Local Government Association

We are the national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve

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Chris Poulton MRTPI, Environment Agency

The work I have always found most rewarding is delivering public good – whether that’s working on policies that will have a real impact on speeding up delivery of new infrastructure, delivering a programme to improve capabilities in local authorities, or in government agencies, or setting targets for new homes.

Shaza Brannon MRTPI, Rushcliffe Borough Council

Working in local government is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling; it can be a career for life and is not limited geographically. As local authority town planners, we perform a statutory function, tangibly shaping the place in which we work, for the benefit of our residents now and for future generations.

Dan Janota MRTPI, Natural England

I find it rewarding bringing my technical knowledge and experience to big picture thinking and my experience means I can put myself in local authority planners’ shoes as we reshape how we deliver nationally.

Rhianna Pankhurst, The Planning Inspectorate

What has kept me in the public sector is the sense of purpose and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful outcomes. I value being part of a system that aims to balance growth with community needs and long-term sustainability.

Chris King, CMLI, East Suffolk Council, June 2026

I enjoy having the ability to make a tangible difference to places and communities. We have a unique opportunity to influence how neighbourhoods evolve, helping to balance growth, environmental considerations and community needs. The work is varied, challenging and rewarding, with no two days ever being quite the same.

Multiple contracts: employers’ guide to the law

Where an employee is employed under more than one contract of employment at the same time, by the same authority, this can cause a number of difficulties, particularly in calculating continuous service for redundancy purposes. This guide, aimed at human resources advisors and managers, deals principally with that issue. However, it also covers a number of other employment issues.

Where could I work?

Discover more about the employers hiring Pathways to Planning graduates.

EDI and accessibility

We are committed to recruiting graduates representative of the communities they will serve.