Widening access to green careers

Wavehill ran a process and impact evaluation for Groundwork on this pilot programme, tracking trainees and host organisations from application through to a year after placements ended to understand what worked, for whom and why. Ongoing insight and learning were also fed back to the delivery team throughout. Wavehill is now running a four-year longitudinal survey with participants.

Key findings
• 90% of trainees were still in employment a year on, and 89% of that work sat within the environmental sector, showing the placements built durable career entry rather than short-term work
• Centralised recruitment and hosts adjusting roles and support to individual trainees’ needs were identified as key strengths to carry into future programmes
• 92% of host organisations adopted more inclusive recruitment practices, embedding change that outlasted the funded placements themselves

Read the reports: The impact of New to Nature | New to Nature’s success | The legacy of New to Nature

The evaluation reflected strengths in the programme’s model across its impact, process and legacy findings, and captured recommendations for future green job initiatives.