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The Glitz and Glam Grand Ball (pdf, 366kb)

Friday 14 October 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne

On behalf of the North East Pan Professionals you are invited to ‘The Glitz and Glam Grand Ball’ at The Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne. The ball is in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust and all funds raised will go to the new Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

The ball which will be hosted by Real Radio North East Breakfast Show presenters, Gary and Lisa includes a Champagne Reception around the Turbinia exhibition (the Turbinia was once the fastest steam ship in the world), a three course black tie dinner in the Discovery Museum’s Great Hall, trapeze entertainment and dancing to live music. Included in the evening is a Raffle and Grand Auction and there promises to be some fabulous prizes and lots available on the night.

To book your place, please complete the booking form (pdf, 73kb).

Event reviews 

Middlehaven - June 2011

Read about the walking tour (pdf, 49kb)

Middlehaven - progress to date (pdf, 5mb)

Newcastle University and RTPI NE Planning Careers Fair 2011

As per tradition the beginning of February marked the Newcastle University’s annual Planning Careers Fair.  The need for the fair was never regarded so high as this year marks the beginning of some significant changes and challenges for the planning profession.  This sentiment was strongly echoed by Tim Townshend’s introduction to the fair, welcoming over 70 under and post graduate planning students alongside 10 local and national employers from the public and private sectors.

An introduction to submitting your APC for RTPI accreditation was presented by Katherine Parkes, RTPI Education Officer, as well as giving advice on demonstrating and achieving APC, Katherine stressed the importance of joining regional and national professional networks and becoming a Student member of the RTPI. Networks such as the Young Planners can provide a great source of information on the profession as well as networking options and of course demonstrate to a potential employer your interest in your profession.  This point was also reinforced by the welcome from the RTPI NE chair, David Stovell and the presence of the RTPI NE and members of the Young Planners steering group.

Students were provided the opportunity to meet and speak to potential employers from the public and private sector, this included local authorities, the Environment Agency, Indigo Planning and Sita (a full list of organisation who attended are below). Reflecting the current and uncertain climate not all organisations were able to offer paid positions or placements, but there were opportunities for unpaid placements and shadowing.  In additional all able to offer practical advice and an insight into the planning profession as well as examples of the type of work their organisation undertook.

There was very positive feedback from the organisations that attended; many commented how impressed they were with many of the student’s maturity and organisation with many of then handing out CVs.

Organisations that attended:      

• Banks Development Group
• Environment Agency
• Indigo Planning
• Middlesbrough Council
• NLP Planning
• Northumberland County Council
• Scott Wilson
• Sita
• Sunderland City Council
• RTPI North East and Young Planners
• W.A Fairhurst and Partners

RTPI Young Planners and PlanSoc Planning Pub Quiz 2011

Following on from the Newcastle University Planning Careers Fair, the Young Planners jointly with the PlanSoc hosted a Planning Pub Quiz at Nancy Bordellos, Newcastle.  The competition was fierce with 11 teams entering the quiz, teams were made up of under and post graduate students, and young planners from the public and private sectors.  The attendance at the event far exceeded that originally anticipated with additional refreshments required to keep the brain power up!

The quiz itself ranged from classic music trivial, sports and even the odd question on Planning Policy Statements! In total there were 10 rounds of questions with a hot buffet in the middle which provide a much needed half way rest.  The winning team was Merlin and the Wood Nymphs made up of Newcastle master students, their well deserved prize was a goodie bag made up of wines, chocolates and sweet treats to share.

Many thanks to the PlanSoc at Newcastle University for kindly donating the refreshments.

Xmas 2010 Social: Mr Lynch

Despite the arctic temperatures outside and the continued threat of snow there was a great turn out to the 2010 Young Planners Xmas Social.  Held at Mr Lynch’s bar in Jesmond, over 20 young planners and planning students were in attendance.  The festive sprit was in full swing, possibly helped by the drinks reception on arrival, with conversation was divided between xmas plans and the possible meaning and implications of the Localism and Big Society agenda! 

It was great to see continued attendance at the young planner events from both the public and private sector, notably Dickinson Dees, NLP, George F White, Ward Hadaway, DPD and Newcastle City Council respectively.  The number of master students from the university attending dramatically increased, this has to be attributed to the infectious enthusiasm of Chrissie Rowlands who recently joined the young planners steering group.

Walking Tour of Cleadon Park

On a windswept evening in September the North East Young Planners took to the streets of Cleadon Park in South Shields. 

A presentation by Michael Farr from ISOS Housing Group set the scene, with an intriguing insight into the roles played by the partners developing the site. This was followed by a walking tour to see how a mixed tenure development can be made to work in reality.

Cleadon Park in South Tyneside is an awarding winning project, having won both the Housing Corporation Gold Award for Excellence in Delivering Joined up Development and the RTPI North East 2008 Regional Award. The project involves a partnership between NomadE5 (part of ISOS), South Tyneside Council, Bellway Homes and the community. The estate is being transformed through a £90 million redevelopment project involving the demolition of over 530 homes and the building of 750 integrated homes for sale and rent, a Primary Care Centre and community facility.

The NE Young Planners Steering Group would like to thank Lindsey Riddle, the South Tyneside Council Team and ISOS, and all those who braved the North East weather to attend!

Young Planners Speed Networking

The RTPI NE Young Planners’ Group Speed Networking event, held at the end of January, provided students at Newcastle University with a useful insight into the real world of planning. Complementing a more formal Careers event held by RTPI NE earlier in the day, the event also made a welcome change from the predominantly academic focus of the degree course itself.

Talking to those who attended the night, many found it reassuring, the event indicating to them that they had chosen the correct career path. The students were also surprised at the multitude of differing careers which a planning degree unlocks.

The Newcastle University Planning Society has sent thanks to the professionals who attended, and the NE Young Planners who had organised the event.

Click here for the report of our 2008 Christmas Social Networking Event. 

Author:

Trish Cookson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

19-Aug-11

Categories:

 

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