Future Planners Programme 2025: candidate guide
Guidance for candidates applying to the 2025 Scottish Government Future Planners Programme.
About the programme
The aim of the Future Planners Programme is to create qualified planners and to support the long-term resilience of the planning profession. Through academic study and practical experience, successful candidates will be ready to confidently enter the profession at the end of the programme.
The 23-month programme will bring 18 Student Planners into the Scottish Government on a fixed-term contract.
Successful candidates will work on a rotational basis, across three different areas of Government on a part-time basis (3 days per week).
They will also undertake a postgraduate degree in Planning 2 days per week at either the University of Dundee, the University of Glasgow or Heriot-Watt University. The Scottish Government will pay Student Planners a salary of £32,455 and cover university course fees.
Student Planners will take part in three placements, rotating between the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, the Energy Consents Unit, and the Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate.
These placements will provide additional capacity for:
- consenting
- supporting Ministerial priorities, such as driving economic growth
- responding to the housing emergency
- supporting the delivery of a renewables revolution
The Programme will allow you to gain valuable experience and develop skills in planning and the wider civil service, to supplement your academic studies.
Reach your full potential
The programme is designed to help you meet your career goals, by gaining:
- experience: you will gain experience of policy and consenting processes, while working flexibly across three key areas of the Scottish Government
- education: you will have the opportunity to gain an academic qualification in planning, undertaking a postgraduate degree in planning on a part-time basis over 2 years
- capability: you will undertake a mix of organised and self-directed learning, helping you gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed
- qualification: you will be supported to become a student member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and to start the journey towards becoming a chartered planner
Programme structure
- the programme is delivered over 23 months, on a fixed-term contract
- during this time you will undertake placements working within three areas of government, and gain experience across areas such as consenting and planning policy
- Student Planners on the programme will apply to their choice of university from either the University of Dundee, the University of Glasgow or Heriot-Watt University
- choice of university will be subject to availability of the course and meeting the minimum qualifications of your selected course
Programme outcome
By the end of the programme, it is anticipated that you will have gained practical experience of consenting, national policy, and the workings of the public sector. Alongside a postgraduate degree in planning, this experience will set you on the path to becoming a qualified planning professional.
Contact
To learn more about careers at the Scottish Government, visit our careers website.
You can also keep up to date with notifications about the Future Planners Programme by following our social media channels.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScotGovJobs
X (previously Twitter) at: @scotgovjobs
If you have a specific question relating to recruitment you can e-mail us at: ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot.