This article has been supplied by Milton Keynes City Council. It covers the Council's work experience programme. If you are an employer looking to provide work experience please take a look at the RTPI's secondary school work experience toolkit for employers.
In our experience, students on work experience are always very polite and seem really interested in the work. They come away excited about the work done by the Planning and Placemaking team and tell us we do a great job of showing the breadth of activity that we’re involved in and how it impacts on public day-to-day life.
We’ve inspired and motivated a few of them to think about a career in planning and the built environment.
How did it start?
The RTPI set up the programme to get students from years 9 to 13 into a real work environment so that they can view planning as a career the range of jobs available as well as all the exciting things that can be a part of!
What do we do?
Milton Keynes City Council go out to different schools to promote the programme. We offer a 5-day experience for our students, in which they meet with all different departments including archelogy, highways, environmental control, development management, and our planning officers.
During the week they each complete a project they can take away with them and use in their portfolio. It also gets presented to teachers, friends and families at the end of the week, so everyone can see the excellent work they have completed.
A typical day with us can include:
- An introduction to the MK Futures programme
- A design walking tour with women in planning
- Project planning and work
- Reflection Journal time
- Meet and greet with the director of planning
Here are some examples of completed work:
Student work around the location of development
Students looked at the visibility and safety of cycle lanes
At the end of the week students receive feedback on how well they’ve done in different areas so they can see where their strengths are, and we ask for feedback from them on the programme so we can continue to support students to meet their goals.
Example feedback form:
What does it do for us?
This has benefited our colleagues immensely, for a start it has helped to build management skills for those that are not in management roles yet. Taking leadership of a group of individuals has given colleagues experience in leading and guiding a team, making decisions, setting goals, and creating a positive work environment.
Getting opinions and input from younger people can lead to innovative, forward-thinking solutions that align with the future generation’s ideas for their future city and what they will need from Milton Keynes in the future. Fresh perspectives help us invigorate urban spaces, ensuring they are vibrant, inclusive, and adaptable to emerging trends and technologies.
In summary
Work experience at Milton Keynes City Council has been highly beneficial for students, sparking their interest in careers in planning and the built environment. Students from gained hands-on experience with various departments and completed projects for their portfolios. This initiative has not only inspired students but also improved colleagues' leadership skills, fostering innovative and forward-thinking urban planning solutions that reflect the needs of future generations.
