How to Get Town Planning Work Experience
27 Feb, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How to get town planning work experience.
- Why it is important to get town planning work experience.
- Where the latest town planning jobs are and how to apply for them.
Work experience is a great way for aspiring town planning professionals to learn from experienced professionals and hone the essential skills that hiring managers across local authorities and private planning organisations look for. In our latest blog, we’re exploring how budding Town Planners can get work experience and why it is beneficial to do so.
How to get town planning work experience
There are a number of avenues an aspiring Town Planner can pursue to gain work experience across the planning sector, including:
- Internships and apprenticeships.
- Volunteering.
- Networking.
Internships and apprenticeships
Internships are a great opportunity for aspiring Town Planners to learn the practical and analytical skills required for this role.
By learning on the job from experienced Town Planners, those hoping to pursue the same career are able to develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and all other necessary skills to be a good Town Planner.
Throughout the UK there are many places that offer internships within town planning and similar roles that equip people with the same skills.
Planning and development consultancy, Lichfields, offer a Chartered Town Planner degree apprenticeship which provides an apprentice with the opportunity to study for a fully accredited qualification from the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Real estate company, Newmark, who offer town planning services, run a 4 week internship programme perfect for second and final year students.
Volunteering
Volunteering is another great way to get town planning work experience. There are many opportunities for aspiring Town Planners to volunteer within grassroot or professional organisations.
Aspiring planning professionals are advised to check out local planning groups who may accept volunteers to help with drafting policies or conducting research.
Housing charities may also be a good place to start as they often focus on housing policy and might welcome volunteers who are interested in pursuing a career within town planning.
It is also worth looking into environmental and transport charities who promote sustainable transport as they are the perfect place to develop skills around environmental awareness and improving green spaces.
Networking
Whether it’s in person or online, networking is a good way to open the door to work experience opportunities. Sometimes it’s not only about what you know, but who you know and aspiring planning professionals are advised to build themselves a network of professionals on platforms such as LinkedIn.
By following people who work within the planning sector and pages that promote the work of planners, this can be a useful method for seeking out work experience opportunities and engaging with experienced Town Planners.
Why is it important to get town planning work experience?
Gaining some sort of work experience, whether it is through volunteering or an internship, in the UK town planning sector is of utmost importance for aspiring planners. Work experience is essential for gaining practical insights into the profession and how local planning departments operate. It also helps to close the gap between academic study and applying the skills learnt to the real world, while equipping aspiring Town Planners with the confidence to pursue a full time career in the planning profession.
The UK planning system can be complex and with ever-changing policies across the UK, it is essential that professionals have a clear understanding of the regulations surrounding town planning. Work experience is a great opportunity for the real world application of planning policies and how these are implemented throughout local authorities and private planning organisations.
Shadowing experienced planners, whether this be in a private firm or local government, is essential for developing skills in environmental planning, stakeholder engagement and land use and will also give aspiring planners exposure to the importance of balancing economic growth alongside sustainability and the UK governments net-zero by 2050 target.
Work experience is also valuable for creating industry connections which can lead to future job opportunities.
Town planning recruitment specialist, Josh Draycott, says, “Hands-on experience helps to strengthen a person’s problem-solving abilities and increase their confidence in decision-making, which are both essential for a successful career in town planning.”
Planning jobs
If you’re searching for your next town planning job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Contact a town planning recruitment specialist
Josh Draycott is a dedicated private sector and local authority Town Planning recruitment specialist with a diverse background in recruitment.
With a strong focus on the planning industry, Josh recruits for a wide range of roles, including Town Planners, Policy Planners, Urban Planners, Development Management Planners and Directors of Planning. His expertise lies in sourcing both interim and permanent talent to meet the planning objectives of his clients.
Town planning recruitment services
As town planning recruitment specialists, we support local authorities and private sector businesses nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent recruitment needs.
Josh has built long-standing, trusted relationships with numerous local council planning departments, delivering tailored recruitment solutions that address the dynamic and evolving demands of the town planning sector.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, get in touch with Josh Draycott on 01772 954200 to see how we can help.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
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