Associate Programme
What is the Associate Programme?
Our Associate Programme is a leading job placement scheme that recruits mid-career and senior-career built environment professionals into placemaking roles in the public sector.
We run a 12-month job placement programme for built environment practitioners looking for a career change (Associates) and place them in jobs in public sector organisations (Authorities) looking to diversify their placemaking skills and expertise.
Associates benefit from a supportive network and training, and Authorities benefit from our unique sector understanding and reach to match them with candidates specific to their needs.
Want to learn more, scroll down the page.
Interested in applying?
Our application window is now closed and will re-open in Winter 2024. If you're not sure if the Associate Programme is right for you, you can take our Quiz to find out if you're eligible. We'll then notify you when the programme re-opens for applications later this year.
The Associate Programme is designed for placemaking professionals looking to transition into the public sector and use their skills for the public good.
In a world facing climate change, economic instability, and social injustice, the need for people to use their skills towards shaping better places is stronger than ever. Our Associate Programme supports professionals seeking to transition into the public sector to work in place-based roles in progressive Authorities. It also presents a challenge. Change has to happen from within the system, but working within the system can be tough; whether coming up against financial constraints, changing politics or technical barriers. It needs people who know when to follow the rules and when they need to be redesigned.
Employment
Secure a public sector job
Receive a minimum 12-month employment contract of between £30-55k, with a forward-thinking Authority
Cohort
Join a community
Transition into a public sector career alongside like-minded professionals, all passionate about making better places
Support
Receive training
Gain valuable training on the essentials of working in local government through our Associates L&D Course.
Associate Testimonials
Testimonial
Joining the Associate Programme was the best professional decision I've made...Over the last year, I've learned so much more than I would have learned in the private sector
Andrej Mecava, Spring 2022 Associate
Testimonial
Had I applied for a public sector role as an individual rather than through Public Practice, I would have had serious imposter syndrome
Lauren Shevills, Spring 2022 Associate
Testimonial
My experience in the private sector might not have opened a door for me in the public sector without Public Practice.
Mark Stancombe, Autumn 2022 Associate
Testimonial
Being part of Public Practice has not only put my skills to better use, it has made me feel like a better citizen
Tilly Ford, Spring 2020 Associate
Testimonial
I have learnt much from my team, and as I learn, I can see.... there's so much opportunity to influence how those places work and function
Jack Richards, Autumn 2022 Associate
We offer a cost-effective route for authorities looking to employ high-quality placemaking professionals to build additional in-house expertise.
Public Practice is uniquely positioned to act as a facilitator between local authorities struggling to find the right skills for their team and built environment professionals seeking to transition into the public sector but finding it a hard process to navigate.
As a not-for-profit, our service is an affordable alternative to recruiting through private agencies. In addition, if you choose to keep an Associate on beyond the end of their placement, we do not charge a retention fee.
1
We care
We are committed to our vision of creating a well-resourced, multidisciplinary and diverse public sector to drive equitable places.
2
Sector knowledge
We bring a wealth of experience in placemaking and local government, so when recruiting, we know how to find the right people for the right jobs.
3
Inclusive recruitment
We have designed a unique recruitment process that embeds good inclusion practices to create diverse cohorts and teams.
Authority testimonials
Testimonial
We were adopting a new Local Plan, planning for significant economic growth and large housing numbers; we wanted to hire Jack through the Associate Programme to make sure that those sites that came forward were absolutely of a high quality of design.
Kieran Birch, St Helens Borough Council
Testimonial
Excellent candidate who responded creatively and well to the open-ended nature of the job description, becoming an excellent fit in the team. This ability to trust candidates to take on uncertain roles and help define them is the reason I would come back to Public Practice again and again.
Tom Sykes, Transport for London
Testimonial
With design expertise on the team, we can really push for applications to be of a high design standard and positively contribute to the borough whilst still being viable for developers.
Natasha Ayres, St Helens Borough Council
Testimonial
We've looked for a number of years to try and bring in urban design expertise into the team but found it to be a challenging market.... Public Practice made that easy for us.
Matt Carney, Warrington Borough Council
We accept applications from candidates from eight key built environment disciplines. All candidates are required to have at least three years of professional work experience in one of these disciplines.
All roles submitted for recruitment through our Associate Programme must be eligible and suitable for at least one of the following disciplines and not require any prior public sector experience.
You can read our Case Study stories for further examples of the types of roles and jobs that built environment professionals do in the public sector.
We recruit Associates for public sector jobs across all regions of England
Our job placements may be based in any public sector organisation, this includes local or city authorities, combined authorities, development corporations or publicly-led delivery vehicles, and more.
Each round of recruitment for a cohort is different, and roles and locations will vary each time. When applying, applicants can select which regions across England they would be willing to work in and their maximum commuting preference. This will be used as the basis for job matching.
If you are interested in hiring an Associate, book a call with our Partnerships Manager to discuss your recruitment needs.
We take the time to understand your team's needs and skill gaps, then match you with the best Associate for your role. Once you’ve spoken to our team, we will ask you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the role you would like to recruit for.
Submit a role
Authorities are welcome to submit an Expression of Interest for multiple roles.
Recruitment Process
Applications are now closed and will re-open in Winter 2024.
See below for more information about how the process works.
Step 1
Online Application
The first stage of our multi-staged recruitment process requires all applicants to apply through our online portal. As part of this application, you will be asked to submit a number of things, these currently include:
Information about yourself
A redacted text-based CV
Proof of your right to work in the UK (Passport & Visa if required)
Answers to four application questions
Diversity tracking data
Public Sector perception questions
Step 2
Assessments
Those candidates who achieve our minimum requirement and meet our eligibility checks at our online submission stage, are then asked to participate in a number of online assessments to test their motivation, attributes relevant to working in the public sector and their placemaking expertise.
Step 3
Job Preferences
Candidates who are successful in our Assessment processes are then asked to provide further details about their job preferences to help us understand more about the type of role they are looking for.
Step 4
Proposing a role
We propose jobs to candidates based on numerous factors including the skills and preferences and the Authority's requirements. If candidates are proposed to a role, they are contacted and asked to confirm their interest in being put forward.
Step 5
Interview with Authority
Candidates will be invited to a formal interview with the hiring managers and colleagues of an Authority. This final assessment will vary depending on the role and the Authority and is often online but there can also be an opportunity to attend in-person. During this interview a candidate will also have the opportunity to ask more questions about the role directly to the Authority.
Step 6
Contracts and Onboarding
Once both the Authority and Candidatesides confirm they are happy to proceed, an employment contract needs to be signed. Candidates are directly employed by their public sector hosts.
Step 7
Employment starts
Candidates will start in their new jobs, and they will be welcomed to their Public Practice Associate Cohort. Your Line Manager at your Authority will also get to join our community network.