Geography Careers Lunch

Esher alumni Lucy Tendler returned to her old classroom to share her university pathway, and insights into what studying Geography at Southampton University is really like. While Transport Planning Associate, Will Young, talked about how his Geography degree from UWE Bristol helped him get a graduate consultant role at transport planning and infrastructure design consultants, RGP in Godalming. Where 10 years later, he is now an Associate.

Will explained how geography can open up a world of different careers and he now works across a broad spectrum of developments from football clubs and hotels, to supporting large residential developments.  He said, “A typical day can see me working with developers, architects, tree consultants and heritage consultants, to identify ways in which people can travel sustainably.”

While Lucy explained how learning about #GeographicalInformationSystems (GIS), as part of her enrichment course at Esher helped her get ahead of her peers. A highly advanced software that allows geographers to bring together maps and data for analysis, Lucy says GIS software has been essential in understanding how to help communities in environmental or urban planning projects. She says, “I want to make a real difference, and I know I’m doing a degree that can help me make that change. As a geographer I need to be able to argue, and argue well with facts and data, about the impact of climate change.  It’s exciting and I hope to complete a masters in GIS and remote sensing.”

Cat Elmes, from Esher’s Progression Guidance Team, said,

“A massive thank you to Will and Lucy for coming along. We run career lunches every term for a variety of departments and it is always so useful for our students to hear professional insights and advice about the career pathways that are available to them.”