Associate Programme
Applicant FAQs
Read our answers to many frequently asked questions about applying to our Associate Programme.
What types of roles are Associates placed in?
We offer roles that go beyond standard job descriptions. They might range from developing a design code for a garden town to starting up a housebuilding programme to trialling co-design with tenants; from reshaping the strategy for a town centre to rethinking an Authority’s approach to small sites.
Who might I be working for as an Associate?
Public Practice recruits Associates to work in public organisations: local or city government, combined authorities, development corporations, publicly-led delivery vehicles, or groups of more than one Authority sharing a role.
Where might I be working?
Currently, Public Practice places Associates across all regions of England. From 2025, the Associate programme will also be available in Wales.
Commute times are considered when matching Associates to placements, and Public Practice endeavours to offer Associates placements within reasonable commutes from their homes.
What are the requirements for becoming an Associate?
To be eligible for an Associate role, you must:
- Have a minimum of three years of experience working in one of our eight built environment disciplines.
- Be available to commit to an employment contract for at least 12 months starting from the date listed on the website.
- Accept a full-time salary ranging from £30,000 to £55,000 (pro-rata).
- Accept a job placement with an Authority within England or Wales.
- Be eligible to work in the UK and have a minimum of 18 months' right to work from March 2026.
- Not have previously participated in our Associate Programme.
Do I need to have public sector experience to apply?
No, there is no requirement for Applicants to have previous experience working in the public sector. Applicants without public sector experience will not be at a disadvantage to Applicants with public sector experience.
Am I eligible if I have already worked in the public sector?
Yes, applications are welcomed from practitioners with experience working in the public sector. Applicants with public sector experience will be expected to demonstrate the added value of taking up a role through Public Practice over their existing role or how it would enable them to make a step-change in their career.
Am I eligible if I am an Alum of the programme?
No, if you have already participated in the programme as an Associate, you are not eligible to apply again.
Do I need a professional qualification or accreditation to apply?
No, there are no requirements regarding specific professional qualifications or accreditations to apply for the programme. You must have at least three years of relevant professional experience in one of our discipline backgrounds.
Some of our placements require specific professional qualifications or accreditations; however, this is the exception, not the norm.
Do I need to be currently employed to apply?
Applicants do not need to be employed to apply. We welcome applications from Applicants who are self-employed, have taken a career break, or are currently unemployed or employed. Your employment status will not affect how your application is assessed.
What if I need a visa to remain and work in the UK?
Public Practice and the Authorities we work with are not able to assist with any visa applications and do not hold a sponsorship licence. Applicants who do not have the right to work in the UK are not eligible.
If you require a visa, it must be unrestricted regarding working time (full-time working hours, all year round) and have a minimum of 18 months' right to work from March 2026. If an applicant is successful in joining the candidate pool, they will only be considered for matches while they still have a minimum of 12 months remaining on their visa.
During the application process, a right-to-work check is conducted based on a valid passport and/or a confirmed work visa. We will request additional proof if you are successful in joining the candidate pool.
We cannot accept candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK.
If you believe you are eligible to have the right to work for 18 months from March 2026 and you meet the other eligibility requirements, then you are welcome to apply.
Will I be penalised if I use AI to help write my application?
No, but our assessment process is designed to recognise authentic, personal responses. We strongly encourage you to answer in your own words and provide specific examples from your own professional experience. Our marking criteria prioritise authenticity and real project examples.
How does the assessment process identify authentic responses?
Our application and interview questions require you to use examples from your professional background. If you progress to the interview stage, we may ask follow-up questions about your answers to better understand your experience and insight.
What are the online assessments?
After passing the online application stage, candidates will be invited to attend two online assessments: a group exercise and a panel interview with a presentation. These assessments will happen on different days and take a maximum of an hour each.
We run these assessments online via Zoom on different days. Candidates will be able to select the time of their assessment on a first-come, first-served basis.
Who are the assessors?
You will be assessed by different people across the different assessments. It will include a Public Practice team member throughout as well as trained public sector assessors.
Can I submit my initial (online) application in an alternative format?
If you cannot submit the initial application using the online form for accessibility reasons, we are happy for you to submit it in an alternative format. Please email or call 020 3740 1233 to discuss your requirements.
What do you mean by current and minimum salary?
We ask that you provide both your current salary (annual gross, full-time equivalent) and the minimum salary (annual gross, full-time equivalent) you will be willing to consider from your placement, as we appreciate these figures may differ. This information helps us to understand your situation better and assists with shortlisting.
How does the matching process work?
If you successfully pass our assessment process, you will be invited to join our candidate pool where we will consider you for any appropriate roles that are submitted to the programme. Public Practice will consider your skills, experience and preferences when matching to jobs.
At any point after you have successfully joined our candidate pool, if we have a role that we think you are the most suitable candidate for, we will send you a Placement Pack outlining the role and ask for a statement of interest, which we will use to introduce you to the Authority.
