Jenny Simmonds: Team Member Jenny is an active member of the Scout Association. She volunteers for the National Trust youth team, and her local Borough Council’s Countryside Ranger service. Last year she was a Community Governor for a junior school and she is a volunteer for Changemakers, an NGO which champions young people leading their own social change.
In 2006 Jenny graduated from the University of Northumbria with a BSc honours degree in Geography, and went on to study an MSc in Environmental Forestry at the University of Bangor, Wales. She has been working for English Heritage in Swindon for the past 2 years.
Jenny enjoys walking, mountain climbing, canoeing, cycling, swimming, playing the piano, guitar and saxophone, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering in as much of her spare time as she can spare.She is particularly interested in building a career in landscape and forest management; a dream of hers since undertaking work experience with the Forestry Commission, aged 14.
Health wise Jenny does not smoke, and enjoys the occasional glass of wine. Jenny has always tried to stay healthy, although since turning 25 she needs to wear glasses and has developed asthma and an allergy to shellfish, which she hopes won’t be too much of a problem while in Sri Lanka. Jenny is particularly excited about taking part in the GSE to meet people and make friends, experience a different culture, and develop her career opportunities.
Jenny - After a hard day's mountain climbing over Crib Goch and up to the summit of Snowdon
Walking in the Lake District - One of Jenny's favourite places
Jenny monitoring a rare population of Juniper for her MSc Thesis, at 700m in Snowdonia
About to climb this rock face, Stanage Edge in the Peak District
Taking sister (age 5), brother (age 9) and cousin (age 11) climbing in the Lake District
Snowboarding at Saas Fee in Switzerland
A well earned break with friends and family on a walking holiday in the Peak District
Jenny and her partner Andrew, walking in the Peak District
Jenny and Andrew at Mont Blanc
JENNY SIMMONDS - ESSAY OF INTENT
Dear Sirs,
I have been committed to a career in Environmental Management since the age of 9 when the local NRA – as the Environment Agency were then named – came into my classroom with a large tray full of pond life for the class to observe and survey. This is a lasting memory as it was the first time I discovered that one could forge a career in what my parents encouraged me to spend my free time doing – enjoying, learning from and caring for the great British countryside and all the wonderful sights, sounds and opportunities it has to offer people of all ages and abilities. I was not to know that this extremely competitive sector would be a hard nut to crack, and with a First Class Honours degree in Physical Geography and a Master of Science in Environmental Forestry I have still not fully ‘broken in’, although I believe my foot is now firmly in the door.
Upon moving to Swindon after completing my Masters degree I was employed by English Heritage as Facilities Co-ordinator in December 2008. I then moved onto the corporate Records Management department in June 2009. I was told by my line manager as he offered me the post that he was aware of my academic achievements and abilities and knew I would not stay in this role for a significant period of time; however he wanted to give me the opportunity to build a career at English Heritage. I intend to make full use of this superb opening and believe that this fits exceptionally well with the aims of this programme.
I believe that I should be eligible as a team member as I plan to build my career with English Heritage. This unprecedented opportunity could only serve to strengthen the likelihood of me securing a happy and fulfilling career in the coveted sector of land management and conservation.
I recently attended my annual Career Development Review and articulated to my manager that I am extremely committed to the organization, and would love to further my career development by arranging job shadowing with the teams that I am most interested in working with in the long term. This was agreed and English Heritage are granting me 5 days to work with the Gardens and Landscape team, which consist of Landscape Advisors, Landscape Managers and Senior Garden Advisors. English Heritage actively support career development and I have been informed that if I were to need additional qualifications and training for the roles that I wish to apply for in the future, that the organization would support me in this and provide time and payment for course fees. I have been signed up to an Aspiring Managers course in the autumn that will allow me to apply for management jobs in the future, as suggested by my line manager.
I believe that taking part in this programme will not only give me invaluable personal and professional experience on a level that could not be achieved through my current volunteering commitments, it will also serve to prove my unfaltering dedication to the career that I hope gain at English Heritage. It will give me that all important experience and show my dedication to the sector when applying for promotions and in interview situations; so many young people now have degrees and no relevant experience.
I was one of them, however through giving my time to a plethora of volunteer organizations and being clear and forward thinking in the workplace I have begun my path to the career I aspire towards. This project would set me apart from the crowd and open doors that might otherwise have remained closed. It would give me an insight into the sector that will evolve my learning and broaden my horizons, and also allow me to give something back through applying my skills on an international scale.
I would use every opportunity as a graduate of the GSE programme to further my career at English Heritage, and you never know, one day I could be that professional showing a school group some of the fantastic work that I am doing, and inspire the next generation of Environmental Managers to work hard for what they want and never give up on their dreams.
