Unlock your career potential at a dynamic planning consultancy: Edgars
Edgars Limited was formed in 2001 as a firm of Chartered Quantity Surveyors, offering 27 years experience in the construction and property industries. In 2007, the introduction of a planning consultancy service extended the skill base to new and existing clients. The planning consultancy will shortly be celebrating its 10th anniversary and with continued success is now regarded as one of Oxfordshire’s leading planning consultancies.
The planning consultancy is now looking for professional, positive and solutions-focused planners to join the team. From preparing masterplans for educational establishments to unlocking challenging development opportunities, we spoke to Jon Westerman, associate director at Edgars, to find out more about the roles and what it’s like to work there.
Jon Westerman
Tell us about Edgars and the work you do
We pride ourselves on providing a highly personal service, tailored to the individual requirements of each client and project. Above all, we do not believe in a standardised format. Each instruction is unique and demands a creative and effective strategy to maximise development value and minimise risk. We believe in offering greater certainty, providing an exceptional service and commitment to quality, and achieving optimum value for our clients.
What is the working environment like?
As part of Edgars’ continued growth we will shortly be relocating to exciting new premises, comprising a traditional stone building with a modern and contemporary interior, which reflects perfectly the Edgars brand. The new premises offer an excellent working environment, within walking distance of shops, restaurants and great coffee!
Why would someone want to work at your planning consultancy in particular?
Edgars provides the perfect opportunity for planners that are professional, positive and solutions focused, who are committed to providing a quality service whilst at the same time achieving the optimum value for clients.
What roles are you currently recruiting for?
As part of our sustained growth we are seeking to appoint graduate planners, planners and senior planners. However, our focus is on employing the right individuals with the skills and attributes that reflect the Edgars brand.
What qualities, skills and aptitudes do these planning professionals need to have?
These are exciting opportunities to join this progressive and dynamic consultancy. We are looking for commercially minded and solutions focused planners, with excellent communication skills. Our work covers a range of clients in the UK but centred in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire. We work on a range of exciting commercial, educational and residential developments, primarily within sensitive landscape and heritage settings. As such, an interest in urban design, heritage and landscape issues is essential. Above all, candidates will need to demonstrate tenacity, a commitment to quality and achieving optimum value for our clients.
What exciting projects are you working on?
As a planning consultancy, we provide a comprehensive, friendly and cost effective planning consultancy service to developers, housebuilders, commercial businesses, rural estates and landowners, educational establishments, Parish Council and charitable organisations. We are involved in the preparation of masterplans for educational establishments and rural estates, in order to provide the evidence base to unlock and maximise challenging development opportunities. Other key projects include landscape/ heritage led residential developments on the edge of settlements, maximising the opportunities presented by councils being unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
What career development opportunities do you offer?
We offer a graduate training programme tailored to the APC competency-based route to achieve Chartered membership of the RTPI. Coaching and mentoring continues beyond the graduate training programme, with a structured approach to CPD and fantastic professional development opportunities.
In a nutshell, what is it like working at Edgars?
Professional, dynamic and solutions focused, with a clear emphasis on quality.
What are your top tips for jobseekers applying for a planning role at Edgars?
Demonstrate your planning knowledge, together with the necessary skills and attributes which reflect and promote the Edgars brand.
