In an occasional series, managers discuss the challenges of recruiting and retaining utility employees, while new starters give their first impressions.

Annabel Andrews talks to the Environment Agency's Richard Horrocks, regional flood risk manager, south west region, and graduate trainee Steena Nasapen.

View from the top

Richard Horrocks is regional flood risk manager, south west region, with the Environment Agency. He says:

We need to prepare for more extreme weather and higher sea levels. The risks of flood
and coastal erosion affect our environment and the lives of more than five million people, and the risks are increasing with climate change. The floods last summer, as well as the
more recent ones, illustrate how devastating these can be.

The Environment Agency plans, builds, operates and maintains flood defences that help prevent flooding. We also provide advice and warnings, so that new building development is guided away from areas that might flood or be eroded by the sea.

We need people with the right skills and motivation to take on these challenges. Required skills include a good technical understanding and the ability to solve problems. We look for good maths, science or technology qualifications from school or higher education.

Much of our work involves engineering, mainly civil but also mechanical and electrical, in order to manage our flood defence assets. These range from a simple riverside flood bank to the Thames Barrier, which protects London from tidal surges. We employ incorporated and chartered engineers to do this work. Many of our engineers started with us as graduates and have gained their professional qualifications through our training schemes. We have approved schemes with the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. We recruit around 20 BEng or MEng graduates each year and offer sponsorship to help in the final university year.

We also have a national scheme to train school leavers and graduates to become engineering technicians who can specialise in river and coastal engineering. Again, we are looking for evidence of technical capability, but not necessarily any practical engineering experience, which we can develop to Foundation Degree level. Each year we select about 30 trainees across England and Wales who will be based in one of our local offices and be given a mix of practical experience and university study over two years.

The attraction of the Environment Agency is illustrated by the fact that most of our trainees, whether graduates or Foundation Degree trainees, choose to stay with us and develop their careers. We can offer opportunities across the country and at all levels, for those with the right skills and ambition.

In these uncertain times and with growing emphasis on environmental issues, a career with the Environment Agency is particularly attractive. We offer excellent terms and
conditions and the work that we undertake will continue to be needed.

Starting out

Steena Nasapen is a graduate trainee with the Environment Agency. She says:
When I was at university and looking into the different companies, I was particularly impressed by the Environment Agency's size, and by the range of activities that it does. I always knew I wanted to do something in the built environment, and specifically on the water side. Having studied for a MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering, I was very much drawn to the work that the organisation does.

The recruitment process was a three-part process: an interview, a presentation and a written exercise. The brief for the presentation was sent a few weeks before the actual recruitment day, and I had to prepare for a particularly interesting flood incident public meeting case. It gave me the opportunity to understand more about flooding in general, but also to look into flood risk management. This exercise reinforced my decision to apply for the job. The process itself was quite daunting, but the assessors were very kind and approachable, wanting to draw the best out of each candidate.

I had visited the office twice before I actually started, therefore my first day was easy. I saw familiar smiling faces all eager to welcome me in their team which helped tremendously and made my first day pass very quickly. It was spent doing safety inductions, settling in and making sure I was comfortable at my desk. I was also taken through the various administration processes. By then, I was sure that I had made the right choice: I wanted to be in this dynamic but friendly environment.

We all underwent various national induction processes in Bristol when we first joined the Environment Agency and I had another area-specific induction in my office in Newcastle. The whole graduate group also attended a flood risk management course.

What has most impressed me and still does is the ICE Graduate Training Scheme which I and another 11 civil engineering graduates are on. The Environment Agency has gone to much trouble setting up a very detailed and methodical training scheme for graduates like us to follow to get chartered. In general, each individual is responsible for taking care of their career moves within an organisation, but the Environment Agency has actually planned our paths for us. This helps us achieve our goals and get the most out of our training.

I have been with the Environment Agency for one year now, and every day has been different from the others - the novelty and excitement of the first few weeks hasn't worn off yet. I look forward to the coming years.

Comment on this story

Screen name

Email (For verification only. Your details will not be retained or passed on. Not for publication)

Comment

Report Abuse

Sign up to our free email newsletters