Libby Rogers

Pronouns: She/Her

Course studied: Geography BSc (Hons)

Year of graduation: 2023

Current job title: Geo-Environmental Engineer

Current employer: JPP

Industry sector: Construction

I chose the University of Northampton because it was affordable, not too far from home, and because the course lecturers at the open days had settled the worries I had about going to university. Also, as a local student, I knew about the new campus and the sustainability of the University, and as a lover of the planet, this encouraged me more.

I wanted to study Geography simply because I enjoyed it at A-level. I love the environment – what lives within it, and rocks and life on earth genuinely fascinates me. I felt that Geography was the kind of degree that I could take into many different sectors, so I knew it wouldn’t restrict me in my future career and I’d be learning about something I love and have a genuine passion for.

The course modules were very varied, ranging from Geohazards to The Geographies of Sports. It opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t necessarily think of as relating to geography – for example, Children’s Geography was incredibly interesting (even as a more physical geographer). The lecturers cared so much about me as an individual, as well as a student, and that helped me during my degree – if you’re looking for supportive lecturers, these are one hundred percent some of the best! The classes are relatively small, meaning I grew close to my classmates, which was lovely. Everybody knew everybody else, and I found this made things a lot easier in my first year because I wasn’t being introduced to new faces at every lecture.

The knowledge I gained from the Geomorphology module is the most helpful to my job. I do a lot of work with soils, strengths of soils, rocks, and ground investigations across the country, so learning about the geology, how different ones were formed, and the history of the earth, is useful. Also, the Hydrology module in my third year provided me with an understanding of the impacts of rivers, surface water, and groundwater on underlying geologies, and how these can impact communities.

JPP, my current employer, is a local multi-disciplinary construction consultancy who visited the University to talk about their organisation and the work it does. I instantly fell in love with the Geo-Environmental Engineering role they were offering and had to apply. Without that talk, I would never have considered a job in construction, but I love it! Thanks to the Careers and Employability module on my course, I was confident going into my interview, had a good LinkedIn profile, and knew the kinds of questions I’d be asked. I also think that due to the depth of geography as a subject, it’s helped me to understand my role within the construction industry, as well as the impact on the environment from historic land uses.

My role at JPP is Graduate Geo-Environmental Engineer. I undertake Phase 1 desk studies and Phase 2 ground investigations, which involve learning about the site, the geologies, the history, the possible contaminations, and much more. I’ve done a wide range of studies so far, mainly focused on coal works, which is very interesting. The first hurdle to face within my role will be going to a site on my own and managing the drillers, diggers, and builders on-site. Instructing them and dealing with potential conflicts is something I’m worried about, but I know it will need to be done, so I’ll make sure I set a high standard to start with and never let it drop. The next challenge will be refining my work. I’m used to the specific writing style I learnt at university, which is detailed and incredibly precise, but every company has their own report-writing style and adapting to that is an ongoing process. My aim now is to gain experience from my colleagues and my directors and to progress my career with JPP.

In addition, I’ve applied for some residential work with the RSPB in Dungeness and Blacktop Sands. Dungeness includes conservation and customer engagement, whilst Blacktop Sands helps run the reservoir to aid vegetation and habitat maintenance and growth and monitor breeding birds.

For extra-curricular activities whilst at UON, I was the stand-in President, Secretary and Welfare Rep of the University’s Women’s Hockey Team in my final year. I joined the team to make friends and help boost my confidence and was nominated at the UON Sports Awards 2023 for ‘Outstanding Contribution to UON Sport’. Playing hockey forced me to come out of my shell and helped me to accept myself and I made friends from other universities, increasing my network for future jobs across the country. Being part of a team increased my ability to take feedback (even negative feedback) from my coaches, which is vital when starting a new career. It also made me better at oral communication, as well as developing my time management and organisational skills. I had to make difficult choices and decisions as part of the committee, and ensure that not only was I organised, but that my club was too. Being part of a society and committee as well as studying and working was a lot to handle and it forced me to manage my time effectively and be more organised, which boosted my confidence.

If I could offer one piece of advice to undergraduates interested in this career path, it would be to take every opportunity that comes your way at university. Embrace the whole experience, and make friends and memories for life, as well as getting a degree! I’ve graduated as a completely different person – I’m much more confident in myself and my ability to do things and I’ve learnt so much. I would recommend it to anyone and wouldn’t change my experience for the world.