Hire an Associate
Build the capacity your team needs to improve everyday places
We connect local authorities with experienced built-environment professionals who add capacity within council teams.
Creating inclusive, sustainable, well-designed places
Local authority teams are demonstrating the ambition and vision to lead the way in delivering well-designed places that are spatially, socially and environmentally inclusive and sustainable — but delivering that ambition takes time, capacity, and specialist expertise.
With teams managing high workloads, evolving priorities, and increasingly complex challenges, resources are often stretched thin. Whether you’re planning new homes, regenerating places or modernising services, pressure on local authority teams is real and shared across the sector.
You’re not alone in navigating this, and support is available to help you deliver for your community. The Associate Programme can provide you with the skills and capacity you need to keep moving forward.
Download our Authority Information Pack to learn more about how this works.
Why hire an Associate?
Talent
Placemaking expert
Our candidates are highly-skilled individuals with a broad range of expertise, ready to hit the ground running in a new public sector role.
Support
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.
Process
Inclusive recruitment
We have designed a unique recruitment process that embeds good inclusion practices to create diverse cohorts and teams.
The Associate Programme provides a practical way to bring experienced built-environment professionals from the private sector into your organisation for a minimum of 12 months.
Associates can make a targeted, meaningful difference where capacity is most stretched, while also supporting longer-term capability within your team.
As a not-for-profit, we offer an affordable alternative to private recruitment agencies, with no retention fees if you choose to keep an Associate on beyond their placement.
As a not-for-profit, we offer an affordable alternative to private recruitment agencies, with no retention fees if you keep an Associate on beyond their placement.
74% of Associates remain working in the public sector two or more years after the programme, supporting long-term capacity rather than short-term recruitment cycles.
Not hiring right now?
Download the Authority Information Pack to understand how the Associate Programme could support future roles.
Who can hire an Associate?
We recruit for a broad range of placemaking disciplines and support applications from any of the following public sector organisations:
- Local authorities
- Groups of more than one local authority
- Development Corporations
- Publicly-led delivery vehicles
- Hospitals or other public bodies
What's included?
What are the costs?
Authorities are required to pay a programme fee of £3,000 (+VAT) to cover recruitment costs and the additional training and support provided throughout the programme. This fee is only payable once an Associate starts in post.
How do I hire an Associate?
Authorities can contact us at any time of the year when they have a suitable role they would like to recruit to.
We work with a regularly refreshed pool of experienced professionals who are keen to apply their skills in local government.
When you’re ready to recruit, we propose a small number of suitable Associates and support you through a clear, collaborative selection process.
Download the Authority Information Pack for full details on timelines, our process and support.
Authorities we've worked with
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, Line Manager, St Helens Borough Council
Testimonial
Our Associate has brought enthusiasm, fresh eyes, constructive challenge and skills we don’t have within the team. In his short time so far with the authority they have achieved a huge amount and made a real difference to the lives of our residents.”
Petra Marshall, Line Manager, London Borough of Lewisham
Testimonial
“We're delighted that Mark has joined us through Public Practice at Warrington Borough Council. 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 to bring in urban design professionals. Public Practice made that easy for us.
Matt Carney, Line Manager, Warrington Borough Council
Book a conversation with our Partnerships Manager
Discuss our recruitment services
Daniel Davis
Recruitment and Partnerships Manager