The annual Bucks Skills Show helps young people explore careers and work out how to get there. But 2020 was different: instead of the usual face-to-face format, we streamed live inspirational employers into lessons to show how they use curriculum subjects in their every-day job. 

This is an interactive lesson in Biology: Biodiversity with Align.

Align is a joint venture of three international infrastructure companies; Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick which is delivering the Central 1 (C1) portion of HS2. This consists of 21.6km of high speed rail infrastructure including a 3.5 km viaduct over the Colne Valley and 16km twin-bored tunnel and five vent shafts through the Chiltern Hills.

Alice studied Geology as an undergraduate and then achieved her Masters in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, both at the University of Leicester.

Alice’s first role was Assistant Ecologist for a mid-scale consultancy, mostly dealing with housing developments but other projects could vary including work for a zoo and Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium. Alice progressed to the role of Ecologist with that company and then sought a more varied role covering various topics within environmental management – she wanted to learn how new developments manage and protect the environment, and to be a part of it.

Alice’s particular interest is habitat enhancement and how projects can leave a legacy by improving habitats and biodiversity in the areas they work. Alice’s next step and current role is Environmental Advisor with Align JV on the HS2 project. This role focuses on environmental management at the construction stage which includes monitoring for pollution to the air, ground and water. There are also many ecological features to consider on the project which is Alice’s area of preference.