Ecology, biodiversity net gain, and open space consultancy for local authorities and developers across the UK.

Our team

Business support team

We understand that your project will have particular needs to you or the organisation you work for. This may relate to particular planning, contractual or commercial requirements. Our aim is to engage with you early on in projects to establish your needs, set out a realistic timetable, and seek solutions to deliver your project on time.

Ecology that works on the ground

Always someone to talk to

Reducing risk in the planning process

Free quotes and transparent pricing

Balancing ecology with project delivery

Direct access to experienced ecologists

Real-world land management expertise

Supporting sustainable communities

Trusted by Local Planning Authorities

Pragmatic solutions, proportional advice

Helping avoid planning delays

Surveys to BNG units - all in one place

Meet the team

Photo of Jim Phillips

Jim Phillips

Managing Director
BSc (Hons), MA, MCIEEM

Rachel Fayers

Business Development Manager & Principal Ecologist
BSc (Hons), ACIEEM

George Clutterbuck

Principal Environmental Consultant
AMIEnvSc

Rachel Beaven

Senior Environmental Consultant
MSc (Hons), BSc (Hons)

Anna Harrison

Environmental Consultant
BSc (Hons)

Kate Vine

Finance Assistant

Mandy Beresford

Administration Assistant

We provide clear advice on survey requirements, seasonal windows, and how to align ecological input with your project timeline. 

All surveys are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and CIEEM best practice.

Receive a detailed breakdown
for your project

We provide tailored solutions to help you deliver high-quality, sustainable green spaces. Contact us today to discuss your needs. Whether you require:
Biodiversity net gain
Policy advice
Full strategy
Ecological assessments.

01225 444114

info@ethosep.co.uk 

Jim Phillips

Managing Director
BSc (Hons), MA, MCIEEM
Photo of Jim Phillips

Jim is the founder and Managing Director of Ethos (established in 2014). With over 30+ years of experience in ecology, green infrastructure, and parks management, Jim’s career spans roles as an environmental consultant and work within local authorities. His academic and practical expertise in environmental and business management has driven Ethos to become one of the UK’s leading environmental consultancies.

Jim’s understanding of clients’ commercial needs ensures effective project delivery, a key factor maintaining Ethos’s growth and dedication to client retention and satisfcation. He has served as an expert witness for local authorities and developers and holds a level 2 accreditation on Natural England’s Bat Earned Recognition scheme, reflecting his commitment to his work.

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Rachel Fayers

Business Development Manager & Principal Ecologist
BSc (Hons), ACIEEM

Rachel is a seasoned ecologist and conservationist with over 15 years of experience across terrestrial ecology, marine conservation, and environmental education. She holds an honours degree in Zoology from Newcastle University and has worked on a wide range of projects, from conservation funding and education programmes to wildlife guiding in the UK and overseas.
Rachel joined Ethos shortly after its inception in 2014 and was instrumental in developing the business in its early years. She previously led the ecology department as Principal Ecologist, overseeing technical quality, survey delivery, and reporting, before taking maternity leave. On her return, she moved into the role of Business Development Manager, where she now works primarily to support strategic growth, client relationships, and high-quality project delivery.
Alongside this, Rachel continues to support Ethos at a Principal Ecologist level, providing technical input, report review, mentoring, and specialist advice. She brings particular expertise in ornithology and reporting, and holds a Level 2 Bat and Level 1 Great Crested Newt licence.
In her spare time, Rachel runs her conservation project ‘A Patch Wilder’, trialling habitat creation and management approaches and feeding this practical, real-world experience directly into consultancy advice and staff training at Ethos.

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George Clutterbuck

Principal Environmental Consultant
AMIEnvSc

George Clutterbuck is a Principal GIS Consultant and GIS and Technical Lead at Ethos Environmental Planning. He joined Ethos in 2015 as an apprentice and now leads the development of geospatial and technical workflows as part of the company’s core support services.

He specialises in GIS, survey design, data management, and automation, leveraging Python, AI tools, and API integrations to streamline ecological data capture, processing, and reporting. George supports the Ecology and the Biodiversity Net Gain and Green Infrastructure team with scalable technical solutions, focusing on technical innovation, data integrity, and decision-support systems across the business.

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Rachel Beaven

Senior Environmental Consultant
MSc (Hons), BSc (Hons)

Rachel is a Senior Environmental Consultant who joined the Ethos team in 2024 with five years of experience in geospatial technologies across the Telecoms and Water industries. Her academic credentials include a BSc (Hons) in Physical Geography and Geology and an MSc in Water and Environmental Management.
At Ethos, she focuses on Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitat Evaluation Procedures, habitat mapping, ecological/environmental data analysis and delivering clear reports with impactful maps. Rachel also works on the development of smart tools to automate company workflows and enhance efficiency.

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Anna Harrison

Environmental Consultant
BSc (Hons)

Anna joined the GIS team at Ethos in 2024. In her role as an Environmental Consultant, she supports the company’s GIS requirements across Ecology, Biodiversity, and Green Infrastructure. This includes mapping for projects, spatial analysis, and the presentation of data for reports. She provides GIS input from project inception through to final reporting.
Anna completed her degree in Geography (BSc Hons) at Durham University in 2023. Following her studies, she spent four months working as a GIS Intern with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation in Greece, where she supported projects focused on the conservation of the Aegean Sea. She was involved in producing high-quality maps to support conservation initiatives and to inform national and EU authorities on the results of research findings.
Anna enjoys making sense of complex geospatial information and creating clear, informative outputs that support effective decision-making.

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Kate Vine

Finance Assistant

Kate has a long-standing career at Ethos, she is an experienced administrator and finance assistant. Her expertise lies in streamlining administrative processes and managing financial tasks effectively. She takes pride in her attention to detail and commitment to supporting the team, ensuring smooth operations and a collaborative work environment.

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Mandy Beresford

Administration Assistant

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