Green Careers Skills Days
We run Green Careers Skills Days, to educate young people on careers involving looking after the protected landscape through net zero, nature recovery, climate action and sustainable technology development, in a fun and engaging way.
Following the success of our Green Careers and Skills Day in 2024, we held our second event in July 2026. The day saw 34 organisations, charities and businesses that are involved in the management of the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site, come together to support the day and showcase the work they are doing to help protect the National Park and Cumbria.
Over 200 young people from across six Cumbrian secondary schools came to the event alongside their schools Careers leads.
The purpose was to inspire their young people through engaging activities to help them learn about the skills and careers in the environment and heritage sector, as well as the opportunities available across The Lake District National Park Partnership and green sector businesses in Cumbria for volunteering, training and employment and highlighting the workforce skills that are required by the sector.
Against the backdrop of fells and traditional slate buildings of the Lake District National Park World Heritage Site, students were able to immerse themselves in green careers such as heritage surveying and environmental conservation. They were also able to question environment, farming and heritage professionals about their jobs and get involved in practical activities such as dry-stone walling, hurdle making, hedge laying and lime plastering.
Pupils described the experience as inspiring and insightful.
Inspiration for a green career
I didn’t know there was so much training available and how varied the job opportunities are.
It was very interesting and helped me to pick my future and showed me lots of opportunities to go for.
Collaboration
Organisations, charities and businesses involved in managing the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site through green practices were welcomed to Grasmere to feature as part of the Green Careers and Skills Day.
Organised by the Lake District National Park Authority in partnership with the Land and Nature Skills Service, Enterprising Cumbria and the Natural Environment Research Council, the Green Careers and Skills event was attended by organisations and individuals from across the National Park and beyond, representing nature and built heritage conservation, land and natural resource management.
The success of the event was made possible through collaboration with organisations, charities, and businesses dedicated to managing the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site sustainably.
Find listings and contact details for all the organisations and businesses that took part in the event at the bottom of this page.
Thank you
We are incredibly grateful to all the organisations and businesses (some of whom are pictured here) who supported the event, showcasing the skills, training and career pathways into this important sector. We wanted young people to be aware of the amazing career opportunities on their doorstep and be inspired to live and work in our amazing county. Thank you!
Get in touch
Could you see yourself in a green career? Let’s build a sustainable future together.
For teacher and student enquiries, please contact BrockholeLearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk
The Green Careers skills day showcased the work of:
The British Geological Survey is a world-leading geological survey and global geoscience organisation, focused on public-good science for government and research to understand earth and environmental processes.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: enquiries@bgs.ac.uk
- Offers: Under 18 virtual work experience
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) is a one-stop shop for Cumbria’s biological records, biodiversity and geological information. CBDC collates and analyses Cumbria’s biodiversity data and the information produced supports the work of wildlife enthusiasts, consultants, planners, researchers and members of the public who are interested in Cumbria’s biodiversity.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@cbdc.org.uk
Cumbria Connect is a major nature recovery initiative spanning 42,000 hectares in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, it is a collaboration of farmers, landowners, conservationists and partners including the RSPB, Lowther, United Utilities and Natural England.
The programme is revitalising the landscape through habitat restoration, nature-friendly farming and species reintroduction. This region is home to rare wildlife, ancient woodlands, temperate rainforest, upland fells and vital peatlands that help combat climate change and enhance biodiversity, providing benefits for both nature and local communities.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Emma Hughes emma.hughes@rspb.org.uk
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is a wildlife conservation charity.
We care passionately about wildlife and wild places – we’re here to put wildlife back into our land and seascapes to make Cumbria a wilder county with more space for nature.
We restore and connect wild places, work with nature to tackle the climate emergency and support people to take local action for wildlife.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Laura Bacon laurab@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk
- Offers: Internships, apprenticeships and student placements
YA are a youth focused charity which supports young people aged between 14 and 24 years old. We support to enable young people on a one to one basis to reach their aspirations by removing barriers to that being achieved.
We also run various programmes in school, for the home educated and for NEETs to bring about competency in a particular career pathway and strengthen personal skills. We run Bridging Horizons (a civil engineering in the built and natural environment programme) and will be starting Growing Horizons (one focused on land-based career options and personal development).
We run skills weeks in these subjects in July for home educated young people this year in Carlisle and on the west coast.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: office@cya.org.uk
We are a charity dedicated to advancing education in the craft and heritage of dry stone walling. Through our 19 branches and National Training Site, we provide training and a range of qualifications, supporting individuals to develop skills and pursue a career in dry stone walling.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Kate Dymock training@dswa.org.uk
- Offers: Apprenticeships subject to funding
National Heritage Charity caring for over 400 historic sites.
The many aspects of our work include commercial, operational, curatorial, conservation, maintenance, learning, research, community engagement and more.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: customers@english-heritage.org.uk
- Offers: Volunteering
Enterprising Cumbria is the official economic development body for Cumbria, supported by Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council. They work to boost the regional economy, help local businesses start and grow, and connect the Cumbrian workforce with training and employment opportunities.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: cumbriacareershub@enterprisingcumbria.org.uk
The Environment Agency helps protect people and nature.
