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Many careers in the sector started through volunteering for organisations such as nature trusts, conservation NGOs (Non‐Government Organisations) and other small bodies. Volunteering is an option for graduates to build up skills and knowledge, as well as for those who are pre‐University. There are also many organisations specifically focusing on volunteering. The table below lists many organisations where you can volunteer, and in addition some offer summer jobs, placements, internships and full‐time employment. Some volunteering is organised commercially, so this may not be free of cost. There have been concerns raised at the growth of paid‐for volunteering and unpaid internships.

Sarah Bell (2015) wrote her Master’s Degree thesis on volunteer tourism in the ‘conservation’ industry, and her paper gives a helpful insight into the motivations for conservation volunteering.

The Guardian (2017) highlighted concerns over paid and free volunteering and noted:

a depressingly similar story: serial unpaid internships, crippling student debt, short‐term work for little or no pay, dismissive attitudes, and entry‐level job requirements that include expectations of considerable field time and experience…Exacerbating the dismal job market is this trend of graduates becoming stuck in full‐time unpaid internships or long‐term volunteering.

The hope is that volunteering and internships will be a positive rather than exploitative experience.