This spring and summer, Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) have coordinated a range of opportunities for students studying planning qualifications at planning authorities. These short-term placements offer a valuable chance to shadow experienced planning officers and learn about the day‑to‑day practice of local authority planning.
HOPS partnered with the University of Glasgow, the University of Dundee, and Heriot Watt University in response to a desire for students to gain practical hands-on experience. HOPS, the representative organisation for senior planning officers from Scotland’s 32 local authorities and 2 national park authorities, is supported through the Improvement Service by the HOPS Secretariat.
17 planning authorities from across Scotland developed their own placement opportunities, including one day experience sessions, two-day sessions learning about the breadth of local authority planning and reviewing and example application, and shadowing planning staff once a week over four weeks. Authorities received high expressions of interest from students, with many opportunities filled in the first week. This strong uptake highlighted the clear need for this programme and the value students placed in participating.
The first event happened on the 23rd April, with Glasgow City Council hosting five students from across the three universities. Attendees spent a full day with the council's planning service, hearing an overview of the work the service does, reviewing a planning application, hearing about the preparation of the new City Development Plan 2, and gaining insight into the Strategic and Local Delivery Frameworks, including a site visit to Laurieston.
“I understand planning better now, and it makes me excited to do the job,” said Freya Austin, a student in the Master of Science in Spatial Planning with Sustainable Urban Design program at University of Dundee. Abby Leishman, a student in the Master of Science in Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development Program at Heriot-Watt University, said she appreciated the opportunity to meet people who are currently working in the planning profession. The students encouraged others to take part, saying it was a great experience and showed them aspects of planning they haven’t covered in their courses.
Opportunities are still available with several planning authorities throughout the rest of the spring and summer. To learn more about the program, see individual offerings from planning authorities, and find details to sign up, visit the HOPS website.