Environmental consultancy

Environmental consulting remains the largest area of employment in the environmental sector, with 39% of all green roles occurring within the consultancy field. With legislation requiring environmental impact assessments (EIAs) on increasing numbers of sites, and the current construction boom the field is set to grow yet further.

What environmental consultants do

Environmental consultants are brought in to undertake EIAs and advise on such areas as pollution, contaminated land and environmental policy.

The role can involve:

• field work conducting tests and surveys
• collating and presenting environmental data
• auditing processes for efficiency and environmental impact.

A science degree is the most desirable qualification with a particular focus on ecology, chemistry, biological and environmental sciences. An environmental engineering or environmental management degree can also lead to a graduate career in environmental consultancy.

Salary and location

The average starting salary is close to £20,000, rising to £25,000+ after a few years’ experience, with some of the top environmental consultants earning over £70,000. You’ll normally be part of a small team of consultants, with your colleagues working in other areas of the project. Working hours are pretty standard for the consultancy industry, but you might be expected to put in extra time to complete a big project.

Due to the requirement of EIAs in the planning process, the role is considerably less London-centric than others, so you don't need to head to the big city to get a graduate job in environmental consultancy. You may find that remuneration decreases the further away from the capital you’re based.