My Year at NetRegs

   25 September 19                Emma Pearson

As my Bright Green Environmental Placement draws to an end I would like to take this space to reflect on my year (and a bit) working with the NetRegs team at SEPA.

Firstly, NetRegs is a partnership between SEPA and the NIEA. An online tool that provides free environmental guidance and support for small and medium sized business (SME’s) to help them comply with their environmental responsibilities.

Initially my role in NetRegs was to extend their outreach through planning and coordinating marketing and social media activities. Working on NetRegs social media, along with help from Represent and Google’s Digital Garage I have improved my writing for social media and learned how to write blogs.

I have also assisted the NetRegs team with updating, creating and uploading content and environmental guidance to the NetRegs website and producing case studies and e-learning tools on environmental good practice.

By organising and delivering presentations about NetRegs and SEPA at universities in Scotland and participating at promotional events such as Resource Efficient Scotland’s Green Champions Training, I have been able to interact with a variety of different people and network with a range of business sectors.

During my time at SEPA I have had the opportunities to support project work for other teams across the organisation;

  • Working with the communications team services has been both really interesting and valuable as it has been good to see another side of SEPA and I learned a lot. One task was to help with the weekly staff bulletin. I also gained contacts and connections in the communications team which helped with the marketing of NetRegs.
  • Supporting and assisting with the organisation and judging of the VIBES Awards has been thoroughly enjoyable. I have found it really inspiring to hear and see all of the amazing things businesses are doing to help reduce their environmental impacts. The VIBES Awards is super important for recognising those businesses that are going beyond compliance! Attending the VIBES awards ceremony was certainly a highlight of my experience.
  • Another key highlight of this experience for me has to be having the opportunity to spend time in the field and office with the hydrology team. This included learning how the hydrometric monitoring equipment measures and monitors river level data to gauging the river using the winch and cableway system and the ADCP radio controlled boat. Shadowing a flood warning duty officer allowed me to understand how flood risk is monitored and how flood warning levels are produced. Spending this time with hydrology has really enthused my interest in this subject and to work within the hydrology team is my aim for the future. You can read my blog on 'A day with Hydrology'.

My biggest achievement during my time at NetRegs was organising and running the Micro Brewers and Distillers Event in March 2019 to launch the new pollution guidance for microbreweries and distilleries (GPP 29). The event well attended and had very positive feedback.

The best bit overall was definitely was getting to learn about all the different parts of NetRegs and SEPA, improving my knowledge and skills and of course being part of a brilliant team. I would definitely recommend a Bright Green Placement to future graduates.