Applied through: Licentiate APC route

Commended: PES, PCS

Qualifications:

• BA (Hons) Geography – Lancaster University
• MA Town and Regional Planning – University of Sheffield

Experience:

Following my degree, I started as a Graduate Planner at Pegasus Group where I undertook a variety of tasks including site appraisals, preparation and submission of planning applications and assisting in the project management of various sites.  I have continued to work at Pegasus Group and have since been promoted to my current role as Senior Planner.  I have gained valuable experience of knowledge of how the planning system works in practice and am now able to lead and take greater responsibility on projects.  This included working an applications, local plan promotions and appeals.    

I have worked on various large-scale projects including residential, commercial and motorway service area developments.  This has involved working with various technical disciplines, managing relationships with clients and leading on negotiations with the Local Planning Authority.  I have been involved in consultation and engagement events which has helped me learn how to communicate about planning with the public. 

APC tips

• Keep on top of your log book/reflective journal – filling in your log book or journal as you go along makes it much easier to write your final submission as you have a clear record of what you have been doing over the two year period.  If you leave it until the end you inevitably forget some of what you experienced and learnt early on. 
  
  
• Make sure you keep in mind the competencies when writing your PCS – The PCS needs to demonstrate that you meet all of the competencies so keep referring back to them when writing this section. This helped me stick to the task, avoided me getting distracted and stay within the word count. 
  
  
• Make sure your submission reads coherently across the documents – For example, the PES sets out your experience to date so your SWOT analysis in the PDP should reflect this and could identify any gaps in your experience to date.  The goals, objectives and action plan should then identify specific actions to address the identified weaknesses. 
  
  
• Listen to your mentor’s advice and stick to their deadlines – If your mentor sets deadlines for drafts as you go along then try to stick to them and provide them with a draft to review.  This will help you get timely feedback and improve your final submission.