Pathways to Planning provides local authorities, statutory consultees and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) with a pipeline of high achieving graduates to build capacity in built environment professions.
Pathways to Planning is a graduate recruitment programme run by the Local Government Association which has delivered more than 200 new planners to more than 100 local planning authorities since its launch in 2023. Subsidised places on the programme exist for English councils only at this time.
In October 2025, the programme expanded to deliver two pathways for employers:
- The Planning stream will deliver graduates to work as planners in local authorities, statutory consultees and NSIPs. Graduates will train as accredited Planners, or can specialise in an adjacent discipline such as architecture or ecology to build speciality knowledge within a planning team.
- The Surveying stream will deliver graduates to work as surveyors in local authorities, including construction project management roles. Graduates will train on an RICS accredited course selected by the local authority.
Eligible employers can take part in one or both streams of the programme.
Sign up to secure graduate talent for your organisation today.
Find out more
For more information about the programme, please attend one of our upcoming workshops designed for employers to learn more about the scheme and ask any questions. To reserve your place contact [email protected].
You can also download our council information pack to learn more about the programme
Pathways to Planning runs a national marketing campaign and rigorous assessment process, giving councils access to a wide and diverse range of high achieving graduates without any hassle or cost. Last year, the programme received more than 2,150 completed applications with the top 10 per cent of candidates progressed to interview with councils.
Each Pathways to Planning graduate will be supported to study alongside work on an RTPI, RICS, RIBA or CIEEM accredited degree. Other fully accredited degrees will be considered by the team at the employer’s request.
This programme aims to expand the talent pipeline of graduates entering a career in local government built environment professions and is therefore not suitable as an upskilling programme for existing council staff.
Timelines
- October 2025: Our new offer launched for councils, with workshops to learn more and the opportunity to sign up early so our marketing campaign can adapt to target graduates interested in your local area.
- February 2026: Closing date for councils to access candidates via our first round of interviews.
- Spring 2026: Councils in the first round interview candidates who have passed our rigorous assessment process. Councils can also sign up to our second round of interviews, aimed to fill specific vacancies.
- Summer 2026: Councils in the second round will interview remaining candidates in our pool of top achieving graduates. Councils with vacant posts can also sign up to interview candidates from our second campaign in the autumn.
- September 2026: All graduates hired in the first round of recruitment will start work, and will also begin studying on an RTPI or RICS accredited course.
- October to December 2026: Councils can interview graduates from our second campaign for positions starting up to 31 March 2027. These graduates will begin study in September 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Information for applicants
If you are a graduate and are interested in applying for the programme, visit the dedicated website for applicants at pathwaystoplanning.org.