Advice for a recent urban planning graduate seeking entry level work

[PlanBB]

My son has recently graduated with a degree in Urban Planning. I know it’s early days but he hasn’t had any luck in securing an entry level job. He has sent applications but not having any joy.

Is there anyone on here who could give a few pointers/ideas? There just seems to be so much competition these days.

He’s interested in doing a Masters in Real Estate and becoming RICS accredited. I think he needs some work experience in the area (he didn’t do a sandwich course).

If anyone knows of any good ways for him to get his foot in the door, let me know.

Was his course RTPI accredited?

Partially accredited for the spacial aspect (Newcastle University). He’d need to do the MA or MSc to get the full RTPI. He was planning to do the MA but he’s worried about taking on another student loan (although he would get a 20% discount at Newcastle) and was hoping to find an employer to pay it for him, what gaining some work experience.

He is working part time in a supermarket (which he has done through university). But, he needs to move into his chosen career.

does he want local authority work, or a private company? The local authorities around the NE have squeezed budgets so recruitment is limited. They all advertise on https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/
He will struggle to get a planning assistant entry level role without being RTPI accredited as he will competing with those who are.

There are planning consultants who will recruit every now and then, look at this site
https://www.rtpiconsultants.co.uk.

Sorry I don’t know much about RICs and the surveying side of things

Volunteering with local councils or businesses that use planning Eg wildlife charity. He doesn't need to do it full time, just enough to get experience and meet the right people working in the sector.
There may also be local events that he could go to just to learn who the managers are. In my area we have lots of wildlife/archaeology /history talks organised by councils and national parks.
He could also look at applying to be a board / trustee member?
I'm painfully shy and live rurally but my last two jobs have been through who I know.

The big engineering firms will have graduate programs which he needs to target. Places like Arup, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Mitie, etc. he might also consider his views on mobility, if he’s willing to relocate he will maximise options. Good luck.

What has he applied for so far and is he restricted geographically?

Eg. There are a lot of planning consultants in Manchester, probably second only to London.

Big house builders may have grad schemes but he’s probably left it too late to get onto one of those this year. Most large house builder have in house planning departments.

Has he looked at this kind of thing?

https://www.vistrycareers.co.uk/our-teams/land-planning-strategic-land/

Nothing suitable on the moment but that’s the kind of employer apart from planning consultants that would be a good fit.

Taylor Wimpy has a trainee scheme. It isn’t open at the moment but finding out what areas it covers and when it is open could be useful. https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/jobs/early-careers/management-trainees

Ridge have planners, level 7 apprenticeships are being cut but they used to take people through the RTPI masters course. I don’t think anything is open at the moment.

https://ridge.co.uk/careers/future-talent/

Have a look on here at the stories and where people worked.

https://www.rtpi.org.uk/become-a-planner/apprenticeships/chartered-town-planner-apprenticeship/

It’s a hard time to graduate right now OP. More and more entry level professional jobs require a master’s too.

Don’t discount small private planning consultancy practices in your area - even if not advertising he could write to them. I started in an admin role, but small teams mean you get pulled into all sorts of things and then I did my MSc supported by the business… best of luck!

He applied to Taylor Wimpey and attended at least 2 interviews that I know of and got through to the final stage - they called him and said the post was being withdrawn. He was extremely disappointed, especially after doing multiple interviews with them.

He has applied to the local council - no luck.

I know he has sent a few more applications out but not sure who to etc.

He would probably relocate - he was talking about relocating to Canada the other day!