Progress

Rachel Johnson's career was going swimmingly. In the two decades since graduating from University of Leeds, she had worked her way up through various early careers and student research organisations, such as Milkround, Not Going to Uni, UCAS and Cibyl at Group GTI, an independent market research agency specialising in student research projects across the UK and Ireland. She was a business director, owned her own flat and when holidays came around, Rachel was ticking off a bucket list of places to see. Rachel was continuing with the running she had taken up during the pandemic and quietly, in her spare time, she volunteered at Samaritans, the charity that offers 24/7 listening support to people struggling to cope.

Then in 2024, Rachel handed in her notice to take up a place as a trainee mental health social worker. And while that might have been a mic-drop moment for people she worked with, it was something Rachel had been considering for some time.

In this episode Rachel explains:

• why she took such a momentous decision

• what it's been like to return to tutorials 20 years after graduating from the University of Leeds

• how it has been to re-learn essay writing

• the reflective practices in place that help social workers cope with case work

• how she feels about going on placements at the front line as a trainee mental health social worker.

Rachel offers advice for anyone considering treading the same path as her to become a social worker, whether they are fresh out of university or, like her, making a career change. She also talks about what happens next, after summer 2025, when she receives her postgraduate diploma and masters degree.

Mentioned in this podcast

Links

Think Ahead

Cibyl, Group GTI

Samaritans

You might also enjoy:

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 E1

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5

About ProGRESS:

Talking about pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram: @ProGRESS

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: [email protected]

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A decade ago Canadian Don Weatherbee moved from his long career crunching the numbers in mining to join a gold recovery company. From there, it wasn't such a big leap to start working with the pioneering technology business RegenX, innovating the way precious metals are recycled, particularly those in end-of-life catalytic converters. As part of the circular economy, reusing materials that have already been processed, Don reflects on a career that has seen massive changes in environmental impact and his sense of optimism.

In this episode Don talks about:

• choosing to study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Alberta

• why accountancy and technology are a good foundations for business leadership

• the benefits of being "the numbers guy" in the executive team

• the circular economy

• why people are at the heart of innovation and how that will conserve natural resources.

In addition Don discusses:

• the power of asking "Why?" in meetings

• good reasons to find out what other people in a company do.

An avid sports fan Don signs off by revealing:

• how he chooses to relax

• the privileges of living close to the Canadian Rocky Mountains

• reasons to remain optimistic about the future.

Mentioned in this podcast

RegenX

(RGX Tech Corps)

The American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The circular economy

You might also like to listen to:

Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2

Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E1

Nick Molden, CEO Emissions Analytics S1 E4

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer Byway Travel S2 E4

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram: @theProGRESS_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: [email protected]

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Neal is a procurement officer for Norwich City Council. They gained a first class honours degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia, (UEA), studying a course that included a year in industry.

Initially, and because of their strong background in business studies, Dani thought their future would be lie in accounting and finance, but because of their interest in conservation and a desire to do something about climate change they switched courses.

Since graduating in 2018, Dani has been working in local government, and dovetailing environmental and conservation with hobbies that include biological recording, crafting and knitting, cinema and occasional travel.

When Dani attended university open days, they were drawn to the campus and community at UEA, as well as the strong reputation of both its business and environmental departments. And while there, they found lots of benefits to joining societies and volunteering, all of which helped them build connections and gain experience while also boosting wellbeing.

Dani talks of their view of Gens Y and Z, how they see their working life and purpose, how they find optimism through their faith in humans building community and the continued advancements in science and technology.

Top green, ethical, sustainable and socially responsible advice from Dani:

• Use your free time while studying to volunteer, engage with work shadowing and find what you enjoy. Ask questions – the people in the field you want to work in are the best to advise you.

• Do something that inspires you. We can all do something positive in EVERY role. 

• Read up on your employers' environmental policy. Check for volunteering opportunities at work and see what you can do in your everyday life.

Mentioned in this podcast 

University of East Anglia Environmental Sciences

RSPB volunteering

Norfolk Wildlife Trust volunteering

Shop Local

You might also like:

Sarah Kessell CEO, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 Ep5

Stuart Mabbutt, AKA The Wildman S3 Ep3 and Ep4

Rachel Warren, climate change scientist S1 Ep 7

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram @theProGRESS_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: [email protected]

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jo Faulkner-Harvey studied theatre design but left her degree early when she was offered an amazing internship. It meant working on productions and prop-making behind the scenes on such classic films as Alien. But a twist of fate a few years later found her back in Northamptonshire, working at Silverstone racing circuit before she landed a job at Oxfordshire's hospice, Katharine House.

In this episode Jo talks about switching from her first love, art, and developing a passion for charity fundraising. She explains what she looks for when she's recruiting for her own teams, transferable skills and experience and the importance of downtime away from her all-consuming job.

