Inspiring future planners: a day at a school careers fayre

Chadernnay Glenn is a Senior Planning Officer at Gloucestershire County Council

As a minerals and waste planner, it is easy to forget just how unique and fascinating this role is until you see it through the eyes of children. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a primary school careers fayre, where I shared what I do and why it matters. As the day went on, children would ask, what is it you do for work? It was not only a chance to inspire young minds, but also a reminder of how important it is to communicate planning in a simple, engaging, and creative way.

Bringing planning to life

Rather than relying on posters or presentations alone, I used interactive materials to make the experience hands-on. A colourful street plan laid out on the table immediately drew attention. Children were invited to place bricks, cones, and toy construction equipment onto the map, turning a flat drawing into something they could physically build and shape. These creative contributions showed just how naturally children think like planners when given the opportunity.

What is a 2D plan?

One of the first concepts we explored was the idea of a 2D plan. I explained that a 2D plan is like looking at a place from above, like a bird flying over a town. Roads, buildings, and open spaces are all drawn flat on paper so we can understand how everything fits together.

Using the printed map, the children could see roads, crossings, and buildings arranged in a simple layout. This helped them understand how planners use drawings to organise space, decide where things go, and make sure places work safely and efficiently.

From 2D to 3D: making plans real

The real excitement came when we translated that flat plan into a 3D model. Using small bricks and objects, the children created buildings, construction zones, and street layouts on top of the map. An additional element was creating a 3D house, something they could relate to, as they all live in a house, so wished they had balconies or bigger gardens, or simply more colour.

This demonstrated an important idea:

A 2D plan is the starting point
A 3D model shows how it will look in real life

By physically building on the map, the children could see how tall buildings might feel, how space changes, and how different uses interact. It turned an abstract concept into something tangible and fun.

The children used small bricks and objects to create 3D models

The children built on the map to see how tall buildings might feel

What are minerals and waste?

Another key part of the session was explaining what “minerals and waste” actually means.

Minerals are natural materials we take from the ground, such as sand, gravel, and stone. These are essential for building homes, schools, roads, and hospitals.
Waste is what we throw away—but as planners, we look at how to reduce it, recycle it, and manage it responsibly.

I explained that without minerals, we could not build the places we live in. And without good waste planning, our environment would suffer. The children quickly connected this to everyday life, buildings they recognise and recycling at home and some even added ‘more bins to their postcard of the future’.

How do we dig up minerals?

Children were particularly curious about how minerals are extracted. I explained that:

Large machinery carefully digs materials from the ground (like in quarries)
Sites are planned and controlled to protect the environment
Once work is finished, sites are often restored into parks, lakes, or wildlife habitats

The toy diggers on the table helped illustrate this process, making it easier to visualise how it happens in real life.

The toy diggers helped illustrate the process

Chadernnay speaking with pupils at the school

Staying safe: PPE on site

Safety was another engaging topic. I introduced the idea of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the gear worn on construction or quarry sites.

We talked about:

Hard hats
High-visibility jackets
Safety boots
Gloves and goggles

The children enjoyed recognising some of these items and imagining themselves working on a site. It highlighted that planning is not just about ideas, it is also about keeping people safe.

Postcards of the Future

Perhaps the most inspiring activity was the “Postcards of the Future.” Children were encouraged to draw or write what they would like to see in their town showcased the children’s own ideas for their towns

Their ideas included:

More green spaces, parks, and wildlife areas including imaginative features like whale sharks
Swimming pools
Community spaces like libraries and museums
Fun and imaginative additions like treehouses and themed attractions

This activity demonstrated a powerful message: everyone can have a voice in shaping their place, even from a young age.

Children were encouraged to draw or write what they would like to see in their town

Reflection

The careers fayre was a fantastic experience, not just for the children, but for me as well. It reinforced how important it is to make planning accessible, engaging, and relevant. Being a Minerals and Waste Planner is about much more than policies and applications. It is about, supporting sustainable development, protecting the environment and making places better for communities. And most importantly, it is about inspiring the next generation to take an interest in the world around them.

Seeing children confidently place buildings, discuss ideas, and imagine future towns was a powerful reminder that planners of the future may already be sitting in today’s classrooms, just waiting for the chance to build something amazing.