Planning and development consultancy Optimis Consulting has been announced as this year’s winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Learning Partner of the Year Award.
Optimis Consulting won the award for its graduate programme which provides a comprehensive education in the planning and development profession, developing individual skills in a nurturing and supportive environment.
The judges noted particularly that Optimis Consulting encouraged all graduates on the programme throughout the lockdown period to increase their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) alongside their fee-earning activities.
The award was presented earlier today to the team from Optimis Consulting during a virtual meeting of the RTPI’s General Assembly.
RTPI President Sue Manns FRTPI said:
“Many congratulations to Optimis Consulting, winners of the RTPI Learning Partner Award 2020. The Optimis Consulting graduate programme encourages and supports young planners to gain a wide variety of skills and to develop a range of specialisms.
“The programme’s prioritisation of CPD over lockdown was particularly impressive, as are the variety of volunteering opportunities on offer which help graduates to make an impact in fields beyond planning.”
Image: Sue Manns announces the winner of the RTPI Learning Partner of the Year for 2020. Pictured from Optimis Consulting are (l-r) Robbie Locke, Leila Cramphorn, Lauren White, Natasha Abbott, James Angus and Justin Wickersham.
Optimis Consulting Managing Director Justin Wickersham said:
“Thank you very much to the RTPI and to the judges. We’re very proud of the team we have here who have worked very hard over the last few years in developing their professional skills.
“Our graduate planners and our mentors are a brilliantly talented group of people that continue to have a positive influence on the planning profession, and will do for years to come. This award is testament to their abilities and what they have done over the last year and before.
“We’re very grateful to receive this award and we hope to continue to improve the professionalism of the fantastic talent coming through.”
RTPI Learning Partners are organisations which have committed to support the learning and development of their planning staff. Learning Partners have representatives on some of the RTPI’s committees and also provide input into education and training initiatives.
The Award reflects the importance that the RTPI places on employers who support the CPD of their planners. Especially welcome this year were entries which showed how Learning Partners have continued to support their staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two other RTPI Learning Partners were commended this year - ELG Planning for its Graduate Training Programme and Savills for its Virtual Summer Scheme.