Jo gives her opinion on the benefits of working in the third sector versus a big-money big-business career and her personal views on charity CEOs receiving decent salary packages. She also reveals why The Shakespeare Hospice in South Warwickshire is having to find an extra £50,000 this year. In this episode we discuss why charity donors and supporters are like investors in a business and the power of celebrity endorsements for charities.

Jo retains her optimism for the future, and talks of her respect for Gens Y and Z values and discernment and how they are already making a difference to businesses' and charities' outlooks.

And in common with all our episodes, this podcast is full of tips for what you can do if you want a career like our guest's.

Mentioned in this podcast

The Shakespeare Hospice

Katharine House Hospice

Macmillan Cancer Support

Homeless Oxfordshire

Retina UK

Chris McCausland on BBC Strictly Come Dancing

Enjoyed this episode? You may also like:

Nicki Black, fashion and creative director S2 E3

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 E1

Dr Mark Sumner, sustainable fashion lecturer S1 E6

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.

Instagram theprogress_podcast

Web: https://www.mypro-gress.co.uk

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell Insta @lyzetheartist

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2

If you've heard of Stuart Mabbutt, it's likely to be through his podcast or his business Wildman Environmental Learning.

His sensory nature workshops enable people to connect with the natural world, and sometimes an unlikely beginning leads to a life revelation.

When he’s not doing that, Stuart is a wildlife sound recordist and producer, an author, public speaker, radio host and a wildlife gardening consultant.

He's also a campaigner, heading The Genuine Disabled Countryside Access Task Force, which highlights the issues encountered by people of different abilities. His YouTube videos are enlightening and revelatory, as he invites a film crew to join him trying to access the countryside in his wheelchair.

Read more...

Mentioned in this podcast:

Wildman Environmental Workshops

The People’s Countryside Podcast:

YouTube @WildmanEnvironmentalLearning

See also:

AccessAble accessibility guide

If you've enjoyed this episode you might like to listen to:

Stuart Mabbutt aka The Wildman Part 1 S3 Ep3

Sanjukta Jitendhar​​​​, architect, Mikhail Riches S1 Ep 9

Sarah Kessell CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 Ep 5

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 Ep 1

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram: 

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: [email protected]

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 1

Stuart Mabbutt can recall the first time he engaged with the natural world and wanted to know more. He was in primary school, came across a dead magpie, and wondered why someone had ringed it. His teacher, meanwhile, was trying to persuade Stuart to leave it alone.

And so began a lifelong involvement, not only in nature, but in being something of a contrarian.

If you've heard of Stuart, it's likely to be through his podcast or Wildman Environmental Learning.

His sensory nature workshops enable people to connect with the natural world, sometimes an unlikely beginning leads to a life revelation.

And when he’s not doing that, Stuart is a wildlife sound recordist and producer, an author, public speaker, radio host and a wildlife gardening consultant.

After years helping other people find themselves through the great outdoors, a decline in Stuart's health and a need to use a wheelchair prompted him to lead the Oxfordshire campaign The Genuine Disabled Countryside Access Task Force. His YouTube videos are eye-opening, highlighting the issues encountered by people with different disabilities. These include how to get a wheelchair through a kissing gate, how to read a map with vision impairments and many other barriers.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Wildman Environmental Workshops

The People’s Countryside Podcast:

YouTube @WildmanEnvironmentalLearning

See also:

AccessAble accessibility guide

If you enjoyed this episode you might like to listen to:

Stuart Mabbutt AKA The Wildman Part 2 S3 Ep 4

Sanjukta Jitendhar​​​​, architect, Mikhail Riches S1 Ep 9

Sarah Kessell CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 Ep 5

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 Ep 1

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.

Follow us on Instagram @theprogress_podcast

Visit us on the Web: https://www.mypro-gress.co.uk

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell Insta @lyzetheartist

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shaheer Hafeez left university and started studying for his accountancy exams with a view to going into a career in audit.

But volunteering with the social enterprise Generation Success, and meeting its founder James Adeleke showed Shaheer just how far a can-do attitude can take you.

He shifted his focus to work in Environmental Social and Governance and climate risk, applied for a job with Big 4 consultancy firm KPMG and has risen to be a director.

Not only does Shaheer now head up a team advising companies about their own ESG and climate strategy, he also mentors social enterprises on scale up. Earlier this year Shaheer become a member of Generation Success's advisory board. The social enterprise empowers young professionals and drives the principles of social mobility, equality, and diversity.

At a panel discussion when he was asked ‘What truly defines a green job?’ Shaheer pointed out the complex nature of the answer, something he goes on to explain more about in the podcast.

Useful links

The ICAEW audit qualifications

Generation Success

St Mungos

KPMG careers

You might also like to listen to:

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium (S2 Ep 1)

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches (S1 Ep 9)

Sarah Daly, Climate champion and sustainability expert (S3 Ep 1)

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram ProGRESS 

Content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Daly is a climate champion and independent sustainability consultant who advises organisations, businesses and agencies. A TEDx speaker, Sarah is a leading LinkedIn sustainability influencer, and is named in the 2023 Unlock Net Zero Climate Champions' Power List.

