The Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship, launched in 2019, is going from strength to strength despite the effects of the pandemic, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has said.
Apprentices on the scheme are able to gain practical experience in the workplace while studying for their degree. Successful completion of the apprenticeship leads to chartered membership of the RTPI.
There are now more than 240 chartered town planner apprentices studying online at 10 RTPI-accredited universities across England.
Employers involved in the scheme, mostly local authorities but also some private consultancies, say they have been delighted at how the apprentices have adapted to working and studying from home.
Lauren Miller MRTPI, development planning team leader at the London Borough of Havering, is line managing a number of apprentices studying at London South Bank University.
She said: “My initial concerns that the lockdown was going to delay things were fortunately misplaced and I’ve been really impressed with how the university and the apprentices have embraced online learning with enthusiasm and dedication.
“I am so pleased that during a really challenging time, our apprentices have been able to continue working towards chartered membership of the RTPI with little disruption. Resilience is a pre-requisite for a successful career in planning and our apprentices have certainly shown that this is skill they already have.”
RTPI Director of Education and Profession Andrew Close said: “The launch of the Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship scheme in 2019 opened up a vital pathway into the profession for many who otherwise may not have considered planning as a career.
“As the first group of apprentices prepare to finish their degree studies later this year, we’re delighted with the resilience and commitment that they have demonstrated in unprecedented circumstances.”
After completing their degrees, apprentices will begin the formal End Point Assessment process to pass the scheme and be recognised as professional planners. A free live webinar on 23 April will explain the End Point Assessment process in detail.
As part of National Apprenticeships Week this week, RTPI’s East of England region has joined with Anglia Ruskin University to host a webinar to help both existing and prospective apprentices and employers get the most out of the scheme. This online event is open to RTPI members and non-members.
>> For more information on the RTPI’s Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship visit https://www.rtpi.org.uk/become-a-planner/apprenticeships/chartered-town-planner-apprenticeship/
