Following the successful promotion of the 2013 Graduate Ecologists to Assistant Ecologists, Thomson Ecology has created 10 new jobs through their 2014 Graduate Programme. The Programme was, as ever, heavily oversubscribed – with over 300 applications for the places available.
One of those graduates taking part in the programme is Hayley Oates. Hayley moved to Hertfordshire to join the existing terrestrial team in the company’s state of the art office and laboratory facilities in Letchworth.
Hayley said:
“In my hunt for a permanent ecology job, I applied for the Thomson Ecology Graduate Programme because I was well aware of Thomson’s reputation, willingness to train graduates and work ethos. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be one of the people chosen for 2014’s intake and I am having an absolute blast! Our initial intensive training programme gave me the confidence and knowledge to conduct habitat suitability assessments for great crested newts, to detect signs of otters and water voles and safely handle adders!
Thomson Ecology is ideal for working with a variety of species, which is perfect for me as I have an interest in basically every animal group.I aim to gain my dormouse European Protected Species licence – because I just can’t resist their big black eyes – and my great crested newt licence, as soon as possible. To be given the opportunity to work in so many different habitats and with such a large range of species right across the UK is amazing and I feel extremely lucky and proud to be part of the Thomson Ecology team. Let the field season commence!”
Laura Cook, Operations Director at Thomson Ecology, said:
“Since we began the programme in 2007, it has gone from strength to strength with nearly 100 graduates participating in the programme. The majority of those graduates have gone on to full time employment with us. Indeed we now have many senior staff that started their ecology careers by joining the programme. As a company we pride ourselves on recruiting, training and retaining the best talent through investing in our people. Graduates on our programme receive 30 days training in their first year, after that they then have over 90 courses to choose from on our comprehensive company Training Programme. We are an expanding business so we are able to offer a variety of career paths within the company to those talented individuals.”
