Rob Easton
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
The opportunity to combine an interest and skill in science with a very social and people focussed job.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I spoke with Environmental Health Officers I had completed work experience with and all recommended the Cardiff course. It was also great to study in a Capital City, but without the cost of living in London.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I am currently Head of Quality Standards at Hall & Woodhouse. I lead a team responsible for developing and reviewing the safety, courtesy, quality, efficiency and entertainment in an estate of 220 public houses and hotels. The degree taught me the value of using evidence when making business decisions and the importance of understanding what motivates people.
My degree in Environmental Health has helped me in the many diverse roles I have enjoyed since graduating from Cardiff, ranging from working as a Safety Consultant in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, developing brand standards to maximise guest satisfaction to project managing the development of a multi-million pound supply chain for public houses.
Rhydian Fairfax
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I chose Environmental health as I was attracted by the wide variety of the different aspects of the profession from food safety to housing to environmental monitoring and so on. I wanted to work somewhere I could help people that would also be really interesting.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I chose to study Environmental Health at Cardiff Met due to the excellent reputation of the course and the good things I had heard about being a student at Cardiff Met. Friends of mine had studied there and they had really enjoyed it.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I currently work as a research assistant in the Centre for Safety Health and the Environment at Cardiff Met whilst doing a part time PhD. My degree in Environmental Health gave me the knowledge and the experience which helped me gain my current job and also allow me to continue in further education. I use skills that I learned in my degree in my work every day writing and analysing research papers, undertaking statistics and carrying out environmental monitoring.
Heather Lewis (nee Jones)
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I loved the fact that it was varied and I would get to go out and about and not be confined to an office. When I read about Environmental Health it seemed like my perfect career choice.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
The course had an excellent reputation and it was in the right geographical area for me.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
The skills that you learn as an EHO are transferable to almost any job. I have found my ability to communicate and my eye for detail and analysis, which came from the degree, have allowed me to get where I am today.
Chris Garlick
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I had a background in food safety and health and safety within the hospitality industry, but wanted to build upon this foundation. I wanted to change my career direction to widen my understanding of other topics included within the banner of Environmental Health and contribute to the wider health agenda. I entered the programme thinking that the main career option would be as an Environmental Health Officer. By the time I left the programme I was amazed at the range of options the course allowed me to consider.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I received offers to study at Cardiff Met, Northumbria and Bristol universities. I visited all three and Cardiff Met came out on top by a long way. Meeting the teaching team at the Cardiff Met open day highlighted the levels of passion and experience within the team. The Llandaff campus provided fantastic facilities, and I immediately felt comfortable. I felt the whole programme had loads to offer and I had a great time during my studies.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I currently work for Public Health Wales which is a NHS Trust. I deliver a programme that combines elements from several modules included in the Environmental Health programme, including public health; occupational health, safety and wellbeing; and health promotion. I deliver a programme helping employers improve the way they support their workforce's health and wellbeing. The programme's overall aims are to improve the health of the working-age population in Wales by enabling people to remain healthy and in work for longer; and to support rehabilitation back into work following periods of ill health. Knowledge and skills gained throughout my Environmental Health BSc have proved invaluable within this role. My training provides an understanding of core public health principles, and the skills to offer practical support to businesses on topics such as health and safety management systems, workplace health and wellbeing support programmes, and promoting a healthier culture within an organisation.
Alister Witt
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I wanted to undertake a role that could make a difference in improving peoples health. Environmental health offered a profession that covered a wide spectrum of specialist areas and also was a practical job that enabled you to get out and about interacting with the people that you were trying to help.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I chose UWIC as the course had a very good reputation within the field of environmental health as being one of the best. Living and studying in the City of Cardiff was also a strong reason in my decision. Both of these points were re-enforced during my time spent at the University.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
Shortly after graduating I joined the Royal Navy as an Environmental Health Officer. Over the last 15 exciting years I have undertaken this role in many different environments, in ships and submarines at sea, as well as being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The course at Cardiff prepares people for all sorts of roles in environmental health, not just those in Local Government, and I found that the mix of theory and practise in the degree course meant that I easily made the transition from studying to practising in a military environment. The course also develops you in other life and business skills that have been beneficial in roles I have undertaken within environmental health in the Royal Navy and I have reached the rank of Commander and I am currently involved in setting up a new Defence Primary Healthcare organisation.
