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July 2009 is our 15th Birthday and we're celebrating!

Happy Birthday CJS!

In July 1994 the first edition of a brand new newsletter was published and Countryside Jobs Service was created by Niall and Anthea Carson.  Matthew Chatfield, editor of Naturenet.net, says, "It's extraordinary to think that CJS is fifteen years old. I'm just about old enough to say that when I got my first job CJS hadn't been invented - but I certainly owe at least two jobs in my career to CJS and there are a great many others who'd say the same." 

In those fifteen years CJS has come to mean so much more than one newsletter.  That first newsletter for rangers is now CJS Weekly just one of three different publications and a large website all under the Countryside Jobs Service banner.  Niall Carson writes, "The CJS all began as a little acorn in July 1994 when Anthea and I published the first CJS Weekly on a tiny little BBC computer with less computing power than today's average mobile phone. The 9-pin dot matrix printer got so hot that we had to pause after every five copies, to let it cool down again. In the early months we printed the CJS Weekly on continuous computer print-out paper, which then had to be torn off across the perforations after every complete set. That job was bad enough, but then all the side strips, with the printer sprocket holes in, had to be torn off as well. Oh the hours of fun we had!"    

From these small beginnings CJS grew and expanded to encompass the whole countryside sector.  You'll find not just jobs but information on training, adverts for products and services and a whole host more all within CJS.  There are items of interest to all from arborist to zoologist.

"Attracting employees with a passion for the countryside is a high priority for the RSPB, and Countryside Jobs Service really helps us get to those people. It's an invaluable service for us, profiling the RSPB to a huge number of high-quality potential applicants."  RSPB

With details of around 1000 different courses at any one time the online training section is an important resource for the sector. "For 15 years CJS has provided an invaluable service to the countryside sector, promoting jobs and training and ensuring high standards within the industry.  Happy Birthday and here’s to the next 15 years!"  Losehill Hall

Niall adds, "I am delighted to say that the same people we employed when CJS first began to expand are still running the CJS today. It is thanks to their skill, dedication, hard work and ingenuity that the CJS has survived and thrived."  Current editor Kerryn Humphreys says, " We're grateful to Niall and Anthea for their ingenuity in creating CJS and for all their hard work in establishing such an excellent reputation.  As head of the current CJS Team I hope we continue in their footsteps and that we manage to keep to their high, ethical standards.  We are very proud to be able to say that in 15 years 'CJS has never missed a deadline' despite some very trying circumstances."

"The Countryside Management Association has for a very long time now worked alongside CJS to the benefit of both organisations. Indeed CMA officially endorses CJS, something that does not happen that often. Our websites are ‘mutually linked’ as a sign of recognising that each organisation provides a valued service to the profession.  CMA acknowledges the key role that CJS has played in developing the careers and skills of those in the countryside management field and hopes that we will continue to work together for many years to come."

As the very first ever specialist publication for countryside jobs in the UK we think we can still claim to be "The Original, the Biggest and the Best".  Our readers agree, Niall Lobely from SCRA says " Whether looking for jobs, or wanting to simply keep in touch with the market and news, CJS’s arrival is a welcome sight."

Our website is now the first port of call for many countryside staff, whether it's searching for a new job, looking for professional training or just general information.   With so much information available it was decided in 2004 to start publishing themed supplements to CJS Weekly and The Tree Council say they "were very pleased to be involved in the first-ever CJS Special Edition in November 2004, which took trees and hedges as its theme".  These editions are now published as CJS Focus, a separate publication.

"Many thanks CJS for all your years of service to the world of environmental conservation.  Your high quality promotions have certainly helped many up and coming conservation professionals to find their way to 

our training centre in rural Wales and we deeply appreciate your efforts."  

Malcolm Magee, Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter.

As part of our 'tread lightly' ethos CJS tries wherever possible to 'put something back'.  For this reason we sponsor a Partula snail at Durrell because conservation is about more than the big, cuddly ones!

"Countryside Jobs Service has been fantastic supporters of Durrell through their commitment of sponsoring the Partula snail. This is a vital project as the three species housed at Durrell are all extinct in the wild but with the dedicated support of companies such as CJS, Durrell can continue to work to make a difference to this species for the future. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust would like to congratulate CJS on reaching their 15th anniversary, wish them much success for many years to come and thank them for their support in helping to save species from extinction."

Kerryn says, "Unfortunately, the CJS office isn't big enough for all our friends and readers to join our birthday party but we want you all to share our happy returns" so as a birthday present we will be making the Birthday Edition (published on Monday 13 July) freely available online to all.

  to read the Birthday Edition.

"Keep up the good work, and here’s to the next 15 years!" adds Kate Tycer, Volunteering Development Officer, RSPB.  Niall finishes by saying, "After 15 years of the CJS I'm delighted that it still has a strong ethical approach - and a lower carbon footprint than ever before. I'm so proud that the little CJS acorn we planted in July 1994 has now grown into such a fine young Oak. Long may CJS continue to grow and mature as a vital part of a healthy environment."

Download our Birthday Card here

Read greetings from Friends and Colleagues