Post Placement Interview with Luke Hanlon

Suzanne Lindsay, Marketing Manager catches up with Luke at the end of his 12-week placement with the Bright Green Business Placement Programme.

What led you to consider a career in Sustainability?

Whilst I was working for Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) I gained an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and also the different career paths available within environment and sustainability. I wanted a career in which I could make a difference and I felt that I could by pursuing a career in this field.

I enrolled at City of Glasgow College for a HNC in Built Environment followed by BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management at Glasgow Caledonian University.

What projects did you support with?

I was fortunate during my placement to have the opportunity to support with a variety of projects to include: environmental management systems and legal compliance; undertake research for net zero and circular economy projects, and I developed surveys for enhancing engagement with seafood processors on sustainability matters.

Did you learn anything new during your placement?

The placement was invaluable to put theory into practice in a real project context and allowed me to practically develop my skills and subject knowledge which was touched upon during my studies. For example, during my course I studied environmental management systems, but I now have a much better understanding about ISO 14001 and how that standard applies to a business.

What did you enjoy most about your placement?

The highlight of my placement was the site visits undertaken to support the consultancy projects. The site visits allowed me to meet and speak with clients, to see first-hand the processes and gain a greater appreciation of the context and the potential impact of the consultancy support.

What has been the best outcome for you of the placement with Mabbett?

I’ve not only learned a huge amount, but the icing on the cake was that I was delighted to be offered and have now accepted a full-time permanent position in as Sustainability Consultant with Mabbett in the Environment Group!

This is another key step on my environment and sustainability career ladder and I’m equally excited and grateful for this opportunity, which has come about because of the Bright Green Business Placement scheme.