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Careers Advice: Using your passion to drive forward your career

Written by: Simon Prescott
Published on: 5 Nov 2018

Planners

I have had some fantastic advice over my career and it is important to realise you are always learning. I often leave a meeting thinking: that was interesting, I might try that next time. My first bit of advice would be to watch and learn from everybody around you, be that the experienced leader of your office or the recent graduate with new ideas. So, what are the things I have observed over the years? Here are just three:

First, you have got to have a passion for what you do

It is far easier to have the drive you need to achieve results if you have a real enthusiasm to get things done. If you are reading this you must surely have an interest in planning, but what is it that really drives you? Let that dictate your niche. Try and steer your career so you are doing something you are passionate about. For me it is all about trying to solve the housing crisis, but I am not stupid enough to think I can do this alone. I get a real buzz out of contributing to projects and trying to ensure the right decisions are made in the areas I get involved in. 

Second, understand the complexities but keep the message simple

Every government initiative to “simplify the planning system” results in even more complexity. The evidence base for most local plan examinations can run to thousands of pages. A typical planning application can fill a dozen boxes or fill a small van. It is important to read and understand every word. The planner’s role is to make sure everything is covered and there are no inconsistencies. If you do not understand the complexities of a technical report, ask the expert to explain it to you until you do. You then need to be able to communicate it to others - if you can’t explain it to a six-year old, you don’t understand it yourself.

It is going to be far easier to persuade an inspector that you have an important point if it is put across simply but persuasively. You are also going to find it much easier at a public consultation event if you understand the whole project and have read the ecology, transportation and flood risk reports, enabling you to explain, in understandable terms, how they address local residents’ fears.

Third, fully understand existing and emerging policy and make sure you have right on your side

I will often ask “but is it appeal proof?” Not because I like doing lots of appeals, but because I want to make sure we are prepared and have adopted the rigorous policy analysis that you would expect if you anticipated that you are going to be cross examined by a top QC for several hours. Clients are often investing large amounts of money based on your advice. Just one example: if you are advising somebody to buy a site, it’s only right that you have forensically examined the policy framework and put some significant consideration into how that might change over coming years. This gives you the confidence needed to advise that the site is viable and enables you to promote it with the sort of passion I suggested in my first point. 

There is one final bit of advice for those thinking about their career progression: surround yourself with good people. Recent graduates should seek out advice from the best planners they see and senior managers should listen carefully to the views of their team. In Barton Willmore, my most important role is to attract, train and retain the best people. Getting that right has made my life a lot easier.

Simon Prescott is partner at consultancy Barton Willmore’s Bristol office