“Everyday has been fun learning new things” – Millhouse’s Story
Background
As part of our Medlock Valley Restoration Project, we’ve also hired two Trainee Rangers who are new to working in the environmental sector. They are carrying out the majority of our habitat maintenance work across sites in Manchester, Oldham and Tameside.
Groundwork will be delivering a programme of green skills training to volunteers, community groups and our partners to equip people with the right knowledge and skills to mobilise climate action on a neighbourhood level.
A New Career
Before joining the Medlock Valley project team, Millhouse had been working in the hospitality industry. He began volunteering with City of Trees, TCV and Forestry England and decided he’d like to transition into a new career working outdoors and protecting habitats.
He began applying for jobs and apprenticeships, but found that he was either underqualified because he had no previous work experience, or overqualified because of his volunteering experience. When he found the Trainee Ranger role at Groundwork, it became the perfect opportunity for him to build on his volunteer experience, and gain the work experience he needed to start and progress his new career.
Developing Green Skills as a Trainee Ranger
Since starting in September, Millhouse has received qualifications in Health and Safety, Carbon Literacy and Water Safety Training. As well as becoming qualified to operate different power tools like brush cutters and chainsaws, and remove invasive non-native species using herbicide sprays and injections. These are all essential skills to have when working in Ranger roles, and will help Millhouse when applying for future jobs.
Alongside his Supervisor and Jon, our other Trainee Ranger, Millhouse will be working across a range of habitats in the Medlock Valley including in wet woodlands, meadows and ponds, learning a variety of different habitat improvement practices.
Click below to find out how Millhouse is enjoying his new role so far:
Click below to find out more about our delivery of green skills in the Medlock Valley.