If the Authority wishes to proceed, you will then be interviewed with the Authority directly. If both you and the Authority are happy to proceed after that, you will begin the onboarding process, sign a contract and agree on a start date.
How long will I remain in the candidate pool?
Applying to our Candidate Pool is the first step towards a new role in the public sector; however, it is important to know that this does not guarantee a placement.
We will review the candidate pool every two years, and if you are still in the pool, we will contact you regularly to discuss your career ambitions.
What happens if I don’t want to proceed with a proposed job?
Candidates have the opportunity to decline a role that they do not feel isn’t suitable. In this circumstance, we will speak to you further to understand more about what you are looking for, and why you thought our proposal didn’t fit your aspirations.
You will remain in our candidate pool and we will continue to consider you for future roles based on the updated feedback.
How long does the recruitment process take?
The assessment process takes two months from the application closing date to being invited to join the candidate pool. Once in the candidate pool, you will be considered for any suitable roles that are submitted to us which happens year-round.
Depending on the role requirements and your preferences you could be proposed a match as soon as you enter the candidate pool or not for some time. Please note that entering the candidate pool does not guarantee you a match as it’s based on you being the most suitable candidate for the role requirements and vice versa.
What if my circumstances change?
If your situation has changed since you originally applied and you are no longer in a position to be considered for roles through the Associate Programme, you contact the Public Practice team, and we will remove you from the candidate pool.
If a role is secured, when would I need to tell my current employer?
Host Authorities will be informed of your notice period when an introduction is made. Once a formal job offer is provided, the host Authorities will generally seek to collect a reference from your current employer before offering an employment contract.
Is there a fee for being recruited through the programme?
No, Associates do not pay a fee to participate in the programme.
Public Practice and your Authority cover the cost of your recruitment and the learning and development support we provide during your first 12 months of employment.
How are Associates employed?
Associates are employed directly by their host Authority on either fixed-term contracts or permanent contracts.
How does being an Associate work with existing employment?
Associates typically leave their current jobs to become Public Practice Associates, but you could also negotiate a secondment with your current employer if they offer it.
When do I start the job?
Your job placement starts as soon as you and the Authority have agreed contracts and you have completed any notice period with your current employer (if you have one).
You will then be invited to the Public Practice community and join the next cohort and Course which begin in either April or October.
Is it possible to join the programme on a part-time basis?
Yes, a number of our Associates teach, run their own companies or pursue other projects or courses alongside becoming a Public Practice Associate. However, any part-time placements do require a minimum placement commitment of 4 days per week.
Applicants will have the opportunity to state their preference for part-time or full-time working arrangements as part of our recruitment process. This preference will inform matching to placements.
Are flexible working arrangements available?
Whether an Associate can work on a compressed hours contract or have flexible working arrangements is wholly up to the public organisation with which they are matched.
Once a match has been agreed, flexible working arrangements should be discussed directly with the Authority. Hybrid (online and in-office) working has become more common at many Authorities, and generally, there is an expectation that Associates go into the office at least once a week.
Will I need to relocate to take up a placement?
Applicants can state whether they are willing to relocate to take up a placement during the application process. Willingness to relocate will increase your probability of being matched.
What happens if my circumstances change whilst an Associate?
Throughout the programme, you will be directly employed by your host Authority. You will be entitled to all statutory rights afforded to employees.
If your personal circumstances change, such as becoming ill or having a child, you will be entitled to all benefits set out by your statutory rights as an employee, for example, sick leave or maternity/paternity pay.
What is the structure of the support?
By becoming a Public Practice Associate you will benefit from participating in a Learning and Development Course and our wider officer Community where you will get access to in-person Field Trips and other support services.
Up to 10 days within your employment contract are designated for attending our specific Associate course that your Authority agrees as part of recruiting through our Programme.
Will I be expected to do any work in my own time?
When you first start in your role we will send you some initial self-led reading and learning materials that you can work through at your own pace.
When the 6-month Associate Course starts, you do not need to take annual leave to attend the sessions, as they happen within working hours. We endeavour to limit the amount of time an associate spends on the programme; however, you may have to prepare some tasks before a session to support your learning and development.
Do I need to pay for the Course?
The course fee is covered by your Authority as part of recruiting through the Associate Programme.
There are two course in-person days in different locations across England. We confirm these locations in advance so you can make travel arrangements. You will be required to pay for your transport to and from these days. These costs vary depending on an Associates location, and where we can we try and offer financial support.
Will I be employed by my host Authority after the placement ends?
The decision to employ Associates beyond the duration of the initial contract is made by the host Authority alone and is subject to their own internal HR policies. Public Practice offers employment support to Associates as they near the end of their contracts, but cannot guarantee that all Associates will be offered employment with their host Authorities beyond the initial contract period.
Will I be able to extend my placement?
Many host Authorities and Associates extend their employment contract beyond the initial contract period. This is something that is negotiated directly between the Authority and the Associate.
Applicant Info Sessions
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