination. You don’t need a university degree in an environmental subject (I don’t have one). If you decide the environmental sector is where you want to work, then go for it. It may take a lot of applications, but eventually somebody will recognise you as an asset. Get your foot in the door, make yourself invaluable, and you’ll thrive. 

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