Where could I work?

All local authorities in England and Wales are eligible to employ graduates as part of the Pathways to Planning programme: it is each council’s decision whether to participate. Employer sign-up for Cohort 4 began on 8 October 2025. Councils and other employers will have until autumn 2026 to sign up to the programme, with another council sign up window in the spring.

Below, you can view below the councils who have taken part in our first three cohorts. 

All employers who take part in the Pathways to Planning programme agree to provide varied work experience, mentoring and support to their graduates. They will also provide time off work to study and a fully-funded postgraduate qualification. Salary and other employment terms will vary, but these will be completely outlined to candidates before you select where you would prefer to interview.

Cohorts 1-3 council partners

North West

• Cumberland Council
• Lake District National Park
• Westmorland and Furness Council
• Trafford Council
• St Helens Borough Council
• Wirral Council
• Bolton Council
• Bury Council
• Cheshire East Council
• Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Chorley Council
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Halton Borough Council
• Hyndburn Borough Council
• Knowsley Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Oldham Council
• Preston City Council
• Ribble Valley Borough Council
• Stockport Council

North East

• Newcastle City Council
• North East Lincolnshire Council
• Durham County Council
• South Tyneside Council

Yorkshire & Humber

• Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Sheffield City Council
• Hull City Council
• North Lincolnshire Council

East Midlands

• Bolsover District Council
• Derby City Council
• Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council
• North Northamptonshire Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Charnwood Borough Council
• Leicester City Council
• North East Derbyshire District Council
• Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
• The Environment Agency (Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire Sustainable Places team)

West Midlands

• Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council
• Coventry City Council
• Warwickshire County Council
• Wyre Forest District Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
• Birmingham City Council
• Lichfield District Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• South Staffordshire District Council
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council
• Walsall Council
• Wychavon District Council
• Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Wales

• Cardiff Council
• Conwy County Borough Council
• Caerphilly County Borough Council
• Carmarthenshire County Council
• Conwy County Borough Council
• Newport City Council

London

• City of London Corporation
• London Borough of Lambeth
• London Borough of Redbridge
• London Borough of Waltham Forest
• London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames
• London Borough of Haringey
• London Borough of Barnet
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
• London Borough of Barnet
• London Borough of Brent
• London Borough of Bexley
• London Borough of Bromley
• London Borough of Croydon
• London Borough of Ealing
• London Borough of Harrow
• London Borough of Havering
• London Borough of Hillingdon
• London Borough of Hounslow
• London Borough of Lewisham
• London Borough of Newham
• London Borough of Southwark
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

East of England

• Chelmsford City Council
• Hertsmere Borough Council
• North Hertfordshire Council
• Suffolk County Council
• Uttlesford District Council
• Bedford Borough Council
• Dacorum Borough Council
• Hertfordshire County Council and Stevenage Borough Council
• Norwich City Council
• Watford Borough Council
• Thurrock Council
• Braintree District Council
• Colchester City Council
• Essex County Council
• Ipswich Borough Council
• South Cambridgeshire District Council
• Milton Keynes City Council

South West

• East Devon District Council
• Gloucestershire County Council
• New Forest District Council
• North Devon Council
• Somerset Council
• Bristol City Council
• Wiltshire Council
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Dorset Council
• Exeter City Council

South East

• Dover District Council
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
• Cherwell District Council
• Gosport Borough Council
• Maidstone Borough Council
• Surrey County Council
• Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
• East Sussex County Council
• Ashford Borough Council
• Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
• Hampshire County Council
• Horsham District Council
• Kent County Council
• Oxford City Council
• Oxfordshire County Council
• Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
• Slough Borough Council
• Swale Borough Council
• Tandridge District Council
• West Berkshire Council