BTO Work Experience

By Rachael Griffiths

BTO currently offers a one-week work experience placement for GCSE and A-level students, aged 15 to 18. This placement follows a structured approach focusing on BTO’s scientific work, as well as giving an opportunity to engage with social science and communications.

During the placement, you will work alongside a project lead and write up an individual report, based on your chosen project focus (e.g. BTO Garden BirdWatch, BirdTrack or other BTO surveys). We will also provide networking opportunities with BTO staff, a guided walk around BTO’s Nunnery Lakes Reserve (on site), a bird ringing demonstration and group conservation practices, such as nest finding and citizen science surveys.*

If you’re looking to achieve the following, this placement might be for you:

• Develop new skills in the world of conservation and fieldwork;
• Improve teamwork and problem solving skills;
• Learn about data collection and analysis;
• Understand firsthand how the workplace functions;
• Learn about the specific education and training routes taken by staff at the BTO;
• Undertake a challenging independent project, and be given the opportunity to present your findings at the end of the placement.

   
Here is an inside scoop from one of our 2025 BTO Work Experience participants:

Learning the workplace ropes at BTO

“After an intense period of exams, I was fortunate to attend the BTO Youth’s week-long work experience placement at the Nunnery HQ in Thetford. There were five of us in total and, together, we had a fantastic week. One of the most valuable experiences was being given a comprehensive overview of each main BTO survey. This included a practice Wetland Bird Survey count and a Garden BirdWatch session, and it was excellent (not only for the four sightings of kingfishers around the Nunnery Lakes).

It was also fantastic to have speakers and sessions from each of the BTO’s departments. Particular highlights were our discussion with the Communications Team, a presentation about BTO data, and a chat with Director of Engagement, Ieuan Evans. Even learning the distinction between science and engagement was interesting, as it showed the variety of possible ways to get involved in working with birds. We also had an incredible ringing demonstration featuring over 40 individual birds.

We each produced personal projects, ranging from researching species’ distributions to writing articles, reports and newsletters. As a maths nerd, the bulk of my time was dedicated to learning how to sort, manipulate and organise GBW data, working with over 400,000 records. After constructing and analysing time-series graphs of reporting rates of the finches in my local county, I produced a short report.

So, the week was packed with a vast range of experiences... It absolutely whizzed by, but it also felt like the perfect amount of time to gain familiarity with the BTO work environment. If you, or someone that you know, is interested, keep an eye on the BTO Youth Hub: www.bto.org/youth

• Adam Jackson, BTO Work Experience participant & Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) member, Kent

   
If you have any questions, about the placement or the application process, please email us directly here.

*Work experience dates and placement structure is subject to change year on year, and is dependent upon group dynamics and / or staff availability. But we try our best to match our one week programme to the assigned work experience weeks in most school calendars. The chosen work experience week will be announced in early 2026.

This article originally appeared in BTO News, the membership magazine of the British Trust for Ornithology. You can subscribe and receive the next issue of BTO News via the link: www.bto.org/our-work/science/publications/magazines/bto-news

Find out more here www.bto.org/our-work/youth/what-can-bto-youth-do-for-you#work_experience

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