Jason Coward
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I chose to do environmental health because it provided an opportunity for me to develop my interests in health, science and protecting the environment. Working in a lab didn't appeal to me but I liked the idea of "fieldwork" and applying science in a practical and worthwhile way. Environmental health ticked the boxes for me.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I chose Cardiff Met (then UWIC) to study for a number of reasons. I was fortunate to be offered a student sponsorship by Cardiff Council and it made sense for me to attend the local college. It was very important that the degree was professionally recognised. I also liked that many of the lecturers had worked in Local Government and were not just academics.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I currently work as a Lead Senior Environmental Health Officer for Cardiff Council specialising in food safety and port health. You are constantly learning but the degree provided me with the solid foundations to become a professional officer, in particular, it gave me the knowledge, investigatory and risk assessment skills and confidence to carry out my job. The best part of the degree was that it provided invaluable vocational training which ultimately helped me get a worthwhile and well respected job.
Juliet Brabben
Graduated in 2011
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
I've always been interested in working in health so I can have a real impact on the improvement of people's lives. I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community and Environmental Health could offer me this as a practical career.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I was attracted by the course at Cardiff Met by the emphasis put on building both vocational and academic skills. The course also covered a range of subject areas which are highly applicable to everyday life.
Cardiff itself is a thriving city with a great nightlife, ideal for students. I met some of my best friends on the course, who are now working in Environmental Health around the world.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
Since graduating I've worked for my local authority in Reading and a private sector catering company. Both provided exciting opportunities such as inspecting food at Reading Festival and Buckingham Palace.
More recently, I left work to volunteer in India on a health and sanitation programme. I always wanted to do this, having been inspired in part by my degree module on health and sustainable development.
Since returning to the UK I've enrolled on a Masters course in Public Health in international development and I'll also be going to Kenya to look at health issues there.
I can really owe my wealth of exciting and varied career opportunities to my degree in Environmental Health.
Rebecca Hall
Graduated in 2013
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
It's such a useful degree which gives any student many skills and experience in different areas. The modules are so varied that you can enter a career in many areas. It is a respected profession and I liked that it is possible to work in different departments and large companies. I could work for local authority, public health, be a consultant or advise on legal standards. There are many other graduate jobs available with this degree.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
Cardiff is a great city to study and socialise and Cardiffmet is a great university to attend. The lecturers are very supportive and help at every stage of the course. Each of the modules are varied and give information regarding all aspects. The support from staff continues even after university and you gain skills on how to get a job and improve your interview skills as well as all the environmental health knowledge.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I am a Housing Surveyor for Cardiff County Council which was where I had my placement. They hired me after university and with the knowledge and experience I had gained through placement and university I got the job. I would not be able to be in this post without the degree, and the legal knowledge I have from university has helped me to serve notices and enforce properly.
Laura Harthill
Graduated in 2012
Why I chose Environmental Health as a career:
Having worked in the catering/hospitality industry for a number of years both abroad and in the UK, I was troubled by the risks to which some of my previous employers were exposing their customers and employees and wanted to be able to do something about it. As a parent, I wanted to help to make the world safer for others.
Why I chose Cardiff Met to study Environmental Health:
I looked for a CIEH accredited course and Cardiff was the location that best suited my needs and it also had an excellent reputation for Environmental Health.
The on-campus nursery was one of the factors that swayed my choice but unfortunately this service was moved before I started.
My current job role and how the degree has helped me in my post:
I am currently employed as Environmental Health and Safety Advisor, providing food safety and health and safety advice to clients.
The knowledge and experience gained on the degree programme and also on my placement year have been invaluable. I grew in confidence on a personal level throughout the course and gained the knowledge to be confident on a professional level.
As a single parent undertaking a degree, the degree encouraged me to more organised which has benefitted my current role – juggling clients and course administration.
