Graduate Town Planner - Cardiff or Bristol

Arup; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career development

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Graduate Town Planner to join either our Cardiff or Bristol office as part of a national network of planners. You will contribute to planning policy, spatial strategies and infrastructure projects, while developing through RTPI pathways.

You will use GIS, ArcGIS/QGIS and data tools (Excel, Power BI) to interrogate evidence and support sustainable, inclusive development in collaboration with engineers, urban designers and economists.

Qualifications

• RTPI-accredited degrees preferred; support through RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence.
• Experience with GIS, mapping or spatial analysis software (ArcGIS or QGIS) and data tools (Excel, Power BI).
• Interest in applying AI and automation to planning tasks responsibly.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation of planning applications, policy documents and evidence-based studies.
• Undertake research and data analysis to inform planning and major infrastructure projects using GIS and AI-assisted techniques.
• Contribute to environmental, socio-economic and other impact assessments.
• Assist with stakeholder and community engagement activities, including workshops.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver sustainable places.
• Help use digital tools and dashboards to make analyses quicker and clearer.

Skills

GIS

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

AI in planning

Education

Bachelors in Urban Planning or related field (RTPI-accredited preferred)

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

Graduate Town Planner – Cardiff or Bristol

See it differently

You see the world through a unique lens and that’s exactly what we need. We embrace how you see things differently – it’s essential for creating a sustainable future.

Arup is a global consultancy with advisory and technical expertise across more than 150 disciplines. We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. Globally, each year we recruit hundreds of graduates and students who help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.

The Opportunity

With 150 town planners across 17 UK offices, Arup's Town Planning team works on some of the UK's most high-profile and complex projects, providing end-to-end planning and policy advice to public authorities, infrastructure providers, developers, property companies and landowners. Our work spans planning policy, spatial strategy, regeneration, major infrastructure planning, development management and research, helping to deliver more sustainable, resilient and inclusive places. As part of a multidisciplinary firm, we work closely with engineers, environmental specialists, urban designers and economists to tackle challenges such as housing delivery, climate change and infrastructure provision.

The role would be based within either our Birmingham or Nottingham offices, working as part of a wider national network of town planners. We are working on projects of national significance that will shape the future of the region. Our infrastructure work includes planning for the sustainable growth of Birmingham Airport, ensuring that the region has the energy it needs by planning for major new grid connections as well as working on new nationally important reservoirs. Our policy work includes working with both the East Midlands and West Midlands Combined Authorities to support the preparation of Spatial Development Strategies and establishing an exciting new vision for Nottingham’s future regeneration.

https://www.arup.com/projects/ratcliffe-on-soar-power-station-site/

In This Role You Will

• Support the preparation of planning applications, planning policy documents, spatial strategies and evidence-based studies for public and private sector clients.
• Undertake research, data analysis and report writing to inform planning, development, regeneration and major infrastructure projects, applying digital tools, GIS and AI-assisted techniques to interrogate evidence and communicate findings clearly.
• Contribute to environmental, socio-economic and other impact assessments that support planning and consent processes.
• Assist with stakeholder and community engagement activities, including workshops, consultations and meetings.
• Work collaboratively as part of multi-disciplinary teams with planners, engineers, urban designers, environmental specialists, economists and other experts to deliver sustainable and inclusive places.
• Help us use digital and AI tools well – from spatial data, dashboards and visualisation to automating routine policy and site analysis – so that our advice is quicker to produce, easier to understand and better evidenced.

Is this role right for you?

For this opportunity, we are seeking the following qualifications, skills and attributes:

• An undergraduate or bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, such as Urban Planning, Architecture, Geography & Geospatial Science or Urban Design. RTPI-accredited degrees are preferred, and we will support you through your RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence.
• Desirable technical skills include experience using GIS, mapping or spatial analysis software (e.g. ArcGIS or QGIS); comfort with data handling and visualisation tools (e.g. Excel, Power BI); and a practical, critical interest in how AI and automation can be applied responsibly to planning tasks such as evidence review, consultation analysis, site appraisal and reporting.

To Be Considered For a Graduate Opportunity

To Be Considered For a Graduate Opportunity, Your Application Must Include a Copy Of Your Academic Transcript And Meet The Following Criteria

• Full working rights in the country of application
• No more than 12 months of full‑time experience in a comparable role
• Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.

Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes

• Changemakers: A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.
• Innovative minds: We’re looking for critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Growth seekers: You have a growth mindset, always eager to learn and explore new ways of working.
• Adaptable adventurers: You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.

You should be able to start this opportunity on 1 September 2027.

Advert Closing Date:

12 November 2026

Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended.

Eligibility

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work permanently in the UK without our sponsorship.

What we offer you

• At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.
• Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
• We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy.
• Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.
• We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our graduates.
• We also provide for our permanent members Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accidentinsuranceand Income protection cover. In addition,you’llhave access to flexible benefitsto help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Next Steps

We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential. Applications are reviewed as they're received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please [e-mail] to let us know if you need anyassistanceor reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all ourinterviewplaces to beallocatedto candidates who havedisclosedthey are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role.

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