Sarah's varied workload includes discussing responsible supply chains and procurement, or advising City of London businesses on decarbonising offices, or talking to local government about social housing, or lecturing at universities, or advocating sustainability strategies with charities and overseas development agencies…

Originally in marketing and communications, Sarah found herself working with former miners who had bought a disused coalfield for £1 with plans to turn it into an energy efficient village. Sarah dubs it her Al Gore moment.

Listen in to hear why Sarah:

• makes an effort to lead by example

• sold her car in favour of an e-bike (and how she's getting on with that choice)

• has swapped long-haul flights for rail-accessible holidays

• has given up meat and fish.

A friend of hugely respected climate change activist Jonathan Porritt, Sarah offers tips for finding and creating a job role that meets your ethical and green values, and emphasises the importance of hiring next generation employees to ensure fresh thoughts and young voices shape future company success.

"I think you can be respectfully vocal," she says.

Follow Sarah on LinkedIn and see what's been happening since her six-week summer break.

You might also like to listen to:

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium (S2 Ep 1)

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches (S1 Ep 9)

Jamie Osborn, the Green Party and MCS Foundation (S1 Ep2)

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer, Byway Travel (S2 Ep 5)

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram ProGRESS 

Content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imogen Overy is a personal trainer (PT) at the UK’s first carbon neutral gym chain. As a vegan, she chooses a plant-based diet, but she encourages clients to eat to be healthy, meat included if they want it.

Imogen was studying classical civilisations at the University of Warwick, with a view to going into law, when she decided in her second year that she didn't want an office job.

Working in a café, Imogen reconsidered her options – she had achieved academic success but she liked being active, variety in her day and meeting different people. Then she hit on a career as a personal trainer (PT) even though she was not an avid gym goer at the time. Her parents fully backed her decision, partly, Imogen says, because her dad worked for years in a job he didn't love.

After gaining an accredited level 3 PT qualification, studying modules such as anatomy, writing gym programmes and teaching people how to perform the exercises, Imogen joined her first gym. Now she works as a self-employed PT, Imogen points out that she's running a small business. She's in charge of marketing, scheduling and managing everything that brings in clients and income.

There's plenty of variety in her life now, but another of Imogen's jobs is next level excitement. Her alter ego, Lady Bella Van der Velt, is a professional wrestler with the World Association of Wrestling – that's entertainment wrestling not the Greco-Roman style recently seen at the Olympic Games – and despite her small size, Imogen has loved it since her first day.

Imogen's advice if you want to follow in her footsteps:

• Commit to the job
• Be adaptable, because you will be working with all kinds of people
• Invest in your knowledge, whether that's how to improve a squat technique, or expanding your business knowledge
• Be your authentic self, with clients, at work and on social media.

Useful links

Personal trainer apprenticeships

The Gym Group

World Association of Wrestling

Greco-Roman Wrestling

Imogen on Instagram

You might also like:

Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He shelved his ambition to be a chef, went to university and for 25 years ate no meat. Then Glen Burrows became an omnivore.

Glen discusses his high-octane, interesting and hugely successful career as a globally sought-after professional photographer and videographer, and his very intriguing personal choices around food.

Having been the 'awkward veggie one' among his meat-eating friends, Glen found himself having to square his change of heart with his long-standing community of vegetarians, which he admits wasn't easy. And then Glen took everything a step further by co-founding The Ethical Butcher, selling regeneratively farmed, ethical, high quality meat direct to consumers. He also founded Regenuary, a January campaign to encourage sustainable food choices.

Glen's latest venture is as head of knowledge exchange for New Foundation Farms, a radical natural food and farming enterprise based in Devon. The foundation aims to democratise access to affordable food without compromising quality or depleting the environment.

In the podcast Glen discusses:

• a career in photography

• the lessons he learned leaving his 'tribe' of vegetarians

• food, farming, and marketing

• maintaining optimism about the planet and the people within it.

Mentioned in this podcast

New Foundation Farms

The Ethical Butcher

George Monbiot

Not the end of the world by Hannah Ritchie

Glen Burrows portfolio

You might also like to listen to:

S1 E8 Jake Fiennes director of the Holkham Nature Reserve and general manager, conservation, at Holkham Estate in Norfolk

S1 E7 Rachel Warren professor of global change and environmental biology

S2 E2 Mark Harvey managing director of Fielden Whisky

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram ProGRESS 

Content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Progress's guests talk about their pathways to a career in a values-led job.

We've interviewed all kinds of people in interesting roles.

You'll hear from sustainability consultants and managers, researchers, green and ethical entrepreneurs, environmentalists, ecologists and conservationists plus others working and studying in architecture.

You'll also hear about jobs you may never have known existed, such as green comedians, serious games creators, city planners, garden planners, and green data centre champions.

Subscribe to Progress wherever you usually listen for inspiring stories and insights into brilliant career ideas.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.