Are you passionate about the natural environment, its value for our wellbeing and keen to work in environmental planning & policy? We’ve got a great internship opportunity for a smart and enthusiastic individual. Interested? Read on…
Role title: Policy & Evidence Intern
Reports to: WENP Manager
Duration: Part time (0.5) for three months
Rate: £16,500 pa FTE (pro rata)
Location: Bristol (Avon Wildlife Trust offices) with occasional travel (expenses paid) across the West of England
How to apply: Complete our application form and return to [email protected]
Application deadline: 17 August
Interviews: w/c 20 August
About WENP:
The West of England Nature Partnership (WENP – wenp.org.uk) is a cross-sector partnership working to restore the natural environment in the West of England through embedding the value of nature in decision making across spatial planning, public health and economic development.
Established in 2012, WENP is the designated Local Nature Partnership (LNP) for the West of England (Bristol City, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset). LNPs are a key commitment from the 2011 Government White Paper, The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature, which recognised the need for a more joined-up approach to reverse the loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems – which we all rely on – and to secure nature’s return to health.
WENP is hosted by Avon Wildlife Trust and funded by North Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Wessex Water. WENP is governed by a Board and supported by key stakeholders across the West of England.
About ThinkNature:
ThinkNature (www.think-nature.eu) is part of Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The project is the development of an online, freely accessible platform that supports the understanding and promotion of nature-based solutions. WENP is a regional partner.
Nature-based solutions are defined by the EU as solutions that are ‘inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions’ (source: The EU Research and Innovation policy agenda on Nature-Based Solutions).
Role:
With the support of the WENP Manager, you will design and lead a project to collect best practice examples of nature-based solutions in the West of England and beyond. These case studies will be used to influence regional Green Infrastructure policy and shared on the ThinkNature platform – to inspire practitioners internationally and raise our region’s profile.
This role (see Job Description) will involve:
- Developing a project plan with the support of the WENP Manager;
- Developing clear communications and easy-to-use online forms to gather case studies;
- Contacting key organisations and working with them to develop case studies;
- By mapping case studies against specified GI objectives, identifying trends, best practice and gaps in what is happening regionally an as evidence base to influence regional Green Infrastructure policy; and
- Submitting case studies to the ThinkNature platform.
Experience you will gain:
- Project management;
- Stakeholder engagement;
- Gain exposure to planning and policy;
- Build a network of regional practitioners in environmental planning and policy; and
- Develop your knowledge on nature-based solutions and their potential to address societal challenges around climate change, environmental degradation and social inequalities.
What we’re looking for:
- A passion for the natural environment, environmental justice and sustainable development;
- Some knowledge about society’s impacts and dependencies on the natural environment;
- An interest in how to ‘design-in’ equitable, ecological health through planning policy;
- Highly organised, with the ability to work on one’s own initiative as well as in a team;
- Professional demeanour with the ability to engage effectively with others;
- Good written and oral English;
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and able to set up online forms and analyse content; and
- Highly motivated to learn and progress in this sector.
Minimum GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and Maths. An undergraduate degree in environmental science or similar, or demonstrable interest and self-directed learning around the above issues.
Minimum age 18. You must have a right to reside and work in the UK.
