Profile

Photo:

Alex Bartle

    • About Me:

      I live in Leeds West Yorkshire with my partner and two children. I work for the Environment Agency and have a keen interest in nature the outdoors and sport.

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      I enjoy getting out into nature with my kids or doing long walks in Yorkshire and the Lake District.

      I love to travel and explore new places and have been to many countries in Europe, Asia and beyond.

      I enjoy gardening and spending time at home playing the guitar.

      I like to stay fit and active. I am a member of my local tennis club and play football once a week.

    • My pronouns are:

      he/him

    • How I use Geography in my work:

      I am a chartered town planner with a career spanning housing policy, regeneration and planning in the public sector. I currently work for the Environment Agency supporting the delivery of flood risk reduction schemes in Calderdale and monitoring and issuing flood alerts and warnings to inform and protect communities from flooding. This combines using physical geography knowledge or river catchments, weather patterns and geography. I also apply human geography in terms of understanding urban environments, engagement with communities and wider catchment knowledge.

    • My Work:

      I work as a flood risk advisor for the Environment Agency.

      I support the delivery of flood reduction schemes, natural flood management and engagement with communities of flood risk.

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      Flood Risk Advisor (2022-present) Environment Agency

      • Preparing and assessing funding bids to deliver flood alleviation schemes
      • Representing the organisation at  public meetings with community groups, Government agencies and politicians.
      • Programme management and supporting partners in developing and delivering capital flood alleviation schemes. 
      • Monitoring river levels and issuing flood alerts and flood warnings to communities and partners.

       

    • My Typical Day:

      I work a hybrid week which means usually 2 days in the office in Leeds and the rest either working from home or out on site visits. Typical days are usually 9-5. I try and get outside as much as possible over lunch to get exercise/fresh air. I enjoy going into the office a couple of times a week in Leeds city centre to catch up with colleagues in person.

       

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      Working at home days I usually try and walk my kids to school and start around 9.00am. I begin with admin, emails that need actioning and planning my day looking at priority tasks and meetings. Usually there are virtual Teams meetings to attend on projects or particular areas of work. I usually try and get outside over lunch for exercise (walk, run etc) before getting on with more focussed work in the afternoon (report writing, reading) and attending any further meetings. I look to finish 5-5.30 to have dinner with my family.

      Office days I will get the bus or train into Leeds around 8.30am- get to the office, make a coffee, catch up with colleagues, attend any in person/virtual meetings. try and get out for some fresh air or walk over lunch and same again in afternoon before commuting back home about 5.00pm

      Site visits can involve attending engagement events where we are planning flood schemes, talking to the community and answering questions etc. Going out to view schemes and assets along the river Calder with partners or looking at completed schemes such as Natural Flood management on the Moors.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would look to arrange a guided site visit to Calderdale to view flood schemes build and under construction and host an interactive presentation to students on the work of the Environment Agency in the area including the Hebden Bridge Flood schemes and  natural flood management

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to Longcroft school in Beverley where I did my GCSEs and A levels including Geography.

      I have a BA degree in Human Geography from the University of Leeds

      I undertook a full time 1 year Masters in Town and Regional Planning at Leeds Metropolitan University.

       

    • Qualifications:

      • Diploma, Management and Leadership: 2018, Bradford College. 
      • Master of Arts, Town And Regional Planning:  2007, Leeds Metropolitan University – Distinction MA Town and Regional Planning.
      • Bachelor of Arts, Human Geography: 2003, University Of Leeds – First Class Honours BA Geography. 
      • A-Levels: 2000, Beverley Longcroft 6th Form College – Geography (A), Sociology (A), Biology (B) And General Studies (B)
      • GCSE: 1998, Beverley Longcroft Secondary School – GCSE’s 8 A’s and 2 B’s including English Language (A) and Maths (A).

    • Work History:

      Flood Risk Advisor (2022-present) Environment Agency

      • Preparing and assuring business cases for capital flood alleviation schemes
      • Representing the EA at formal public meetings with the public, community groups, statutory agencies and elected representatives.
      • Programme management of the capital programme and supporting partners in developing and delivering capital flood alleviation schemes. 

      Planning Assistant/Planning Officer/Senior Planning Officer (2007 to 2022) City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council  

      • Responsible for leading on statutory Local Plan preparation including Core Strategy strategic housing policies, Shipley and Canal Road Corridor Area Action Plan and the Community Infrastructure Levy.
      • Preparing and presenting technical planning policy guidance and advice on planning applications to members, senior officers, developers and the general public.
      • Representing the council at formal Examinations in Public and meetings with developers, community groups, statutory agencies and elected representatives and politicians.

      Research and Policy Assistant (2005 to 2006) Leeds City Council 

      • Undertaking primary research on regeneration policy issues.
      • Supporting senior colleagues through written briefing notes and policy overview documents.
      • Responsible for writing reports for Council meetings.
      • Monitoring of the Leeds Regeneration Plan key performance indicators.

      Housing Strategy Assistant/Technical Officer (2004 to 2005) East Riding of Yorkshire Council 

      • Liaising with consultants and supporting a sheltered housing review.
      • Visual mapping project using GIS software to produce a series of maps providing strategic value for the review of sheltered housing.
      • Assisting with the production of the council’s Housing Strategy 
      • Collecting, analysing and distributing the Council’s Key Performance Indicators to stakeholders.

      Administrative Officer (2003 to 2004) Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber

      • Corresponding to Treat Official housing letters addressed to MP’s, the Queen and Prime Minister.
      • Dealing with queries regarding Right To Buy and other official procedures.

    • Current Job:

      Flood Risk Advisor (2022-present) Environment Agency

    • Employer:

      The Environment Agency

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Passionate about environment

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Teacher

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        no

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Teaching

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Radiohead

        What's your favourite food?

        Curry

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        win the lottery, free travel for life (bus/train/plane), word peace!

        Tell us a joke.

        what's brown and sticky? A stick

Questions answered by Alex

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