Steven Preece

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Helia EHS

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

After completing my degree, I was honored to be elected President Exeter of the Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union for the 2021/22 academic year. This rewarding role significantly enriched my professional experience and fostered lasting friendships with my colleagues. Following my term, I embarked on an adventure to Australia, initially planning to stay for just one year to explore the country’s landmarks and culture. However, captivated by all Australia had to offer, I extended my visa for another year. During this time, I discovered my love for Melbourne and decided to pursue a future in the city. This led me to secure a role as an Environmental Consultant with Helia EHS, where I have been fortunate to be sponsored and further my career.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose this career because of my passion for environmental planning and management. This role specifically focuses on contaminated land management, a field I hadn’t deeply considered before but now find incredibly engaging. As part of my graduate program, I am developing a targeted set of skills and knowledge essential for an environmental consultant. With guidance and training from my mentors, I am involved in a diverse range of projects that span all stages of consultancy. These include client meetings, drafting proposals and tenders, conducting fieldwork to collect samples, analyzing data, and producing detailed reports for clients. What I enjoy most about this role is the dynamic nature of the work. It offers a perfect balance between office-based tasks and fieldwork, with no two days being the same. Fieldwork, in particular, provides a refreshing change of environment, whether it involves collecting soil and water samples, monitoring gases and vapours, or conducting other environmental assessments.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

While studying at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, I actively participated in student societies, which I found to be the best way to build friendships and connect with new people. I was a dedicated member of GeogSoc, the Geography academic society, as well as several sports societies, including Ultimate Frisbee, Hip-Hop Dance, and Snowsports. My involvement in these societies deepened throughout my time at university, ultimately leading to leadership roles, such as serving as a choreographer for the Hip-Hop Dance Society and playing an active role as a social captain for the Falmouth SnowSports Society. 

Were you part of the Exeter Student Ambassador Scheme at any point during your studies?

I joined the Student Ambassador program during my first year at the University of Exeter, Penryn Campus.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

What I valued most about my program was its diversity—approaching environmental sciences through a variety of perspectives, including law, politics, mathematics, programming, biology, chemistry, geology, and more. This broad foundation provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the field and helped me discover the many opportunities this degree could offer. The biggest highlight for me, which although wasn’t part of my learning experience but instead part of my student experience, was delivering the graduation speech to my cohort, including myself, during my term as President Exeter. This was truly an honourable moment, a very vulnerable time, because that speech was to sincerely congratulate all of my friends who I have shared the learning of this course with for the last three years. They had been an incredible cohort to be a part of and I was an emotional mess expressing my gratitude to them, to us, and to my family who have supported me throughout my studies.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

Studying Environmental Sciences amidst the stunning landscapes of Cornwall was a real highlight of my time at the University of Exeter, Penryn Campus. Unlike the typical big-city universities, Penryn offered a student lifestyle unique for its natural surroundings. Instead of traditional nights out at clubs, our social life often revolved around beach barbecues, camping trips with friends, and spontaneous late-night dips in the sea. Whilst still having access to a range of student societies similar to other universities, some societies here were specifically tailored to take advantage of the incredible environment around us. With a beach practically on our doorstep, watersports societies like FalSurf—our surfing society—were among the most popular, and for good reason. Day trips exploring the Cornish coastline created the most immaculate vibes, filled with vibrant and unforgettable memories. This was a lifestyle like no other, and those four years remain some of the best of my life.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The story of how I ended up studying at the University of Exeter is a bit of a happy accident. I’d booked an open day, blissfully unaware that my course was actually based at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall, and not the Exeter campus in Devon. Classic mistake, right? My mum figured this out the night before while I was out partying with friends, and had me returned home in the early hours of the morning. At 6am, whilst sleep-deprived, slightly hungover, and facing my mum’s frustration, we set off our drive from South Wales to Cornwall. With miserable weather that day—cloudy, misty, wet, and cold, I was honestly expecting to hate every second of it. But as soon as I arrived at Penryn, I was hooked. The campus had this captivating charm on me and I couldn’t imagine myself studying anywhere else. Little did I know this decision would later become one of the best decisions of my life.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The most useful skills for my career as an Environmental Consultant have been technical knowledge, adaptability, and communication. For technical knowledge, my background in environmental sciences, including geography, geology and environmental management, as well as soil and water sampling has been crucial for this role. For adaptability, being able to balance fieldwork and office tasks – like collecting samples, analysing data, and writing reports – requires flexibility and problem-solving skills. And finally for communication, being able to collaborate with clients, teams, and contractors ensures that projects run smoothly and meet business expectations. These skills, combined with practical experience, have allowed me to grow confidently in such a fast-paced and dynamic role.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

If you truly want a career – whether in this field or any other – you need to be determined and willing to go the extra mile. It’s no longer enough to simply submit a resume online or via email and hope for the best. If you want a role badly enough, make the effort to stand out: write a tailored cover letter that explains why you’re the right fit, follow up with a polite phone call, and if possible, visit the workplace to make a personal impression. Remember, every hour between 9-5, Monday to Friday, is an opportunity waiting to be seized – your next employer is just waiting for you to make yourself known to them. Also, keep an organised job tracker to monitor your progress. Log the dates you applied, companies contacted, and outcomes of follow-ups. It’ll make life far easier when returning calls, avoiding those awkward moments when you can’t remember the role you applied for. Small steps like these can make a big difference.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the foreseeable future are to build a life here in Melbourne, Australia. I am currently working towards obtaining permanent residency and remain optimistic that this goal is within reach. For now, I’m committed to developing my skills as an Environmental Consultant, which will prove useful for wherever this career path may lead me next in Australia. That said, Cornwall will always hold a special place in my heart, and when I am ready to return to the UK after living out my Aussie dream, one day I hope to settle along the Cornish coastline, reliving the cherished memories I created there as a young student.