Applications open!
YES: Bristol offers excellent, entry-level, environmental, employment opportunities at organisations in Bristol and the West of England.
It’s a programme set up to support young people from underrepresented communities to begin a career in what is currently the second least diverse sector in the country. This means that we especially welcome applications from young people from the global majority, that are living with a disability, or are from a low-income background or who identify as being working class.
We have a number of paid jobs at different organisations - from working outdoors and engaging communities to creating social media content, and more.
It’s alright if you don’t know exactly what you want to do yet. You can explore our roles below and see which match your interests and the type of work you think you’d enjoy the most.
To find out more about the application process, check out our FAQs section below.
Discover our live roles:
-
Organisation: Bristol Water
Sector: Nature-recovery and Urban Greening
Location: Bristol
Hours: Full-time
Type of work: Task-focused | AnalyticalType: Task-focused, Type: Analytical, Sector: Nature-recovery and urban greening, Location: Bristol
-
Organisation: Pennon Group
Sector: Climate resilience
Location: Bristol
Hours: Full-time
Type of work: Task-focused | CreativeType: Task-focused, Type: Creative, Sector: Climate Resilience, Location: Bristol
-
Organisation: Centre for Sustainable Energy
Sector: Low-carbon energy transition
Location: Bristol
Hours: Full-time
Type of work: People-focused | CreativeType: People-focused, Type: Creative, Sector: Low-carbon energy transition, Location: Bristol
-
Organisation: Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
Sector: Food & Farming
Location: Gloucestershire
Hours: Part-time
Type of work: People-focused | CreativeType: People-focused, Type: Creative Sector: Food and Farming, Location: Gloucestershire
We’re working on getting more roles live for our spring cohort - check back here or follow us on Instagram to stay in the know
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Not at all. Every role in the programme has been carefully checked to make sure it’s truly entry-level. That means no experience needed. The whole application process is built to help you show what makes you brilliant as a person, not what’s already on your CV.
-
Absolutely! We encourage you to think broadly. Did you help organise a fundraiser? Support family members? Lead a project at school? Don’t underestimate what you’ve already done as these all build valuable skills.
-
No. Roles in our Autumn 2025 round don’t have formal qualification requirements. There’s no section in the application to list exam results or certificates, so you won’t be judged on that.
-
Not at all. You don’t need to be an expert. What matters most is that you care. Use your application to explain why protecting the planet matters to you in your own words.
About the work
-
The organisation you’ve applied to will contact you directly to set up an interview. We’ve asked all our employers to make the interview process welcoming and focused on potential, not past experience. If you’re invited, you’ll get clear information about what to expect.
-
Expect questions similar to the application form, about your interests, values, and how you approach challenges. You might also be asked how you’d handle tasks that are part of the job. These interviews are about you as a person, not your job history.
-
Here are some tips:
Re-read your application and the job description. Remind yourself what you wrote, and what the employer has already said they’re looking for.
Think of examples. Times you’ve worked in a team, solved a problem, or kept going when things were hard.
Practice aloud. Saying your answers out loud helps you feel more confident and builds muscle memory for what you might say in the interview.
Be yourself. There’s no perfect answers! Remember, employers want to get to know you as a human being.
About Interviews and Selection
Accessibility, Support and Inclusion
-
This programme is open to all applicants looking to start a career in the environmental sector.
It has been designed to address underrepresentation in the environmental movement, and we particularly encourage applications from individuals who may face additional barriers to entering or advancing in environmental careers.
This includes, but is not limited to, those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and those facing socioeconomic disadvantage. -
All our employers have agreed to offer reasonable adjustments for interviews and the job itself. If you need something (like extra time, a quiet space, or information in a different format) just ask. You can contact the organisation directly, or email Jess from the YES team at jess@youthenvironmentalservice.co.uk if you’re not sure where to start.
-
Yes. We know life is complicated, and many people have commitments outside of work. If you need flexibility, let the employer know during the process and they’ll do their best to support you.
-
Not at all. You don’t need to be an expert. What matters most is that you care. Use your application to explain why protecting the planet matters to you in your own words.
-
Once applications close, our team checks each one to make sure it meets basic criteria (like the three-role limit, and UK work eligibility). We also look out for signs that AI has been used without personal input. After that, your application goes to the employer for review. They’ll decide who to invite for interviews.
-
You should hear by the end of August if you’ve been invited to an interview. If you haven’t heard by then, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll help you figure out what’s going on.
-
Please don’t be discouraged. We’re working to offer more opportunities in Bristol and beyond. We want to stay in touch and support you on your journey, so follow us on Instagram and sign up for our mailing list to stay in the know.
What Happens Next
-
You’ll find all available roles above. Each role has its own page, with a clear link to apply. You can apply for up to three roles so choose the ones that fit you best. If we receive more than three applications from you, we’ll only consider the first three.
-
The application form has three parts:
Your personal details (so we know who you are)
Four short-answer questions (so we get to know you)
A diversity monitoring form (anonymous and not shared with employers)
-
Nope. We don’t ask for a CV or cover letter. Your answers to the questions are what matters.
-
Think about where you've shown skills like teamwork, problem-solving, or leadership, even if it wasn’t in a job. This might include:
Group projects at school or college
Helping friends or family
Organising events or clubs
Dealing with tricky life situations
Your lived experience matters, and we want to hear what you’ve learned from it!
-
Yes, but wisely. It’s fine to use AI tools to help you reflect or tidy up your answers but copying and pasting a response word-for-word usually stands out (and not in a good way). Our team reads every application, and we want to hear your voice, not ChatGPT’s. Think of AI as a helper, not a replacement.