The Ecology Ready Programme supports aspiring and early-career ecologists, as well as ecological consultancies investing in the development of junior staff. Through practical professional development, we help build confidence, consultancy capability and commercial awareness.
Aspiring and early-career ecologists often have valuable ecological knowledge but may have had limited exposure to how that knowledge is applied within a professional consultancy environment.
Ecology Ready builds on participants' existing knowledge and helps them develop the practical understanding, professional confidence and commercial awareness needed to progress within ecological consultancy.
"Ecology Ready combines ecological knowledge with practical consultancy understanding, professional confidence and commercial awareness."
Participants develop a clearer understanding of how ecological consultants think, communicate, make decisions and contribute within professional teams.
Designed for people who want to build a career in ecological consultancy - wherever they are in their journey.
Final-year students and recent graduates ready to make the leap from academic study to industry practice.
Graduates in environmental science, zoology, conservation, geography or animal science with ecological relevance.
People moving into ecology from related fields, along with early-career ecologists who want to strengthen their confidence and consultancy capability.
Ecology Ready takes a broader approach than traditional technical training. The programme focuses on applying knowledge within realistic consultancy situations while developing professional confidence, communication and commercial awareness.
Participants learn how ecological consultancy operates in practice and develop the professional behaviours, understanding and confidence expected within the industry.
"Develop the confidence and capability to succeed in a consultancy."
Apply your knowledge through realistic consultancy situations and practical professional exercises.
Strengthen the communication, decision-making and professional skills valued by consultancy employers.
Understand how ecological consultancies operate, how projects are delivered and how commercial decisions shape professional practice.
Develop clear, professional communication and report-writing skills suited to ecological consultancy.
"Our goal is to help participants become confident, capable, professionally prepared and ready for an ecological consultancy."
Practical consultancy readiness, built on real industry insight from Jobs in Ecology and Aspire to Grow.
Practical modules covering everything you need to operate confidently in ecological consultancy.
After completing the programme, participants can continue to benefit from career guidance, professional development resources and insight into opportunities across the ecology sector through Jobs in Ecology
Our aim is simple: help participants continue building confidence and present their skills more effectively as they progress in their careers.
Register Your InterestGuidance to help you present your experience, knowledge and professional development clearly when applying for suitable roles.
Support to strengthen your CV and communicate your capabilities clearly to prospective employers.
Practical guidance to help you prepare confidently for ecology and consultancy interviews.
Access to relevant career information and opportunities shared through Jobs in Ecology and the wider Ecology Ready network.
If you are completing your studies, have recently graduated, are beginning your ecology career or want to move into consultancy from a related background, Ecology Ready can help you take your next professional step.
You may understand the theory but still feel unsure about:
Ecology Ready helps you turn existing knowledge into practical confidence and consultancy capability.
Register Your InterestEcology Ready works with universities that want to strengthen career development and professional preparedness for students interested in ecological consultancy. The programme complements academic learning through practical, industry-focused professional development.
Recruiting talented graduates and junior ecologists is only the beginning. Developing them into confident and capable consultants requires time, structure and ongoing support.
Ecology Ready provides practical professional development designed around the realities of ecological consultancy. The programme helps early-career staff strengthen their professional confidence, consultancy awareness, communication skills and commercial understanding.
Whether you're looking to support one graduate or develop several junior ecologists across your business, Ecology Ready provides structured professional development that complements your internal training and helps accelerate consultancy readiness.
Speak to Us About Staff DevelopmentEcology Ready is part of the wider Aspire to Grow Ltd network. The programme brings together expertise across ecological consultancy, higher education, recruitment and talent acquisition, and GIS, supporting both individuals building their careers and employers developing future talent.
The programme was created after identifying a recurring challenge within ecological consultancy. Aspiring and early-career ecologists often need greater exposure to the professional, practical and commercial realities of consultancy work.
Part of the Aspire to Grow network of specialist business, careers and professional development services.
Connected to a growing ecology careers platform with insight into sector opportunities and employer expectations - Jobs in Ecology
Supporting practical learning and professional development.
Ecology Ready combines three perspectives rarely found together within a single professional development programme. Together, these complementary backgrounds ensure the programme reflects both the technical and professional skills needed to succeed within modern ecological consultancy.
An employer and hiring manager who has recruited ecological professionals across the UK.
A Doctor of Ecology and experienced educator who understands both consultancy and learning.
A Chartered Geographer specialising in GIS with more than 30 years of geospatial experience supporting environmental projects.
Garry brings over 25 years of talent acquisition and recruitment experience across ecology, environmental consultancy, engineering and professional services. Most notably, he spent three years as Head of Talent Acquisition at a large independent environmental consultancy, responsible for attracting, hiring and supporting ecological professionals across the UK. He has recruited and advised hundreds of professionals, giving him a unique understanding of the skills, behaviours and attributes employers look for when recruiting graduates and early-career ecologists.
Focus: employability, consultancy professionalism, commercial awareness, client communication and helping participants successfully transition into employment within the environmental sector.
LinkedIn ProfileDr Jackie Symmons brings a unique combination of ecological consultancy experience, academic expertise and educational leadership. Alongside her work within the environmental sector, she has extensive experience supporting learning and professional development through universities, environmental education programmes and professional training initiatives. Her background enables her to translate complex ecological concepts into practical, accessible learning that reflects the realities of modern consultancy.
Focus: ecological consultancy practice, legislation and planning, Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), report writing, ecological constraints analysis and helping participants understand how ecological theory is applied within real-world projects.
LinkedIn ProfileJonathan is a highly experienced Chartered Geographer, GIS and geospatial professional with more than 35 years of experience working across environmental consultancy, local government and commercial sectors. As Director of InTouch Geospatial Services, he has supported a wide range of organisations with spatial analysis, mapping, environmental data management and GIS consultancy services, and regularly delivers GIS training for ecologists and environmental professionals.
Focus: GIS fundamentals, ecological mapping, spatial analysis, environmental datasets, data management and the practical use of GIS within an ecological consultancy.
LinkedIn ProfileEcology Ready has been developed by professionals who have recruited ecologists, delivered consultancy projects, taught within higher education and trained environmental professionals. By combining expertise from ecological consultancy, higher education, recruitment and talent acquisition, and GIS, we've created a professional development programme designed to help aspiring and early-career ecologists build the confidence, capability and practical understanding needed to succeed in ecological consultancy.
Whether you are an aspiring ecologist, early-career professional, university or ecological consultancy, register your interest and we will contact you with further information.