Case study - Rebecca
Who are you and what is your job title and organisation?
Rebecca Eyre, Lead Adviser in the Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service (NEWLS).
What does your job involve?
I work in the District Level Licensing (DLL) team, a scheme which helps to create and restore a network of ponds providing vital habitat across England to benefit the Great Crested Newt (GCN), which is protected under European law. GCN has seen a dramatic population decline over the last 60 years, despite being legally protected. The scheme uses conservation payments from developers to create new ponds in locations that will help join up isolated populations and help GCN to thrive. It also benefits local people, developers, and authorities by avoiding costly delays for developments, helping to ensure homes are built and local authorities can deliver their plans.
How did you find your role and why did you decide to apply?
I moved to my current role through an internal promotion, however when I originally applied for a role at Natural England back in 2020, I saw an advert on civilservicejobs.com and applied through the portal. I had an interview in Spring 2020 and was originally turned down for the role I applied for but was placed on a reserve list for 6 months in case other jobs became available which luckily did happen 5 months later. I decided to apply as Natural England fitted with my goals of working in the environmental sector and I had always had a strong interest in nature.
How does your role enable you to have a positive impact on the world by supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals?
Although DLL is primarily focussed on providing ponds for Great Crested Newts, ponds are brilliant habitats for a wide range of species such as frogs, toads, dragonflies to name just a few! They are also beneficial for people as studies have shown that access to green (and blue!) spaces is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. More ponds in the landscape also provide additional resilience against climate change, providing a source of water for animals during times of drought.
What do you enjoy about your role?
Working with wonderful colleagues both in my team and wider Natural England, feeling like I am making a difference in the move away from nature decline to nature recovery.
What’s the most challenging part of your role?
Speaking to developers working on very important and high-profile projects, of which DLL only makes up a very small aspect.
What skills/experience are useful in your current role?
- IT skills, my role is mostly office/computer based
- Problem solving skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Ecological knowledge can be beneficial, but not essential
- Organisation and time-management
What advice would you give to students who are considering a positive impact career?
Go for it! Your working life could be 40+years so it's important to do something you enjoy and that makes you feel fulfilled. There’s not much better feeling than contributing to a successful project and seeing your actions indirectly have a really positive impact on people or the environment.