Apprentice Planners

Planning Assistant: Grade 3 (£24,307-£27,651) 5-year contract

Trainee Planner: Grade 4 (£27,651-£32,662) 3-year contract

We are offering an exciting opportunity to become an apprentice planner as part of our shared planning service. In partnership with London South Bank University and studying for a degree apprenticeship to become a Chartered Town Planner (Levels 4 to 7) you will have a unique opportunity to forge a career in planning with us.

As part of a cohort of apprentice planners starting at the same time, you will have the opportunity to work for one of the most progressive planning services in the Country in an area which is delivering significant and high-quality growth. As an apprentice you will receive time off work (6 hours per week) to complete your studies and will have a mentor and RTPI sponsor to help with your academic and work progression.

As an organisation we believe that our people are our greatest assets. We know how important it is to find a job where you feel valued but also have the flexibility to allow you to balance your work/family commitments. As an organisation we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• A 4-day working week (on trial)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 25 days holiday entitlement (increasing to 27 after 5 years continuous service)
• Shopping discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme - providing advice and counselling
• Career progression
• Development opportunities as well as ongoing training

Your experience will allow for a broad grounding in planning across our service, rotating every 4 to 6 months. You will have the chance to learn and progress in different planning disciplines, including development management, strategic sites, policy, built and natural environment, planning compliance and application support. You will have an enthusiastic, supportive team around you to help you grow and develop your career in planning.

What sets us apart from other organisations is our range of projects, including meeting the planning needs of Europe’s most important biotechnology cluster, regeneration schemes providing new low carbon districts and developing the first joint Local Plan in an area that includes the historic City of Cambridge, home to world renowned universities, hospitals and cutting-edge science and the rural areas of South Cambridgeshire.

If you would like to work on award winning schemes in an exciting and fast paced environment, come and join us! We are looking for individuals with enthusiasm and a keenness to learn and progress. Excellent customer service skills are a must as well as being a team player. If you have the ambition to embrace the exciting challenges of this busy Shared Planning Service, there is no better place to start your career.

For more information about working with us check out our Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website.

For an informal conversation about this job opportunity within the Planning Service contact either Toby Williams on 07704 072593 or Phil McIntosh 07849 700193.

Applications received will be for September 2023 enrolment at London South Bank University for the Chartered Town Planner Apprentice Degrees at either Level 4 or Level 7 - PG Dip Chartered Town Planner (Degree Apprenticeship - Entry point 1), MA Chartered Town Planner (Degree Apprenticeship – Entry point 2) or MA Chartered Town Planner (Urban Design) (Degree Apprenticeship – Entry point 2)

First Application deadline 16 June, Shortlisting 22 June, Interviews Monday 26 June.

Second Application deadline 14 July, Shortlisting 17 July, Interviews Wednesday 26 July.

Provisional offers from first 2 rounds of interviews anticipated week commencing 31 July.

From January 2023 until May 2023, we are taking part in a 4-day working week trial. A 4-day week is when full-time staff work one less day per week (4 days instead of 5) but still get paid the same salary. It is not the same as compressed hours, which is working the traditional 37-hour week over four long days. A 4-day week for a full-time employee at the Council will consist of 30 hours. For part time staff, the amount of hours reduced would be calculated via a pro-rata reduction. A helpful way of explaining this arrangement is that staff will need to get 100% of their work done, in 80% of the time, for 100% of their salary. The purpose of this trial is to better support the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, while still delivering an excellent service to our residents. For more information, please read about our 4-day week trial.

Further interview dates on applications after 14 July and before 1 September.