With a £400,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the RSPB is offering 18 traineeships for people seeking a career in nature conservation. It is the first time the RSPB has received a major training grant and it allows the charity to run Nature Counts, a three-year project starting in 2011.
Bedford College will provide training from Shuttleworth College, the nationally recognised centre of excellence in land-based education and training.
It will utilise Shuttleworth College’s new virtual learning environment, allowing trainees to study from their RSPB work base, learn hands on skills and tap into the expertise of experienced professionals and specialist tutors.
Training will be in either ecology or visitor services and will also cover essential skills such as giving presentations, working within budgets and planning their future career.
Business development team manager Gina Bubbins said: “We have been given a unique opportunity to work with RSPB to provide future nature conservationists with the skills and knowledge needed to safeguard the future of the UK’s national heritage.
"People will be able to kick start their ambition to work in nature conservation and we are delighted to be part of that.
“We pride ourselves in tailoring training to the needs of employers and students and that is where virtual learning plays a crucial part in the training for RSPB.”
