It is hard to believe that I have already completed my first month at Ethical Planning. The last four weeks have gone by very quickly, but they have also been incredibly rewarding, varied and full of learning.
Starting a new role can always feel slightly daunting, particularly when moving from academic study into professional practice. However, from my first day, I have felt welcomed and supported by the team. Everyone has been generous with their time, whether that has been answering questions, explaining the background to projects, or involving me in meetings and discussions so I can understand how planning consultancy works in practice.
One of the things I have enjoyed most so far is the variety of work. In just a few weeks, I have been able to contribute to a wide range of tasks, including master planning work, retrospective planning applications, planning statements, public engagement preparation and precedent studies. Each task has given me a different insight into the planning process and helped me understand how much thought, judgement and coordination sits behind each application.
I have also had the opportunity to learn more about several Paragraph 84 projects, which has been particularly interesting. These schemes have helped me understand how planning policy can support innovative, high-quality rural development, while also showing how carefully such proposals need to be justified. It has been useful to see how design, landscape, heritage and planning policy all come together to shape a strong planning case.
Alongside this, I have been involved in SLC Property and SLC Rail projects, which has given me exposure to a different side of planning work and helped broaden my understanding of the range of sectors that Ethical Planning supports. Seeing how each project brings its own constraints, opportunities and technical considerations has been a real eye-opener.
A particular highlight of my first month was attending a meeting with architects and clients for an exciting new project. Being part of that discussion helped me appreciate the collaborative nature of planning and the importance of clear communication between everyone involved. It was also a good reminder that planning is not just about policy and documents, but about people, places and helping projects move forward in a positive way.
What I have valued most is the opportunity to bridge the gap between university and the workplace. Applying the theories, concepts and skills I developed during my studies to real projects has strengthened my understanding and given me more confidence. It has also shown me how varied, fast-paced and dynamic planning consultancy can be.
I am very grateful for the support, encouragement and opportunities I have received during my first month at Ethical Planning. I am looking forward to continuing to learn from the team, developing my skills, taking on more responsibility and, in time, managing my own projects.
It has been a brilliant start, and I am excited to see what the future brings.