Graduate Planner Review
at Savills
Degree Apprenticeship
Property Management
Cambridge
Review Submitted: March 2024
Overall Rating
3.7 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My role as a graduate planner involves me gaining experience across a wide range of planning projects, including conducting preliminary research assessing site potential for development, preparing planning appraisals, planning statements, drafting and submitting pre-application enquiries, minor and major planning applications, EIA screening requests, and representations, and building experience in project management through communication with clients, external consultants, Planning Officers at local councils and the monitoring of planning applications.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I really enjoy my programme and feel I am learning a lot and being given many different opportunities and levels of responsibility which are helping me progress both personally and professionally. I also really value the opportunities to network with other graduates and teams across the country.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed my communication skills by liaising with other members of my team and my office, clients, consultants, and planning officers. I have also developed my critical analysis skills through my ability to assess the development potential of a site.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
My programme is well-organised through structured training days with other graduates across the company, with tailored sessions, workshops, and presentations from senior members of staff and the RTPI. What may have helped me towards the start of my programme would have been more induction / feedback sessions to get settled into the programme.
Having joined a year before starting my Master's, I would have also appreciated some more guidance as to how I could network with other peers and still be able to attend the graduate training days that would help my personal and professional development.
Having joined a year before starting my Master's, I would have also appreciated some more guidance as to how I could network with other peers and still be able to attend the graduate training days that would help my personal and professional development.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer are very supportive on both a company-wide level and a team level. I am given many opportunities to learn and work on various projects across a variety of sectors, and am increasingly given responsibility to draft documents and applications, liaise with clients, and lead meetings.
We have structured training days which are really valuable and provide good support in working towards my APC.
We have structured training days which are really valuable and provide good support in working towards my APC.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The work we are asked to produce at university is helping me develop practical skills and fill knowledge gaps. As a part-time student, it is, however, quite challenging as the work is very intense and demanding, and seems to be tailored very much towards a full-time programme. This therefore requires a significant amount of time to be spent on work outside of my designated study day.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The information we are given through the qualification is specific to my career and therefore helps fill some knowledge gaps. Some of the practical tasks we are asked to do can be applied to my role, however others are quite abstract and cannot be as directly applied.
Within my qualification, I am having to think independently and come up with solutions to hypothetical situations which helps in my ability to problem solve in my role.
Within my qualification, I am having to think independently and come up with solutions to hypothetical situations which helps in my ability to problem solve in my role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
We have many opportunities to network both internally and externally, and there are social activities organised within the office that help to build relationships. There are also opportunities to play sport, such as Savills Football, which I am now involved in organising for our office. Considering we are a regional office, we do try to socialise wherever possible.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Savills to a friend?
Yes
Why?
At Savills, you are given many opportunities and support to develop in both a personal and professional sense. There are structured training days to help you progress within your role, and opportunities to network with other members of staff in a range of different offices across the country.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Savills?
To be honest and sell yourself for who you are within the application form and interview. It is important to show your skills and what you could bring to the team.
