My experience at the University of Sheffield was instrumental in preparing me for my professional career.

Since graduating, I completed a three-month internship with the Environment Agency as part of its Summer Internship Programme - the role was highly varied and gave me experience across project management, change management, and communications. While the position was not directly focused on sustainability, it enabled me to apply many of the skills I developed during my degree, particularly communication, organisation and stakeholder engagement. My time at the Environment Agency provided valuable insight into how public bodies operate and how decisions are made at an institutional level, an area closely linked to governance and sustainability.

I am currently working as a Sustainability Analyst Intern at Loadhog, a Sheffield-based manufacturing company. I have been in the role for a month and have already been involved in a wide range of sustainability initiatives. My responsibilities include supporting waste and energy management projects, helping the business prepare for emerging international regulations and identifying opportunities to improve environmental performance.

A typical day involves collecting, organising and analysing data from multiple sources to understand where improvements can be made, as well as researching innovative solutions to address operational and sustainability challenges. Although much of my work is office-based, the role requires creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving. I also regularly spend time on the factory floor to gain a better understanding of how operations function in practice and to identify challenges and opportunities directly at the source.

My experience at the University of Sheffield was instrumental in preparing me for my professional career. My degree in GSD allowed me to develop transferable skills such as communication, organisation, teamwork, and confidence, while also building a strong foundation in sustainability theory and practice.

The interdisciplinary nature of the course gave me the freedom to explore a wide range of sustainability issues, allowing me to apply new knowledge to contemporary and diverse global challenges. Over my three years, I wrote essays on food security, developed a campaign manifesto addressing fast fashion, worked collaboratively to analyse how national housing policies translate into lived experiences and completed a dissertation examining the social implications of urban green spaces.

Studying both the broad frameworks that shape sustainability policy and the practical realities of how these approaches are implemented helped me develop strong critical thinking and analytical skills. Equally important was learning to evaluate where policies and strategies succeed, where they fall short, and how complex environmental and social challenges can be approached from multiple perspectives. These experiences have been invaluable in preparing me to tackle real-world sustainability issues in a professional setting.

Make the most of the opportunities and resources available to you while you're at university - start looking for opportunities, building connections and exploring career options earlier than you think you need to. 

Isaac

GSD Alumni

The University offers so many resources designed to help students prepare for professional life, so make use of them - visit the Careers Service, use Cornerstone Employability Hub and attend skills workshops, even if you don't think you need them. 

I'd also recommend getting involved in extracurricular academic activities wherever possible. In my third year, I took part in a Net Zero Hackathon where we worked on data-driven solutions to real sustainability challenges. Experiences like that not only build valuable skills but also give you great examples to talk about in applications and interviews.

Finally, don't underestimate the value of careers fairs. The company I now work for, Loadhog, was one I first came across at a careers fair. Having a simple conversation about the organisation and what it was like to work there helped me learn more about the business and meant my name was already familiar when I later applied. It doesn't take much effort, but those small interactions can make a real difference and help you stand out from other applicants.