This intake of trainees for the Marine and Coastal Heritage Programme is designed to give recent graduates the opportunity to gain the foundation skills and practical experience that are necessary for those working in marine and coastal conservation, with particular emphasis on public engagement with marine conservation issues. The programme is aimed at highly motivated individuals with an interest in marine conservation and an enthusiasm to gain the skills required for employment within the marine conservation sector. The scheme offers a combination of ‘on-the-job’ professional experience and structured training that is linked to a variety of work areas, including species identification, wildlife habitat survey, heritage interpretation and education, plus important generic work ski