Colchester Zoological Society Work Experience Programme
Create a free account to applyBuild practical zoo experience through animal husbandry or research placements, working full-time on a rotating schedule that includes weekends. Prepare diets, maintain enclosures and support enrichment, or collect data and assess animal welfare to help inform husbandry decisions.
Colchester Zoological Society offers work experience placements for people who are interested in animal husbandry, conservation, and working in a zoo environment. There are shorter block placements, plus a separate year-long programme, with routes into both animal husbandry and research.
The experience is designed to build practical skills alongside wider understanding of animal care, welfare, enrichment, data collection, and the role of research in zoo management.
Placements follow zoo operational hours and are full-time over five days a week on a rotational basis, including weekends. Animal husbandry placements are based on a section of the zoo and may involve diet preparation, enclosure upkeep, enrichment, education work, and maintaining safe public areas.
Research placements support the animal care team with data collection and interpretation, welfare assessments, and project work that informs husbandry decisions. Elephant section placements are especially physical and involve enrichment, diets, and enclosure work.
All placements are unpaid voluntary roles, places are limited, and applicants need to be able to support themselves during the placement period. Accommodation is not provided. Applications are made through the form on the page, together with a current CV, and successful applicants move on to an assessment process.
1 November 2026
Apply by 1 November 2026 for 10-week, 3-month or 6-month placements starting in January, April, July or October 2027.
January 2027
10-week, 3-month or 6-month placement start
April 2027
10-week, 3-month or 6-month placement start
July 2027
10-week, 3-month or 6-month placement start
August 2027 – July 2028
12-month placement programme
October 2027
10-week, 3-month or 6-month placement start
Location
- Able to financially support themselves for the duration of the placement.
- Genuinely interested in all aspects of animal husbandry and conservation.
- Willing to engage with all forms of learning and make the most of the opportunities provided.
- Willing and able to work individually and as part of a team.
- Must be 17 years old or older to apply for the 10-week placements.
- Must be enrolled on, or have completed, an Ofqual, RQF, or OfS recognised animal/conservation-based course for the 10-week placements.
- Minimum of a recognised level 2 qualification for the 10-week placements.
- Must be 17 years old or older to apply for the 3-month and 6-month placements.
- Must be enrolled on or have completed an animal-related qualification for the 3-month and 6-month placements.
- Must be able to attend full-time, five days per week, including weekends.
- Must be 18 years old or older to apply for the 12-month animal husbandry focus placement.
- Must be 18 years old or older to apply for the 12-month research focus placement.
- For the 12-month animal husbandry focus, applicants must be enrolled on, or have completed, an Ofqual, RQF, or OfS recognised animal/conservation-based course.
- For the 12-month animal husbandry focus, applicants must have a minimum of a recognised level 2 qualification.
- For the 12-month animal husbandry focus, some limited animal experience is required.
- For the 12-month research focus, applicants must be enrolled on an accredited OfS undergraduate animal/conservation-based degree.
- For the 12-month research focus, some limited research experience is required.
Unpaid voluntary roles. Accommodation is not provided.
Free to participate; placements are unpaid voluntary roles.
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