- Can I do the placement part-time?
- What is a Level 2 qualification?
- Do I need a relevant degree in conservation?
- Do I need to be a car driver?
- Do I need to own a car?
- Can I apply for more than one placement?
- I have my own business. Can I still apply?
- Do I have to be a UK citizen?
- How much money can I claim towards childcare?
- What is the holiday entitlement?
- How many days sick leave do I get?
- Will I have to relocate and/or do I have to live close by?
- Do the bursary payments include travel and accommodation costs?
- Does doing a marine placement preclude me from moving into a rural based conservation career and vice versa?
- How many weekends will I have to work?
- I’ve booked a holiday/have commitments and am unable to start immediately. Can I start a few days late?
- The downloaded application form doesn’t allow me to complete the form electronically. Do I have to hand write it?
- Can the application form be submitted by email?
- When will I be able to apply for a bursary placement in 2008?
- Will the project help me to find accommodation if I need to relocate?
- I am a student undertaking an environmental degree which requires me to do a sandwich year with 9 months work experience. As I would need to be back at university by September/October 2008, could I still apply?
Can I do the placement part-time?
Usually yes. It will depend on the individual host’s agreement. However the recruitment of the third cohort of bursaries in 2008 will potentially be the last set of placements to be funded under the current Lemur training scheme and will therefore have to be completed before the project’s end date of December 2008.
What is a Level 2 qualification?
A Level 2 qualification is equivalent to GCSE standard.
A Level 3 qualification equates to A level standard.
A Level 4 is equivalent to a degree.
Do I need a relevant degree in conservation?
No. A related degree would be helpful but is not essential. Any conservation related volunteering experience would be helpful.
Do I need to be a car driver?
It will be dependent upon which placement you apply for and you will need to refer to the individual host placement job specification for this answer.
Do I need to own a car?
No. Most of the host organisations will have their own vehicles. However you may need a car if you live a long away from the placement.
Can I apply for more than one placement?
Yes. State your first, second and third choices.
I have my own business. Can I still apply?
Yes. However you must not be earning from your business or be in any other employment during the period of the 36 weeks while you are on the scheme.
Do I have to be a UK citizen?
Yes.
How much money can I claim towards childcare?
There is a limited budget for childcare. The amount of money available will be dependent upon the number of trainees in any one cohort needing to claim and on their own personal circumstances.
What is the holiday entitlement?
A total of 15 days pro-rata holiday are permitted during this 9 month period. This is inclusive of any Bank Holidays or forced periods of organisational closure (e.g. Christmas break) within the period. Any time off is at the joint discretion of the Host and Hub and any additional time off must be agreed with your host organisation and Hub. The host and hub may choose to advise the Lemur project to offset any additional requests for time-off against your training allowance payments within the 36 weeks of training.
How many days sick leave do I get?
You are entitled to 5 days paid sick leave (must be accompanied by a doctor’s note).
Will I have to relocate and/or do I have to live close by?
If you live further than an hour’s travelling time then the project would expect you to relocate to live within the vicinity of your placement in order to reduce the risk of your dropping out from the project due to travel costs.
Do the bursary payments include travel and accommodation costs?
Yes. Your bursary weekly payments need to cover the cost of your accommodation and your travel to and from your placement, to teambuilding events, hub open days, training days and hub NVQ/OCN days. You must make budgetary allowances in advance throughout your placement.
Does doing a marine placement preclude me from moving into a rural based conservation career and vice versa?
Yes and No. It will depend on what kind of work you want to undertake and on how specialised and focused your Lemur role is. For example if you are primarily trained in marine taxonomy you would have to retrain in terrestrial based identification skills. Many of the skills you will learn will be transferable and there will be opportunities to undertake a variety of training but this will be subject to discussions and agreement with your host placement.
How many weekends will I have to work?
This will depend entirely upon each individual placement and will therefore be variable. You will most likely be required to work during a number of weekends over the 36 week period however you will also be entitled to take time in lieu in these circumstances except if it is training based. For specific information about each individual placement, please refer to the host job specification.
I’ve booked a holiday/have commitments and am unable to start immediately. Can I start a few days late?
No. The Lemur training is very intensive and will require you to be present from the starting date. This is absolutely not negotiable. There are a number of compulsory key events which you will need to attend throughout the placement such as teambuilds, hub open days and core training days.
The downloaded application form doesn’t allow me to complete the form electronically. Do I have to hand write it?
Yes.
Can the application form be submitted by email?
Yes. However you must also send a hard copy of the application form via the postal service.
When will I be able to apply for a bursary placement in 2008?
The placements will be advertised in The Guardian, CJS, Environmentjobs.co.uk, Environmentjob.co.uk and Graduate Prospects in early January. The application forms will be ready to download from the 2nd of January 2008.
Details about the host placements will be posted on to the website from the middle of December 2007.
Will the project help me to find accommodation if I need to relocate?
The project will endeavour, where possible, to signpost candidates to the local press and to any known accommodation providers. However the onus will be on the successful candidate to secure their own accommodation.
I am a student undertaking an environmental degree which requires me to do a sandwich year with 9 months work experience. As I would need to be back at university by September/October 2008, could I still apply?
No, unless you were able to defer your university dates. The Lemur bursary placement will run from the 14th of April until the 19th December 2008. These dates are NOT negotiable.
