Host a trainee

What’s on this page:

Do you want to join us in
creating change across the environmental sector?

We empower you to create impactful, accessible,
entry-level opportunities for young people, where they can bring their passion and enthusiasm to supporting your vital work.

We’ll work with you to build your capacity and become a more inclusive and diverse organisation that represents the communities you serve. You’ll be helping to grow the next generation of environmental talent, build your capacity to achieve your aims, becoming an organisation that truly represents the communities you serve.

How it works

As a host organisation, you’ll employ a fantastic young person for a year, giving them the opportunity to learn and grow into the role while bringing new energy and passion to tackle your most urgent priorities.

We provide support before, during and after the placement for you and your trainee. Our approach has been developed with other organisations and refined through New to Nature, making sure you have the resources and support you’ll needed to get the most out of the programme. Most notably, this includes:

  • We help employers tap into new talent pools, supporting them to recruit the best candidates who can bring incredible energy, passion and new perspectives that will help strengthen their teams.

  • For smaller organisations and charities we help offer wage subsidies on a tiered basis to help create the roles. Where applicable, we also help to streamline applications for funding, both for charities and to access skills levy pots.

  • The trainees will help their host organisations extend their impact, both in the direct work that they do, and also the social impact that the organisation has within its wider community, helping to build economic potential as part of a just green transition.

  • All host organisations also have access to a facilitated peer-led learning programme focused on building an inclusive and equitable culture that can nurture the next generation of talent for the sector.

  • Employers on the programme will be able to recruit other trainees once they graduate, confident that they have been able to build valuable skills and experience during the year that can add value to their organisations.

"For us it shows just what someone can do when given the opportunity. There just aren’t enough opportunities [for people] to prove themselves, the right person with the right support can do wonderful things."

– Host Organisation, New to Nature

Creating opportunities through our programme is a fantastic way to support the younger generation and help meet your organisation’s needs.

Here’s some of what you’ll get out of being a host organisation:

  • Demonstrate your commitment to diversity and inclusion 

  • Help to shape the future of the environmental sector

  • Build capacity in your team

  • Access expert training and development support 

  • Join a peer network of
    like-minded organisations

A group of four young people in a park standing in a line smiling at the camera
A green blob with white text overlaid that reads '95% of organisations who took part in our first programme would participate again'
An orange blob with white text overlaid that reads '88% of host organisations said that participating in the programme has improved their organisation's practices around diversity and inclusion'

Case study:British Trust for Ornithology

In 2023 BTO had one of our trainees join their organisation as a Youth Engagement Officer. Faye Vogely, Youth Engagement Manager, said:

“We really benefit from having someone younger on the team. That's really allowed us to be more inclusive in the work that we do because she brings the age category we work with into the staff team.“

“I’m very pleased to say that our Trainee has been offered a permanent position with

adjusted pay to recognise her contribution to the organisation and team.

“I'm hoping that this will show the rest of the organisation the growth potential in an individual as well. When she came, she'd never worked with young people before and hadn't had a full-time job before in this sector. She's expanded her knowledge, and her skills are to the point where four months into her contract they already said let's make it permanent.”

What we’re
looking for

We’re keen to support both not-for-profit and profit making organisations with a strong environmental mission, who are actively working to create a healthy and sustainable planet for generations to come.

We’re expanding our sector focus to cover the following sectors:

  • Bringing more green spaces and wildlife back into our lives.

    These can be organisations protecting and creating ecosystems, managing nature reserves, creating urban green spaces such as community gardens, or encouraging people to connect with nature.

  • Growing and producing food in ways that work in harmony with the environment.

    For example, organisations running market gardens, small holdings and farms, as well as green agri-tech businesses and food hubs.

  • Moving away from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas and switching to cleaner, greener energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower.

    For example, organisations installing, generating or supplying renewable energy.

  • Finding cleaner, greener ways to move people and goods around.

    This includes public transport, improving cycling and walking infrastructure, and installing EV charging stations.

  • Creating buildings and spaces that are eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

    These could be organisations focused on retrofitting buildings, green architecture and water saving systems.

  • Rethinking how we produce and use goods to create a more sustainable future.

    Organisations focusing on reducing our material consumption, such as pollution prevention, reuse and repair, renting and leasing of products, and recycling of materials and resources.

  • Preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change in our communities.

    This could be raising public awareness and readiness, improving flood defences and designing smarter, nature based solutions.

Our eligibility criteria:

  • Be able to offer full-time (35 hours/week), 12-month roles paid at the Real Living Wage  

  • Create accessible, exciting roles that showcase how rewarding a career in the environmental sector can be

  • Commit to attracting and welcoming diverse young talent into their teams 

  • Encourage young people to influence change in their organisation and the sector

  • Take part in a programme of development, learning, and evaluation to foster a more inclusive sector

We particularly welcome interest from diverse-led environmental organisations and smaller specialist charities looking to build their capacity.

Opportunites to sign up

We’re building on the successes of our first pilot and are currently working towards two new programmes:

Bristol and the West
of England programme

Our next programme will be regionally focused in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We’re planning to create at least 40 entry-level opportunities for young people to start their careers in the sector and we need partners to do it.

We’re now accepting expressions of interest from a diverse range of environmental organisations based in and around Bristol and the South West, who are interested in providing high quality 12-month work placements for 18-25 year olds. 

New to Nature 2

Following on from the success of the first phase, we are working towards a second phase, again being led by Groundwork UK.

This will be a UK-wide programme providing entry-level, paid nature-focused opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

For more information and to express your interest in hosting a trainee, please visit the New to Nature website and reach out to the Groundwork team

Not an environmental organisation?