The Role

• Do you have an interest and passion in place shaping and planning?
• Do you already have an undergraduate degree (in any subject)?
• Do you want to study and earn money working in a positive and ambitious Planning department?
• Are you looking for working arrangements that enhance your work-life balance?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Shared Staffing Arrangement for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils is excited to be seeking four degree level Planning Apprentices to join our busy Planning department (Planning and Transport Strategy Division). These are full-time positions for an initial three-year contract period, with an opportunity to extend, whereby the first two years you will study part-time to gain a MSc in Spatial Planning, and thereafter (usually after 12 months), you will undertake the Assessment of Professional Competence for chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

The emphasis in this role is on learning at and from the workplace. It is here where many of the skills and behaviours that a Town Planner should have are best observed, analysed and developed.

The Planning Apprentices will work alongside various teams in the wider Planning department, which consists of professional and chartered town planners, leading on the development of the Wandsworth and Richmond Local Plans and related policies as well as taking personal responsibility for dealing with planning applications, pre-applications and appeals.

There has never been a more challenging – or rewarding – time to work for Richmond and Wandsworth.

As a town planner, you will help to create a vision for what a place (such as a city, town, local centre or development site) may look like in the future, and then manage and facilitate the design, development and conservation processes that enable this to be put into practice. You will also be engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, often seeking multiple outcomes for development schemes. You will use a range of skills and abilities to play your role in shaping the places in which we work, live and take our leisure. These include negotiation, seeking compromises, setting out and making clear recommendations, enabling others to achieve their aims, communicating complex ideas and concepts to non-specialists, working within the law, and making ethical decisions in the interests of the wider public.

About the role

You will have the opportunity to develop and grow your skills in town planning, address new challenges positively and constructively, working alongside more senior colleagues in the team who will provide you with the right tools and confidence to take your career forward.

The Planning Apprentices will formally rotate within the various teams of the Planning Department. The details of this will be confirmed upon appointment and during the apprenticeship.

The rotation is most likely to include:

Spatial Planning and Design, a core function of which is to prepare and develop policies for the two boroughs’ Local Plans and other policy and guidance documents. There will be an opportunity to support and assist in the Examination in Public process for the Local Plans and/or take on some more specialist projects related to planning policy including information and monitoring, such as producing evidence and research or monitoring reports for the Local Plans, and its broader implementation within the borough. The team also provides urban design and heritage conservation advice to Development Management officers, contributing to negotiations on development proposals; and there will be an opportunity to contribute towards Design Review Panels. There will also be opportunities to take part in public consultation and engagement activities undertaken in the team; this could be in relation to Local Plan related consultations or also in relation to Conservation Areas.

Development Management case work includes a range of work, including pre-application advice, processing of planning applications and other types of applications including appeals. You will have the opportunity to assess and negotiate planning outcomes, including setting our clear and robust recommendations in reports. There will also be an opportunity to provide assistance on strategic applications for development

Within the Planning Enforcement team, you will have the opportunity to investigate breaches of planning control, conduct site visits, gather evidence and information and carry out detailed planning assessments of developments.

There will also be an opportunity to get involved in Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 planning obligations as well as infrastructure planning and governance / spending.

The role combines the educational elements of the University College London MSc in Spatial Planning with supported workplace learning and practical experience meeting the requirements of the Royall Town Planning Institute’s Chartered Town Planning Apprenticeship standard. Therefore, on the job training is provided to ensure all the required knowledge and experience is obtained throughout the apprenticeship to qualify successfully. Apprentices will also have a work-based mentor whose job it will be to support and guide you throughout your apprenticeship. After completion of the degree, Apprentices then continue with workplace learning and then an End Point Assessment, administered by the RTPI, in order to become a fully qualified professional planner, takes place at the end of the third year. Successful completion of the apprenticeship will give you an MSc Spatial Planning and the status of being a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI).

As a guide, it is expected that you will spend four full days working, with a minimum of 3 days in the office, and the fifth day of each week (during term time) will be spent at university (there will be slight variations to this for example during a field trip week).

Who we are

We are the Planning and Transport Strategy Division which sits under the wider Environment and Community Services Directorate. We are positive and ambitious – When you join us, you’ll apply the same approach.

Richmond is arguably London's most attractive borough with the River Thames running for over 10 miles through the borough, linking Hampton Court Palace, Richmond and Twickenham Town Centres and Kew Gardens with London. Richmond boasts Royal Parks and open spaces, historic houses, vibrant town centres bursting with life, as well as being the home of English rugby.

Wandsworth is a thriving inner London Borough on the southern banks of the River Thames that is steeped in a diverse history. The borough features landmarks such as the iconic Battersea Power Station, Ram Brewery and Clapham Junction Station, and is acknowledged for its famous green spaces such as Wandsworth and Clapham Commons, Putney Heath and Battersea Park. The borough is also comprised of a rich mix of vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods including Battersea, Tooting, Putney and Balham.

The planning team has a reputation for working proactively with developers and the local community to bring forward innovative, high-quality developments.

You will

• have a keen interest in becoming a chartered town planner by joining a busy planning department;
• have a positive attitude and outlook;
• have a willingness to take on challenges and responsibility;
• have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing;
• have a clear understanding of IT systems, such as Microsoft Office products;
• work effectively to meet challenging deadlines and manage competing and changing priorities;
• have the ability to work as part of a team, taking into account the needs of others;
• demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• have an undergraduate degree (a degree in the built environment profession is desirable but not essential);
• demonstrate a commitment to a minimum 3-year programme of work and study.

The work and projects you will get involved in will relate to the university projects and modules that will be undertaken as part of the programme set by University College London, Bartlett School of Planning for the MSc in Spatial Planning (Degree Apprenticeship). Given the practical nature of this Master’s degree, there is an expectation that you attend in person teaching activity in London at the Bartlett School of Planning. Also note that the Bartlett School of Planning is hoping to run field trips as part of the programme (these could be in the UK or elsewhere in Europe).

Whilst the Planning Apprentice role is for a 3-year contract, the MSc Spatial Planning runs over two years part-time. Classes are usually timetabled so that it is only necessary to attend the university only one day per week (although in year two, depending on the choice of specialism, it may either be one whole day per week or two different half days).

If you would like to informally discuss this opportunity, please contact Andrea Kitzberger-Smith, Spatial Planning and Design Team Manager on 020 8891 7364 or email a.kitzberger-smith@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.

What do we offer

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care about how you work and what you achieve. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience, whether that is based around site visits, team collaboration in the office or working from home. This role is based in London and as a Planning Apprentice you would need to be able to commute to Richmond and Wandsworth boroughs on a regular basis to get to know the borough, collaborate with your team(s), learn from colleagues as well as to undertake site visits as required.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Next steps and how to apply

Please submit your CV together with a personal statement setting out your motivation to study the MSc in Spatial Planning and become a Chartered Town Planner as well as addressing how you meet the requirements of this role.

Also note that the UK Government sets out criteria for who can apply for apprenticeship funding. If you have any doubts about residency or citizenship, please contact us.

If you are having difficulty in applying online, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk to see if we can offer alternative arrangements for you to apply.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday 3rd July 2022

Shortlisting Date: W/C 4th July  2022

Interview Date(s): 12th and 13th July 2022

Start Date W/C Monday 26th September 2022

Important Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible. Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within the Planning Division.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils