Prove you are competent!
Use our free online tool to help produce a "statement of competency"
Summary
On this page you need to say who will undertake the site survey (i.e. who will walk over the site and record what habitats are on there). You will need to be able to demonstrate that they are "competent", but this does not mean that they have to be an ecologist - you might well be "competent" under the rules!
Free online courses from the Open University
If you (or someone in your team) would like to undertake a course to demonstrate that you are a "competent" person, the following online courses are available for free. Each one provides a certificate upon completion.
Please note that these courses are optional, and you can do as many as you wish.
Short Courses
Introducing the environment: Ecology and ecosystems, Open University Online Course, (5-hour course)
Neighbourhood Nature, Open University Online Course, (1-hour course)
Managing coastal environments, Open University Online Course, (3-hour course)
Longer Courses
Introduction to ecosystems, Open University Online Course, (12-hour course)
Practising science: Reading the rocks and ecology, Open University Online Course, (14-hour course)
Citizen science and global biodiversity, Open University Online Course, (24-hour course)
Other free online courses
Please note these courses may only offer partial access for free.
Short Courses
An Introduction to Urban Ecology, Natural History Museum, (1-3 hour course)
Longer Courses
Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Leeds, (1-2 weeks)
Detailed guide
Under the Government's rules, there needs to be site survey of any site that is going to be developed. This should set out information about the habitats on the site.
For small sites, the site survey can be done by what they call a competent person (this may well be you)
For large sites, the survey must be done by a suitably qualified ecologist.
If you are using the Small Site metric (SSM) the "competent person" does not need to be an ecologist. They do not need qualifications but instead should demonstrate that they are competent to assess what habitats are on a site.
What is a "Site Survey"?
A site survey is when a competent person or qualified ecologist goes to a site and records what habitats are on the site and all the other necessary information to complete the biodiversity metric. You can read about this here.
If you select "Competent Person" you will need to provide the following information:
The name of the competent person
Any relevant training this person has (you can leave this field blank so long as you fill in experience or qualifications)
Any relevant experience this person has (you can leave this field blank so long as you fill in training or qualifications)
Any relevant qualifications this person has (you can leave this field blank so long as you fill in experience or training)
You only need to demonstrate that the person had training or experience or qualifications. So long as any one of these three fields is filled in, you may proceed.
If you select "A qualified ecologist", you will be asked to list the ecologist's credentials.
Questions and Answers
What is a "competent person"?
What is a "competent person"?
The Small Site Metric (SSM) can be completed by a "competent person". The Government definition (opens in a new tab) is as follows: "a competent person [is someone who] has the knowledge and skills to perform specified tasks to complete and review SSM calculations. You obtain this through training, qualifications, experience, or a combination of them"
With the Joe's Blooms tool, if you are eligible to use the Small Site Metric (SSM), we will allow you to demonstrate that you have either training and/or qualifications and/or experience.
Natural England has said, during the development (download link) of the Biodiversity Metric, that, for a small site, a competent person can be "project managers and architects on many sites"
What's a "suitably qualified ecologist"?
What's a "suitably qualified ecologist"?
An individual who holds a degree or equivalent qualification (e.g. N/SVQ Level 5) in ecology or a related subject and is a practising ecologist, with a minimum of three years relevant experience (within the last five years). Such experience must clearly demonstrate a practical understanding of factors affecting ecology in relation to construction and the built environment, including acting in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations for ecological protection, enhancement and mitigation measures. Examples of relevant experience are ecological impact assessments, Phase 1 and 2 habitat surveys, and habitat restoration. They are covered by a professional code of conduct and subject to peer review.