We work to:
- Prevent flooding and help communities stay safe
- Keep rivers, lakes, and seas clean
- Protect wildlife and natural habitats
- Respond to pollution and environmental emergencies
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: CLARecruitment@enironment-agency.gov.uk
- Offers: Work experience, internships, apprenticeships, graduate training scheme
The Ernest Cook Trust is an educational charity grounded in the land. We cultivate deep-rooted connections with the land, through Outdoor Learning and experiences in nature. We believe that land can deliver multiple benefits united by a unique ability to enrich both lives and livelihoods.
Through our learning programmes, collaborative partnerships, and progressive land management, we are working to change the way people across the UK understand and experience land and nature.
We provide Land based education and Training
Supporting work experience, Post 16 training and apprenticeships in Agriculture, Forestry and Countryside skills.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: “Susie Grainger susie.grainger@ernestcooktrust.org.uk”
- Offers: Work experience, internships, apprenticeships
We are a conservation partnership , undertaking path repair work across the Lake District Mountains. We are a team of 15 full time Rangers who are supported by 130 volunteers.
The work involves walking into the mountains and repairing erosion that is causing damage to the sensitive upland habitats. The work is physically demanding and requires a high level of fitness and an excellent eye for sensitive design and skilled craftsmanship . You really have to love being outdoors in all weathers and working in remote locations , but we are lucky enough to call places like Helvellyn and Scafell Pike our office.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@fixthefells.co.uk
- Offers: Young rangers
We care for the nation’s forests.
We use our scale and expertise to grow and care for the nation’s forests for this generation and the next. We share recreation opportunities, help wildlife and provide sustainable timber.
We care for the nation’s forests so people, wildlife and nature can thrive.
We manage more land and trees than any other organisation in England. We provide hundreds of car parks, maintain thousands of miles of trails, and plant millions of trees. We raise most of the money needed for this work ourselves, with less than 10% of our funding coming from government.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: enquiries@forestryengland.uk
- Offers: Apprenticeships, internships, volunteering
Forged at home my solo run blacksmithing business, creating bespoke, contemporary and traditional metalwork pieces with hammer and anvil focusing on good quality hand made things that will live longer than I do.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Joe Shevelan joeshev@outlook.com
Higher Education and Futher Education College based across three campuses throughout Kendal, offering a massive variety of courses and opportunities for people over the age of 16. Qualifications including degree level, apprenticeships, T-Levels, A-Levels, extended diplomas and more.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Alice Wade Hello@kendal.ac.uk
- Offers: Courses, Internships and apprenticeships
Lake District Property Renovator is a traditional building company deeply rooted in Cumbria’s rich architectural heritage. We specialise in lime plastering, period property renovation, and barn conversions, bringing centuries-old techniques to modern restoration projects. Our dedication to traditional methods ensures that historic buildings maintain their character whilst meeting contemporary living standards.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: oleary_brad@yahoo.co.uk
The Lake District National Park Authority acts as the governing body responsible for conserving England’s largest national park. They manage the landscape’s environment, oversee planning and development, and facilitate public access, while also working to support local communities, farming, and the economy.
- Contact details for student enquiries: hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk and brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk
- Offers: Young rangers, work experience
We train people of all ages to learn the skill of hedgelaying. This is a fundamental part of landscape management providing huge wildlife and sustainability benefits. We will show you the tools needed and explain the techniques.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: secretarylwhla@gmail.com
- Offers: Taster days
We are a hub organisation showcasing a range of career pathways and training opportunities in the Land and Nature sector in Cumbria. We can talk to you about what you’re interested in, what kind of jobs may match your interests and what study route may get you to that job.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: office@lanss.uk
At LEAF, we promote and support more sustainable farming to create a resilient food & farming system for future generations.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: enquiries@leaf.eco
Michael Swords Studio is a conservation-focused architectural and heritage consultancy practice working across the UK. We specialise in the care, repair, and sensitive adaptation of historic buildings and places, including churches, listed buildings, community buildings, and heritage sites. Our work includes condition surveys, heritage advice, conservation planning, and architectural support for the long-term stewardship of historic places. We are particularly interested in how traditional building skills, conservation knowledge, and heritage-led thinking can support both communities and future careers.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: collaborations@swordsstudio.com
- Offers: Work experience, internships and apprenticeships
The leading provider of land based education across the North West. We offer agriculture, arboriculture and forestry apprenticeships across Cumbria as well as full time courses in a variety of subjects at our Preston site, where residential facilities are available.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Stuart Davidson enquiries@myerscough.ac.uk
- Offers: Courses, Internships and apprenticeships
LIFE R4ever Kent project
The LIFE R4ever Kent project is a 5 year partnership between Natural England, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Freshwater Biological Association and Environment Agency. Together they are working to improve the condition of the River Kent and Tributaries protected site in South Cumbria including river restoration, engaging with land managers, managing invasive species, trialing new monitoring techniques and reinforcing the native endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel population that lives there.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: hello@4everkent.co.uk
Catchment Sensitive farming
We give advice to farmers to help them reduce pollution of soil, air and water from agricultural activities
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: csf.northwest@naturalengland.org.uk
- Offers: Courses, Internships and apprenticeships
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, is the driving force of investment in environmental science in the UK. We advance the frontier of environmental science by commissioning new research, infrastructure and training that delivers valuable scientific breakthroughs.
