Nina Garner

• Year of graduation: 2019
• Current job title: Planning and Environmental Specialist
• Current employer: National Grid
• Industry sector: Energy

I chose the BSc Geography course at UON because I’d really enjoyed geography at A-Level but wanted to be more specialised in the physical and environmental aspects without limiting my future options. Geography is a really good course to take, because it’s so broad and gives you lots of transferable skills which are really attractive to future employers.

The best aspect of the course was the breadth of modules. This really appealed to me because it enabled me to learn lots of useful knowledge in different areas – from land use and planning, to geology and ecology. By having such variety, it allowed me to understand which subjects I really enjoyed and the ones I wasn’t so keen on, and this has shaped my career to date. There was also a fantastic opportunity to do a USA field trip in my second year, which was really good fun!

My studies at UON have helped my career in a number of ways. Firstly, the course content has given me a good technical knowledge of environmental disciplines which I now use in my daily job. Also, the assignments built on my analytical, report writing and presentation skills, which are vital in a workplace. Finally, the Geographers at Work module was invaluable, as it allowed me to practice my interview skills, become aware of my strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, it gave me the confidence to apply for job roles once I’d graduated.

After graduating, I joined the Environment Agency as a Flood Risk Management Officer. This required me to work closely with internal and external stakeholders to manage flood risk for new developments. As I progressed within the role, I took on a number of major projects and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, as well as a more strategic role in reviewing Local Authority local plans. This role gave me a solid foundation – I developed my knowledge of planning policy and gained important workplace skills such as networking, time management and customer service.

In 2022, I moved to my current role as Planning and Environmental Specialist for National Grid. My main role is to obtain consent for critical infrastructure projects, such as new substations and overhead line works and I’m responsible for advising and guiding project teams in relation to the design and development of projects.

It’s quite a big change from university to fast-paced workplaces, so in both of my roles I’ve made sure I’ve asked lots of questions and always looked for ways to develop my skills. I’m currently expanding my knowledge of biodiversity net gain which is a hot topic in the environmental sector and I’m also working towards becoming chartered with the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

The skills I gained during my degree which are most useful in my current role are:

• communication skills, allowing me to work with a wide range of stakeholders
• report writing, which supports me in the submission of planning applications, such as the writing of planning and sustainability statements
• teamwork
• an understanding of environmental disciplines (climate change, sustainability, flood risk etc).

If I could give one piece of advice to undergraduates interested in this area of study, it would be to give yourself time to become self-aware and know your strengths. You may not have all the boxes ticked for a job role, but chances are you’ll have lots of great transferable skills, so learn how to sell those!