Mary Bowman, 29 – I live in Nairn.
Who do you work for and what do you do there?
I work for a small company called Highland Rural – I’m an Associate Director / Rural Surveyor. I work for and represent land and rural property owners. The work I do for Landowners varies greatly, I have a management role in several rural estates in which I have involvement in all aspects of the estate – wildlife management, forestry, farming, renewables, health and safety, insurance, business development, staff management, property maintenance and development, to name but a few! I also represent numerous landowners, most commonly farmers, in one-off projects such as valuing their land and property, land leases and negotiating terms for new renewable energy projects.
What does the business do?
We are a consultancy – providing advice and management services to all different types of landowners, in almost all aspects of land and rural property.
How long have you worked there?
Two years.
What did you do before it?
I held similar roles in other larger companies for several years prior to joining Highland Rural though before this, I studied a Rural Business Management degree after working in hands-on roles on several different farms and estates across northern Scotland, including agricultural, equestrian and wildlife management roles.
What did you do after leaving school?
I worked on a large upland estate on the west coast of Scotland, initially joining as a shepherdess and then laterally working as a deer stalking ghillie.
Tell me about any qualifications you did at college, uni or in the workplace (Modern Apprenticeship)?
After I got in to deer stalking, I undertook a work-based NC and HNC in Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management, at UHI’s North Highland College (Thurso Campus). This course involved attending college one week in every six. The remainder of the time was spend working in a deer stalking placement on an estate in Sutherland. I then worked on various estates for several years, before deciding I would like to progress to an estate management role – at which point I undertook a Rural Business Management Degree at SRUC Edinburgh Campus. My HNC allowed me to skip first year, and I continued to live rurally working part time in roles loosely related to the industry, travelling into Edinburgh for lectures as and when required.
How much did you enjoy the course?
I thoroughly enjoyed the Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management course – it was incredibly useful to learn about the theory behind the practical experience we were gaining whilst on our placement. We generally shared digs and socialised with one another in the evenings we were in Thurso, so it was also a great source of learning to hear all about the other students’ placements and the different type of roles available within the industry.
My degree course was also very enjoyable. Rural Business Management is quite an adaptable degree which allows you to write reports and case studies about particular areas of the industry which interest or are relevant to you. My previous work was in upland estates and therefore I was able to apply this experience to my uni work and expand my knowledge in the specific areas of the sector I wanted to work in.
How have these qualifications helped your career?
Immensely. My degree included a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation which then allowed me to become a Chartered Surveyor following uni – there are a number of areas in my role I couldn’t undertake without this. The experience of getting the qualifications is very useful too – the discipline I’ve learned and the contacts I’ve made throughout my studies are invaluable.
If you did a Modern Apprenticeship or SVQ, what did you think about getting paid while you were learning?
I think there’s no better way to learn – applying what you learn in your course in your day-to-day job really makes it stick. Having less student debt is also a winner!
Why did you apply for this job?
I get to do a huge variety of work all over the Highlands, but all somehow related to nature and the great outdoors, which is my passion.
Did you always want to do this kind of work? Why?
No – I never really knew what I wanted to do. I was drawn to gamekeeping and wildlife management as I wanted to work outdoors and love rural Scotland, though I never expected that this would eventually translate into a professional desk-based role which would allow me to work for all different landowners and estates.
What do you do each day?
Every day is different. Some days I work from home catching up on report-writing and emails. Other days I’m visiting client properties to hold meetings with staff and third parties, or undertaking site visits, inspections and surveys.
What do you do over the year?
Again, it varies hugely, some parts of my job such as valuation and lease negotiation are not seasonal and carry on all year round, though other parts are influenced by seasonal changes such as shooting seasons, tree planting conditions and arable planting and harvest.
What difference does your job make to the rest of us?
My job assists in the facilitation of new developments and environmental initiatives on rural land, many of which have public interested benefits such as clean energy, biodiversity enhancement in addition to community development and engagement.
What kind of skills do you need to work in your job?
I think people skills are the most important – I liaise with all different clients, contractors, other professionals and general public everyday in my role. Problem solving and decision making comes into it a lot too.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The variety of projects I get to be involved with!
Do you enjoy it?
Yes, it can be tricky when you’re spinning a lot of plates and things don’t always go to plan – though on the whole, I think it’s a wonderful job.
Is there anything you’re particularly proud of?
I’m proud of the path that lead me to where I am today – working in many different hands on roles across different parts of the Highlands has been an atypical though hugely beneficial foundation to the work I do today.
Have you had to deal with any challenges in your career?
Absolutely – coming from a urban vegetarian upbringing to being the only female in class of 30 gamekeeping students was certainly a challenge. Working outdoors in driving rain and freezing temperatures was also challenging, though it feels very rewarding to push through.
Do you work with any technology?
We use GIS technology for mapping land.
What parts of your job or industry are green or sustainable?
Renewable energy development and environmental /biodiversity enhancement projects.
What’s it like to live and work in this part of Scotland?
Fantastic – the scenery we live and work amongst is priceless.
If one of your friends was thinking about doing a job like yours, what would you say to them?
Go for it! With huge diversification in land use and focus on renewables development and natural capital, there’s a huge shortage of land agents which creates a great career opportunity for someone with a passion for rural Scotland.
What would you like to do in the future?
Exactly what I’m doing now!