NERC invests public money in world-leading science, designed to help us sustain and benefit from our natural resources, predict and respond to natural hazards and understand environmental change.
Paragon Vets is a Cumbrian based mixed veterinary practice caring for equine animals, farm animals and small animals as well as leading the way in advanced breeding all whilst operating a business as sustainably as we possibly can.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Jen Hewitt vets@paragonvet.com
- Offers: Taster Days and work experience
Savills is an international property advisory and estate management business with a strong rural and agricultural presence across the UK.
Our Rural Estate Management team helps people who own farms and rural land to look after it and plan for the future. This could include managing farmland, working with tenants, helping landowners start new ideas like farm shops or holiday accommodation, and looking after wildlife and the environment.
Jobs in rural estate management are varied and hands‑on. You can spend time outdoors visiting farms and estates as well as time in the office. The career suits people who enjoy the countryside, like problem‑solving, and want a job working with land and people.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: Alice McPherson alice.mcpherson@savills.com
- Offers: Work experience, internships and apprenticeships
South Cumbria Rivers Trust was formed in 2006 and is a registered charity (No. 1114682) whose purpose is to protect, conserve, monitor and rehabilitate the aquatic environments of South Cumbria. The South Cumbria Rivers Trust team comprises a small group of enthusiastic people who are dedicated to conserving and protecting the freshwater habitats and wildlife of the local area, and at a catchment scale.
We carry out a range of restoration activities including river restoration, natural flood management, invasive species control and habitat improvement works such a tree planting and reedbed restoration. We also support local farmers, undertake school engagement, and carry out a range of monitoring programmes such as riverfly and electrofishing.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@scrt.co.uk
- Offers: Volunteering
We are a workers Co-operative specialising in Coppicing and traditional crafts. We manage woodlands in the South Lakes for sustainable products and biodiversity.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@coppicecoop.co.uk
- Offers: Internships and apprenticeships
We take surplus materials from construction sites and put them to good use.
Our purpose is to encourage everyone to rethink how to better use materials, reclaim materials that are currently being thrown away or down-cycled, and reuse as much excess and ‘nearly-new’ materials as possible, creating value in what is often treated as waste.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: caroline@rebuildsite.co.uk
- Offers: work experience, apprenticeships and internships
We’re the UK’s largest listed water company, delivering water and wastewater services to around 8 million people and 200,000 businesses across the North West of England. Between 2025 and 2030, we will deliver an investment plan of more than £16.5 billion, titled the ‘Big North West Upgrade’. To help deliver this programme, we recruit over 150 people onto our apprenticeship and graduate schemes each year, offering a wide range of exciting opportunities, from engineering and project management to environmental specialists and scientists.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries:UUjobs@uuplc.co.uk UuEarlyCareers@uuplc.co.uk
- Offers:Apprenticeships and internships
Higher Education Institute offering a range of courses and apprenticeships including in areas such as forestry, outdoors, geography, conservation, wildlife media and zoology.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk
- Offers: courses, apprenticeships
West Cumbria Rivers Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to protecting, restoring and improving the rivers and lakes of West Cumbria for the benefit of wildlife and the people living and working around them. Our dedicated and passionate team work hard all year round partnering with landowners, farmers, organisations, local businesses, schools and communities to deliver for rivers and inspire a love for and understanding of our waterways.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@westcumbriariverstrust.org
- Offers: apprenticeships
Westmorland and Furness Council is a local government organisation responsible for running public services and supporting the community in its area of Cumbria. It looks after things like education, social care, housing, roads, waste collection, and environmental services, as well as planning new developments and supporting local businesses. The council also makes important decisions about how money is spent and how the area is managed, helping to ensure it is a safe, healthy, and well-run place for people to live, work, and study.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: recruitment.WAF@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
- Offers: apprenticeships
Wild Garsdale Pike is a youth‑led environment project based on a 200‑acre upland site in south‑east Cumbria. We work with young people aged 13–25 from across north‑west England, giving them a real say in what we do and how we look after our land.
Young people help shape our ideas, decide how we improve habitats and biodiversity, and get hands‑on experience by designing simple research projects. It’s a chance to see how your ideas can make a real difference.
We have a permanent Youth Steering Group that meets on site roughly once a month to carry out practical work, share ideas and plan future activities.
Whether you’re working towards school learning goals, completing your Duke of Edinburgh Award, thinking about future courses or jobs, or just want to spend time outdoors with like‑minded people, we’re here to support your goals.
- Website
- Contact details for student enquiries: info@wildgarsdalepike.org.uk
- Offers: work experience
