Hello, my name is Charlie. After completing my final-year exams for my undergraduate Biology degree I had the opportunity to intern with Acer Ecology, an ecological and wildlife consultancy, as an Assistant Ecologist.
My experience
This role involved producing high-quality ecological reports for clients, ranging from Preliminary Ecological Appraisals to protected species licences, and conducting field work in the areas surrounding Bristol and Cardiff, including bat dusk emergence surveys and Great Crested Newt eDNA tests. It offered a hybrid and highly flexible working arrangement, combining office-based work in Cardiff, remote work from home, and regular site visits.
Charlie equipped with a bat frequency detector and infrared camera, conducting a dusk emergence survey in Somerset to determine the presence of bats in a workshop building.
As an Assistant Ecologist I was able to apply the knowledge I gained during my degree at Bristol in novel and practical ways, contributing to real-world conservation efforts. Although the reporting style differed from previous academic writing I have produced, I was well supported by my colleagues and adapted well.
Overall, this internship enabled me to connect with like-minded individuals, strengthen my environmental skills and confidence in my abilities, and reaffirm my strong passion for conservation work.
My top tips
- Chat to the Careers Service about your emails to SMEs or applications for internships – they’re super helpful and can really help you sharpen up what you’re sending.
- Take time to understand the working style and expectations of the role beforehand. Is remote work an option? Will you need to travel to sites? Knowing this in advance will help you prepare and avoid any surprises!
- Enjoy it! Interning is meant to be a valuable and fun experience that gives you a taste of specific industry and roles.
Want to be an SME Intern?
The scheme is now open for applications. There are 2 ways to find an internship through the scheme:
- Apply for advertised roles through mycareer. There is no limit to how many you can apply for, but you can only undertake one SME Internship per academic year.
- Approach SMEs that you would like to work for and ask them to take you on.
You can find out more about the SME Internship Scheme on our website.
Check out our “My SME Internship” blog series to hear more student stories.
If you have any questions about the scheme, writing your application, or anything else relating to careers you can speak to us on live chat, or pop in to 5 Tyndall Avenue.
