Owen is a Development Management Assistant at City of York Council. He is currently studying on our MSc Urban Planning degree apprenticeship. 

“Studying the Urban Planning degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam struck a great balance between being convenient for commuting  and studying  in a lively city. I receive good academic support for both my studies and career progression in the workplace. Few universities offer such a comprehensive and well-structured apprenticeship in urban planning.

“I began my role in a local authority planning department straight from sixth form, being employed as an apprentice. Following development within my technician role and having the chance to support planning officers I was able to secure a promotion to the position I am in today. Through the apprenticeship, I have progressed to a higher-paid position with greater responsibility much faster and picked up a variety of skills along the way. 

“My main responsibility is assessing household and small-scale planning applications. I manage a dynamic and variable caseload of applications independently, assessing their suitability against planning policies. I write reports to approve or refuse schemes, communicate with agents and applicants and collaborate with senior officers.I also visit development sites and discuss planning schemes.

“Urban planning is great, as there are often many opportunities to contribute towards and learn about wider elements of the industry.”

“Whilst working in development management, I have assisted the planning policy team to collect data for a ‘Five-Year Housing Land Supply.’ There are always opportunities to grow my skills within the authority. As I progress within my current role, I receive more complex planning schemes which allow me to develop my knowledge and skills.

“The university has a great range of support, which is just as accessible for remote students. My academic adviser is only an email away and always helps signpost me to useful resources to improve my academic writing. The skills centre is also great, where you receive feedback on assignments before submission. 

“As a part-time student, I have found lecturers’ experiences in relevant workplaces invaluable, they have a real understanding of how the course can enrich my personal progression. As a degree apprentice, I am allocated a work-based learning coach, who visits me in the workplace to ensure I am accessing suitable development opportunities at work. I have also made some amazing friends through my course who work in similar settings to me and enrich my time in university.

“I would highly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone considering one, it’s a fantastic opportunity to rapidly develop work-based skills, and advance your academic knowledge. I would encourage any prospective apprentices to reach out to employers within the industry you are interested in. They are often happy to help and may be looking for eager people to employ and train. There’s nothing to lose by asking!

“Once I complete my accreditation, I look forward to further advancing in my current position to a knowledgeable level. I’m keen to specialise in a specific planning field such as urban design, conservation, or perhaps archaeology. The great value of planning is that it relates to many elements of the built environment, and there are opportunities to work in either the public or private sector.”