Sarah Standley

"The graduates have a real sense of community. We're organising lots of social events and I've met loads of likeminded people."

Name: Sarah Standley
Qualifications: BSc Environmental Science, University of Leeds
Current Role: Research Consultant, AEA Graduate Programme; Envirowise Food and Drink Sector Key Account Management; Helpline Consultant; Resource Efficiency Clubs Technical Consultant

In my role I…

As a research consultant, my time is split over three main projects, as a Key Account Manager for the Food and Drink sector of Envirowise, as a Helpline Consultant, and as a Technical Consultant for Resource Efficiency Clubs. My responsibilities include organizing FastTrack visits, which are environmental performance overviews for organisations. This means that I’m responding to company requests, analysing what their raw material, water and waste usage is, and working out where potential financial and environmental savings can be made. I then facilitate a specialist FastTrack visit. The role has developed my programme management skills, and I have a high level of responsibility, for example for managing time and budgets.

Highlights of the role…

For me, the main highlights have been gaining wide-ranging technical experience across a number of projects, and gaining employment in something I’m passionate about. I love having the opportunity to travel around England, and examine the production lines of major UK food and drink companies.

The best thing about working at AEA…

Working with a worldwide range of consultancies and business support organisations has really enhanced my communications skills and my industry awareness.

Since joining AEA I have learnt…

Working on a number of projects at any one time in a consultancy business has meant that I’ve improved my time management skills. As this was my first job after graduating, day-to-day professional life has been a huge learning experience for me, and it’s given me a whole new way of thinking and looking at things. Working on the Helpline has really widened my knowledge of environmental issues and how legislation and policy affect businesses on a day-to-day basis.

I will recommend AEA because…

AEA is a large company, so it can offer many different opportunities. It might be that you
start working on waste management, but decide to direct your career in the international
development sector instead. The consultancy aspect of our work means that you get
tasters of various sectors and industries, which help to expand your knowledge and carve out your career path. The company offers great opportunities for diversity and flexibility.
The company culture is also really relaxed and friendly; the graduates especially have a
real sense of community. We’re organising lots of social events and I’ve met loads of likeminded people. The culture is very ‘work hard but also play hard’!