Day to day projects can sometimes yield interesting
results.
To contact us phone:
01663 749 659/ 07792 859 105
- Email: info@heliosecology.co.uk
-
Or write to:
33 Marsh Lane - New Mills
- High Peak
- Derbyshire
- SK22 4PN
The 'French Connection'
Last year (2007) Helios Ecology piloted a student placement scheme with an MSc student from a major French University. The placement scheme works perfectly with the French 'internship' system in that the students are looking for a work placement for the period March to end of August. The timing is perfect for the spring/summer survey season when they can get the most out of working at a consultancy. The objective of the scheme is to teach them the fundamentals of ecological consultancy, concentrating heavily on introducing different survey techniques, encouraging students to work independently, introducing report writing and encouraging them to contribute to technological improvements. The student is also required to produce a project at the end of the placement which is based on work undertaken during the work placement.
On this basis the scheme is going to continue in 2008 with a new student being appointed. Last year was very successful as the placement student obtained her Masters degree, a Natural England survey licence (great crested newts), associate membership of IEEM and a full time permanent ecologist position as soon as her placement ended. Certainly an advocate for the scheme.
Carbon Efficiency
Whilst it is probably impossible to become carbon neutral whilst operating a busy ecological consultancy Helios Ecology has made a concerted effort to reduce carbon output over the last year. No business flights were taken, all reports/letters/marketing was printed on recycled paper, in house documents are always printed on used paper, re-used/recycled envelopes are used where possible, obtaining relatively local work has been a priority (with some success), energy efficient lamps are now in use for the office, a low emission vehicle is used for site visits, bottle traps/canes/reptile mats etc are re-used until they fall apart rather than replaced each year, and RSPB credit card is used for equipment purchases and refueling, electrical equipment is passed on for re-use when obsolete or taken to the local recycling centre and emails are filed electronically rather than printed. In addition to the above all business mileage for 2007 has now been offset using one of the government approved Carbon offsetting schemes (Pure). It is recognized that offsetting is not a solution in itself and further initiatives will be trialled through 2008 to further reduce travel miles.
Publications
Most recently, Helios Ecology has contributed photographs and text to British Mountaineering Council publications.
© 2008 Helios Ecology