Our Journey to Net Zero is well-documented across our channels and touches all corners of the Gratte Brothers Group. This initiative (and all other Environmental works) is driven by our small but powerful Environmental team. The latest recruit is James Bewick, our new Graduate Environmental Advisor. We’ve caught up with James to find out a bit more about him as we’re sure you’ll soon start seeing him around our sites and offices. Although he’s sadly not an Arsenal supporter, we’re glad to have him on our team and we’re sure he’ll prove an invaluable asset to the Group. Read on to find out more about James…
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What inspired you to pursue a career in environmental work?
“My interest in this field developed during my time at university, where I especially enjoyed working on sustainability-related work. That experience gave me an understanding of the complexity and urgency of a number of global issues and led me to pursue a career where I can contribute to change.
I studied Geography which had a strong environmental focus, though it also covered topics related to the built environment and human geography too. The environmental and sustainability modules interested me, and I took them forward – firstly in my final year dissertation and now a career.”
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What excites you most about joining Gratte Brothers?
“I was especially excited by the opportunity of going on site, visiting projects at various stages of completion and engaging with a range of professionals, gaining valuable practical experience in the field.”
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What do you hope to achieve in your role?
“I aim to establish a strong foundation for a career in sustainability by actively supporting environmental practices and compliance on site, while also contributing to the company’s broader sustainability objectives”.
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In your day-to-day life, what environmental issues are you most passionate about & why?
“I’ve always been attuned to the climate crisis—it’s one of the biggest challenges of our time. I’ve learned how its impacts vary across different regions and affect global systems in unique ways. What interests me is how our everyday choices play a crucial role in addressing such a vast, global issue. For example, beef production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and it is water intensive. Reducing consumption will benefit the environment but can also our personal health too”.
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Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
“I like to stay active by playing sports and going to the gym. I’m also a huge football and cricket fan—I enjoy both watching and playing! I’m not an Arsenal fan although that’s fine, as a Reading supporter there’s no rivalry, so I’m safe in the office! I’ll also admit they’re a bigger club than Tottenham!”
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Tell us a fun fact about you!
“I can name almost all world capitals and national flags! It all stems from my interest in the world and geography. When I was younger, I had a wall poster with all the flags and capitals—I guess it just stuck with me!”
Thanks James, and welcome to the team! For more information about our Journey to Net Zero, check out our Planet page.