Two online focus groups were completed in October 2022 with 14 young people in the early stages of their careers in the environment sector.

The 90 minute text-based focus groups, facilitated by staff from SOS-UK and Action for Conservation and funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation included discussions on the following aspects:

• Challenges to career progressionexperienced to date
• Barriers to getting started in the sector(personal and professional)
• Support and skills developmentopportunities accessed so far
• Perceptions of the benefits, or disbenefits, from existing support/development
• Identification of gaps in support anddevelopment opportunities

Participants were recruited through communications to young people who had undertaken a Kickstarter placement through the Race for Nature’s Recovery scheme, and also through organisationsparticipating in The RACE Report diversity transparency campaign.  Additional communications were circulated via LinkedIn.