Apprentice Town Planner - Higher (Level 4)

Bedford Borough Council is looking to recruit two apprentice town planners from September 2022. The Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship is a real job in planning which enables you to work and study at the same time. Successful completion of the apprenticeship will give you professional recognition and status as a qualified planner.

Responsibilities

What will the apprentice be doing?

• Attending London Southbank University one day per week (term time) for 5 years to study for the PgDip Chartered Town Planner (Apprenticeship) (part-time) qualification;
• Conducting appropriate research to inform planning advice and planning decisions;
• Helping to review and determine planning applications;
• Assisting with consultations and negotiations with planning applicants, planning consultants and developers;
• Researching and gathering evidence to aid the preparation of planning policy or guidance documents;
• Assisting the enforcement of planning controls for developments;
• Helping to draft planning appeal statements, collating appeal documents and submissions, and assisting the running of a planning hearing or public enquiry;
• Maintaining planning GIS database and preparing planning committee presentations.

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?

The apprentice will receive on the job training in the Planning Department at Bedford Borough, working primarily in Development Management, but also rotating to Planning Enforcement, Planning Appeals and Planning Policy.

The apprentice will also spend one day per week for 5 years during university term times at London Southbank University in a classroom setting studying for the PgDip Chartered Town Planner qualification - https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/course-finder/chartered-town-planner-apprenticeship

Following successful completion of the PgDip the apprentice will end up as a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) having gained practical experience in the work place and passed an RTPI accredited degree. 

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?

Career structures differ between employers, but after you've gained chartered status with the RTPI your chances of moving into senior positions will increase. Career progression may become quicker at this point.

In the public sector moving from assistant/graduate planner to senior planner can take three to five years. 

Reality Check

Applicants will need to be able to attend Borough Hall in Bedford to work and undertake site visits around the Borough as part of the job, which can require use of a car insured for business purposes, especially to reach the more rural parts of the Borough. While the Council has adopted agile working options, at least the first year of the apprenticeship will be primarily office based at Borough Hall to receive necessary on the job training and mentoring from senior staff.

Skills Required

Communication skills, IT skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Customer care skills, Problem solving skills, Analytical skills, Logical, Team working, Creative, Initiative, Non judgemental, Patience

Qualifications Required

GCSE or equivalent Maths and English (Grade 5 GCSEs A-C) Essential
A Level or equivalent Any (Grade BCC) Desired
BTEC or equivalent Any (Grade MMM) Desired
NVQ or SVQ Level 3 or equivalent Planning Technician Apprenticeship (Grade Level 3) Desired