Helsby, Cheshire-based RSK Group, the UK’s largest privately owned environmental consultancy, has launched an innovative new graduate training scheme to identify tomorrow’s talent and improve skills in the local environmental consultancy sector.
The scheme aims to give 14 graduates a comprehensive grounding in both the commercial and managerial aspects of environmental consultancy.
RSK Group’s graduates boast an impressive combined academic background of 100 A* GCSEs; 40 ‘grade A’ A levels; three first degrees and seven 2(i) degrees; six MScs; two PhDs and nine foreign languages.
Over the course of a six-month period, graduates will gain hands-on experience of the systems and mechanics of environmental consultancy through rotational placements across a variety of RSK Group teams.
The scheme will also involve related examination and workshop-led assignments.
Those who impress stand a chance of being retained by RSK Group for full-time positions within a team aligned with their qualifications.
Initially, the graduate scheme will be run exclusively in RSK Group’s Helsby headquarters, though it may be extended to other offices in the future.
RSK Group HR manager Zoe Lloyd said:
“This is a great scheme that will give graduates a solid grounding in the fundamentals of environmental consultancy and boost their future prospects of full-time employment.”
RSK Group chairman Alan Ryder said:
“There are a lot of graduates out there who have really good degrees, but just can’t get a job due to the climate, so we thought this would be a great opportunity for them to get six months’ experience and gain valuable skills.”
“There’s no guarantee that graduates will get a job with us at the end of the course, but we will still have provided them with valuable experience and they may be able to come back to us in the future should a vacancy arise.”
Sara Heath, 23, a graduate with a MSc in Environmental and Climate Change studies from Liverpool University, said:
“Up until now, I have had no experience of the commercial side of business, so this has been good for me. I feel very happy and lucky to have the opportunity to do this because most people don’t get to learn about the business side of things until they are already in full-time employment. These are extremely transferable skills.”
Dr. Alex Jackson, 27, a graduate with a PhD in Geochemistry from Durham University, said:
“I’m interested in working in consultancy because I’d prefer to be involved in the practical application of science rather than the research side.
Since starting at RSK Group I’ve had a great general introduction to the company; it’s mainly been about improving our communication and getting use to procedures, but in the coming weeks I’m going to be involved in tender writing and sales and marketing.”