Eloise Cunningham

Eloise studied BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science and now works for Natural England in the Biodiversity Net Gain Register Services Team.

Hartpury experience

“I came to an open day and the campus was beautiful, seeing the various facilities was really exciting, particularly the therapy centre - it felt like there were many opportunities.

My course was great, it was challenging but there was a lot of support, although a little unusual with COVID. Hartpury prioritised our return to face-to-face teaching as soon as possible, this was not only good to encourage interaction and improve well-being but was particularly important for my course as we had a lot of practicals that we needed to attend, which was an integral part of our skill set.

There was a lot of scope to go and do your own research; in my research module I looked at Canine Distemper Virus in Leopards. For my dissertation, I was supervised by Jim Swanson on my Hedgehog Endoparasite and Conservation paper, during which I volunteered at Secret World Wildlife Centre. I went to the wildlife centre to collect data and was able to obtain a placement through them, where I worked in animal care, ensuring the animals were fed and watching out for clinical signs of injury or disease.

One of the great things about my experience at Hartpury that prepared me for my career was the inspiration I had from female lecturers. Working in a large company or organisation requires you to be confident and bold and I think that interactions from inspiring women encouraged that.”

Developing industry connections

“During my time at Hartpury, I developed a passion for wildlife conservation and I wanted to pursue a career developing and improving the environment.

Lucy in the Innovation, Careers and Enterprise Centre (ICE) worked with me to discuss potential career paths when I came back from travelling. We had meetings to discuss interview skills, tips and mock interviews, especially in the lead up to the interview for the role I have now. It’s great that you can utilise Lucy’s skills and knowledge even after graduating.

I work with Natural England, the government’s adviser for England’s natural environment, in the Biodiversity Net Gain Register Services Team. We work with land owners and developers to assess any applications to make sure nature can thrive and wildlife can continue to live in harmony. It is great to work alongside like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a change for the environment.”

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