Jack
Tilley

Why did you choose to study at NTU?

I chose to study Environmental Science at NTU because of the variety of the course content which gave me confidence that I would graduate with enough experience to continue my studies and to find employment. The amount of fieldwork involved with this course also interested me, which was greater than similar courses at other universities due to being located on the Brackenhurst Campus. Lastly, I was encouraged by how seriously NTU take employability as I knew I wanted to work in the environmental industry and I felt that I would have adequate resources at NTU to do this.

What did you learn – both inside and outside of lectures?

My course covered a wide range of environmental topics including ecology, remote sensing, and environmental law, which I still use today. I gained practical skills through fieldwork such as water and soil quality testing. Outside of lectures, I took advantage of the sessions run by NTU to improve my report writing and data analysis skills, as well as attending a drone flying session which was a nice way to round off my applications of remote sensing module in my final year.

What have you been up to since graduating? E.g. working in industry, further study, volunteering, research projects etc.

After graduating from NTU I went on to study for a Masters in environmental monitoring, research, and management at Loughborough University. I then went on to my first graduate role at Arcadis as a graduate environmental consultant.

What does your current day involve?

I don’t have a standard day as an environmental consultant, but a large proportion of my time is spent ensuring environmental compliance for assets on High Speed 2 (HS2) through data analysis, collaborating with technical specialists and report writing. I also attend internal and external project meetings, as well as meeting with clients to discuss progress and how to overcome any barriers we are facing.

What attracted you to this field?

I was attracted to environmental consultancy because of the opportunity to work on small but also flagship projects which will make a positive difference to our planet and future generations.

What have been the highlights and biggest challenges of your career so far?

The greatest highlight in my career is going back to the start and getting the job offer from Arcadis itself. After being told how many people applied for the roles it made me prouder of how I managed to make myself stand out. The greatest challenge has been working on HS2 as it is such a large and complex project, but the experience I have gained is vast and I will be grateful for it once I move on to future projects.

What are your plans for the future?

I am looking to gain more experience on a variety of projects at Arcadis, as I become a more rounded consultant.

If you had a time machine, what would you go back and tell yourself at NTU

It may seem like hard work now, but it will be worth it in the future. But to also be kinder to myself when I was stressed. Work/life balance is really important, especially when you get into your career after graduating.

Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share with our student and alumni community?

To students studying environmental science or any other course make sure to take advantage of the resources you have available to you at university as they are invaluable. If you put the work in now you will 100% see results after graduating. Also take advantage of the services NTU offer once you graduate as they are there to help you progress into your career.