Graduate Planner

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Health cash plan

Mentoring

Career development

Social events

Cycle to Work

Volunteering days

Wellbeing initiatives

25 days leave

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment is supporting a well-established, multidisciplinary property and construction consultancy in Colchester to recruit a Graduate Town Planner.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent RTPI-accredited graduate to kick-start a planning career with structured training, varied project exposure and clear progression towards MRTPI status, while working in a collaborative, supportive team.

Qualifications

• RTPI-accredited degree or due to graduate in Town/Urban Planning or related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical abilities; proactive and detail‑oriented.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing and submitting planning applications.
• Undertake planning research, site appraisals and policy reviews.
• Support the preparation of Planning Statements and reports.
• Liaise with local planning authorities, clients and consultants.
• Assist with pre-application enquiries and stakeholder engagement.
• Gain exposure to planning appeals and development management projects.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality planning advice.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research abilities

Written & Verbal communication

Organisational skills

Proactive attitude

Education

RTPI-accredited degree in Town Planning

Job description

Job Title: Graduate Town Planner

Location: Colchester

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a well-established, multidisciplinary property and construction consultancy in the recruitment of a Graduate Town Planner to join their growing planning team based in Colchester.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or someone due to complete their RTPI-accredited degree to kick-start their planning career with a highly respected consultancy offering structured training, varied project exposure and clear progression towards MRTPI status.

Working alongside experienced planners, you will gain hands-on experience across a wide variety of planning projects spanning residential, commercial, education, healthcare, defence and mixed-use developments. You'll be involved throughout the planning process, developing the technical and professional skills needed to build a successful career in planning.

The Role

As a Graduate Town Planner, you will:

• Assist in preparing and submitting planning applications.
• Undertake planning research, site appraisals and policy reviews.
• Support the preparation of Planning Statements and supporting reports.
• Liaise with local planning authorities, clients and consultants.
• Assist with pre-application enquiries and stakeholder engagement.
• Gain exposure to planning appeals and development management projects.
• Work alongside multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality planning advice.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

• An RTPI-accredited degree (or is due to graduate) in Town Planning, Urban Planning, Geography or a related discipline.
• A genuine passion for planning and the built environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical abilities.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• A proactive attitude and willingness to learn within a collaborative environment.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive graduate salary.
• Full support towards MRTPI chartership.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas shutdown.
• Company pension scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Professional membership fees paid.
• Excellent mentoring and structured career development.
• Regular social events and team activities.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Volunteering days.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Genuine long-term career progression within an established national consultancy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a people-focused consultancy that invests heavily in its graduates, offering the chance to work on a diverse range of exciting developments while building a long-term career in planning.