“Working in Environmental Health gives me a chance to give something back”

A group of Environmental Health apprentices in Yorkshire are shining a light on how an apprenticeship is setting them on a hugely rewarding career path and giving them an opportunity to give back to their community.

Just one glance at the news on any given day highlights just how vital the work of Environmental Health professionals is and will be in the coming years in protecting the public’s health and wellbeing, whether in terms of food safety, air quality, housing or another of the myriads of areas of our lives it impacts.

During National Apprenticeship Week (February 10-14), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and Wakefield Council have teamed up to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships both to the profession and to stretched local authorities.

Wakefield Council’s Environmental Health team have utilised apprenticeships as a way of complementing its existing workforce and nurturing talent.

Emily Guest, 18, from the city, has worked at Wakefield Council as an Environmental Health Apprentice since September, combining the day job with studying online one day a week for a degree accredited by CIEH.

“I’m not a massive essay writer or even a natural academic – being able to have that hands on, practical experience, getting out and meeting people rather than having my head in a book all day was something I found really attractive,” Emily explained.

“Meeting all the different people and businesses, talking to them about their lives and how they ended up doing what they do – that’s my favourite part.”

While Emily has taken the ‘traditional’ route embarking on an apprenticeship straight from school, for 34-year-old former hospitality worker Duncan Campbell, an apprenticeship offered an opportunity for him to build a new career for himself and utilise his life experience.

“The idea of doing an apprenticeship was quite attractive to me because it gave me the opportunity to get a degree level qualification (Duncan studies in-person one day a week at Leeds Beckett University) but also work at the same time and be paid money,” Duncan said.

“University is very expensive now and as someone with financial responsibilities I wouldn’t have been able to go and do a full-time degree if I wasn’t working alongside it.

“I’m at that point in my life when I’m trying to figure out what I want from my future and working in Environmental Health gives me an opportunity to try and give something back, make a difference and look after the people in Wakefield that I’ve lived around all my life.”

For Olivia Blackham, 24, from Doncaster, a Learning Development Practitioner Apprentice, joining the Environmental Health team in Wakefield after initially graduating with a degree in English has opened multiple doors to help her progress in her career and in life.

“Going to university used to be unique and you were pushed towards that option,” Olivia explained. “But now everyone goes to university and employers are wanting more. They want experience as just having a degree doesn’t make you right for a job, you need to prove you can do it.

“I think an apprenticeship gives you all that. I’ve come away with several qualifications, not just my apprenticeship. I’ve been given opportunities; I’ve won awards and been involved in some incredible projects across the country.

“At the same time, I’ve been able to earn money and buy a house and I didn’t start saving for that until I started my apprenticeship. I couldn’t have imagined that when I was at university.”

While apprenticeships offer young people a route into employment at the beginnings of their careers, 54-year-old Animal Health and Welfare Officer Nicola Kilkenny is proof its never too late to develop existing skills and learn new ones.

She said: “I’m working towards an Environmental Health apprenticeship alongside my role at Wakefield Council, joining Emily in studying online for a CIEH accredited degree.

“I’m very passionate about how animals are cared for and ensuring they’re not abused. Any animals that are not cared for we can regulate to ensure they are. That is why I love doing my job.

“I enjoy helping people and giving them guidance. There is a lot of that involved in Environmental Health. It’s a very worthwhile job.”

Wakefield Council’s Environmental Health team currently features eight Environmental Health degree apprentices and students, as well as apprentices in Learning & Development, Marketing, Business Administration and Management across the service.

Cllr Jack Hemingway, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “It’s brilliant to hear about the positive experiences of our Environmental Health apprentices and the valuable skills and opportunities they are getting.

“We have a long-standing apprenticeship programme at the Council which gives great prospects to people in our district to learn skills and develop their career in Environmental Health.

“It’s great for apprentices to be able to learn on the job from people with many years of experience. And it’s also beneficial to our existing colleagues to not only pass on their knowledge but to bring on the next generation of people to work in the profession.”

CIEH has been a strong advocate for apprenticeships as a route into a career in Environmental Health and for employers as a cost-effective solution to the ongoing workforce challenges.

Mark Elliott, CIEH President, said: “Now more than ever we need to attract skilled, dedicated and passionate Environmental Health Practitioners to join our profession and do the critical work which helps keep their communities safe and well.

“Wakefield Council are a fantastic case study of the benefits apprenticeships offer to local authorities and to Environmental Health teams, and I’m excited to see how their apprentices progress in the coming years.”

Further information on apprenticeships in Environmental Health can be found on the CIEH website at http://www.cieh.org/apprenticeships

Watch the full interviews with the Wakefield Environmental Health apprentices here: https://youtu.be/bao_A-_n0xk