I took a 6-month interruption from my PhD with IAPETUS, to complete a short-term contract at Natural England which was advertised through IAPETUS channels. During this position I worked with the Conservation Advice and Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) team. I investigated how to apply a spatial conservation prioritisation modelling approach to developing a place-based FCS strategy as part of their Purbeck Heaths pilot, balancing synergies and conflicts between species and habitats. This culminated in presenting a summary of my work to external partners in Dorset. I hope the work I completed will contribute to achieving thriving species and habitats, and positive outcomes for nature in England.