CMN got in touch with Lucy Luck who has recently undertaken a Marine Project Apprenticeship with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. You can read Lucy’s story in full here.
Read about Lucy’s story one year on here.
Tell us about yourself and what you currently do.
I am currently Cornwall Wildlife Trust‘s Marine Project Apprentice. I work closely within the Marine Team, with my primary focus on two of their projects – Your Shore and Tackling the Emergensea.
After I graduated from university having completed my BSc Honours in Applied Zoology, I instantly was on the lookout for a job within the conservation sector. I applied for several jobs at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, including the Marine Project Apprentice role.
What attracted me to Cornwall Wildlife Trust was the work they do with volunteers as part of the Your Shore Network. I’m a core member of Mounts Bay Marine Group, one of 18 volunteer groups across Cornwall, and so I knew applying for the Your Shore Project that was to be based in the Mounts Bay Area was a no-brainer really. While at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, I undertook and recently completed the Business Admin Apprenticeship through Cornwall Marine Network, for which I was brilliantly supported by my assessor Kit Williams.
Which elements of your apprenticeship do you feel you have learnt most, particularly with regards to the marine environment, and the relationship between sustainability and marine?
It would have to be the practical conservation skills, constant interaction with brilliant marine experts, as well as enhancing my own knowledge of the marine environment and species within it, including carrying out Shore Search and Sea Search surveys around Cornwall.
In terms of sustainability, I now have a better understanding of the continuous efforts CWT and other organisations to encourage sustainability, whether that is sustainable fishing with Cornwall Good Sea Food Guide, or sustainability for nature recovery with the G7 Project.
Are there any standout achievements or personal wins?
A standout achievement for me has to be my apprenticeship project. I wanted my project to create new ways of communicating with CWT members and followers of the charity and so, I helped bring to life Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Wild Cornwall Podcast. A platform that is still being used within the business today to raise awareness of projects, engage with audiences, and educate listeners.
“The world is constantly changing, and I feel that green skills is a very positive way of moving forward to tackle both the climate and biodiversity crisis.”
Any personal wins?
A personal win would have to be stepping out of my comfort zone and gaining confidence, especially in carrying out youth work at schools. Having little to no experience with youth work to the extent of working directly in a school environment, I have quite literally fallen into the world of teaching. Now, I’m being valued at a local school as a member of staff, helping to run Wildlife Club and assist during eco-rep meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to educate, inspire, and introduce young people to the world of conservation and how they all have a voice for change.
From your perspective, what value can green skills bring to those pursuing a career in the marine industry or any sector?
I was unaware on what green skills were prior to my apprenticeship and what value they held. However, I now have a better understanding on what these are, and just how valuable they are in a career within the conservation sector. The world is constantly changing, and I feel that green skills is a very positive way of moving forward to tackle both the climate and biodiversity crisis. That can be through the creation of greener jobs, or simply focusing on having a positive attitude and a green mindset.
What next?
I’m going to pack my bags, book a one-way ticket and fly across the globe for a solo adventure! Exploring new places, meeting new people, and gaining hands-on experience volunteering for conservation projects abroad. On my return, who knows? Maybe a path in teaching is ahead of me?
“Take it in your own stride and trust your instincts, as you are capable of more than you think.”
Has your apprenticeship with CMN/CWT helped you on your career path?
It has helped me understand the type of job I want to have. I’m not an office person nor aspire to have an entirely computer-based career in the long-term. I crave the outdoors too much! Completing my apprenticeship with CMN and CWT has helped me narrow down areas of interest, and opened new paths I hadn’t considered before, including teaching and education.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about apprenticeships and/or work placements, what would it be?
I can’t lie, it’s not been easy. It’s been an extremely challenging journey for me to take on studies in an area that is totally alien to me, all while juggling the work that was required of me from CWT. The advice I would give to someone considering apprenticeships is that you have to expect challenges, but don’t let the difficulties overwhelm you. Take it in your own stride and trust your instincts, as you are capable of more than you think.
If you could go back and give one piece of advice to yourself before embarking on your journey with CMN and CWT, what would it be?
It’s going to be hard and there will be times you want to give up. But there are moments that will generally bring out the passion, joy and excitement in you for doing the work that you are doing, in the natural world and in communities. Hold your head up high and take every opportunity that comes your way.
