This spring, Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) hosted a University of Plymouth MSc student within its Evidence and Engagement team on a six-week work placement, made possible through Teledyne Valeport’s sponsorship.
The placement represents one of the first outcomes of Teledyne Valeport’s partnership with WRT, which was created to help inspire and support the next generation of environmental leaders through practical learning opportunities and engagement with real-world environmental challenges.
During the placement, the student gained hands-on experience across a range of projects. Activities included supporting water quality monitoring on the River Tavy, contributing to river restoration surveys on the Teign, and supporting communities build resilience to flooding through work linked to the Gissage and Tiddy Brook catchments.
Working alongside WRT’s monitoring team, the placement also provided experience in river morphological surveys, environmental data management, GIS, stakeholder engagement and technical report writing — helping the student bridge academic study with applied environmental practice.
Reflecting on the experience, the student described the placement as highly valuable in applying concepts from their environmental consultancy studies and developing practical skills for future career opportunities, commenting: “I would like to thank Teledyne Valeport for making this opportunity possible. I have learnt a lot working with this team and it has been a remarkable and educational experience.”
