Graduate Planner Review

My role as a graduate planner involves me gaining experience across a wide range of planning projects, including conducting preliminary research assessing site potential for development, preparing planning appraisals, planning statements, drafting and submitting pre-application enquiries, minor and major planning applications, EIA screening requests, and representations, and building experience in project management through communication with clients, external consultants, Planning Officers at local councils and the monitoring of planning applications.

I have developed my communication skills by liaising with other members of my team and my office, clients, consultants, and planning officers. I have also developed my critical analysis skills through my ability to assess the development potential of a site.

I really enjoy my programme and feel I am learning a lot and being given many different opportunities and levels of responsibility which are helping me progress both personally and professionally. I also really value the opportunities to network with other graduates and teams across the country.

My programme is well-organised through structured training days with other graduates across the company, with tailored sessions, workshops, and presentations from senior members of staff and the RTPI. What may have helped me towards the start of my programme would have been more induction / feedback sessions to get settled into the programme. Having joined a year before starting my Master's, I would have also appreciated some more guidance as to how I could network with other peers and still be able to attend the graduate training days that would help my personal and professional development.

My employer are very supportive on both a company-wide level and a team level. I am given many opportunities to learn and work on various projects across a variety of sectors, and am increasingly given responsibility to draft documents and applications, liaise with clients, and lead meetings. We have structured training days which are really valuable and provide good support in working towards my APC.

The work we are asked to produce at university is helping me develop practical skills and fill knowledge gaps. As a part-time student, it is, however, quite challenging as the work is very intense and demanding, and seems to be tailored very much towards a full-time programme. This therefore requires a significant amount of time to be spent on work outside of my designated study day.

The information we are given through the qualification is specific to my career and therefore helps fill some knowledge gaps. Some of the practical tasks we are asked to do can be applied to my role, however others are quite abstract and cannot be as directly applied. Within my qualification, I am having to think independently and come up with solutions to hypothetical situations which helps in my ability to problem solve in my role.

We have many opportunities to network both internally and externally, and there are social activities organised within the office that help to build relationships. There are also opportunities to play sport, such as Savills Football, which I am now involved in organising for our office. Considering we are a regional office, we do try to socialise wherever possible.

Yes

At Savills, you are given many opportunities and support to develop in both a personal and professional sense. There are structured training days to help you progress within your role, and opportunities to network with other members of staff in a range of different offices across the country.

To be honest and sell yourself for who you are within the application form and interview. It is important to show your skills and what you could bring to the team.