At the RTPI, we understand that our planners working within the public sector require different support to those working within private companies.
With the Institute’s focus on member value, through work such as the Member Value Project, we are constantly looking to evaluate how we are supporting every member within our community, as well as understanding their individual needs.
As we begin to draw closer to the last quarter of the year, we wanted to tell you all about the exciting work that we have been doing, so far, that helps public sector planners.
- The RTPI builds connections between planners enabling peer-to-peer learning in our regions, networks and committees
- The RTPI helps the public to see the difference you make and inspire the next generation of planners through campaigns like Planning for Tomorrow’s Environment and Planning Your World
- The RTPI engages directly with governments and chief planners across the UK & Ireland on your behalf to guide the progress of planning reforms and unlocking resources for local planning authorities
- The RTPI shares the latest intel professionals need to understand changes in the policy landscape through research, blogs from our staff and The Planner magazine
- The RTPI engages politicians regularly to help them understand your work and challenges better, securing key amendments to important planning legislation, serving on working groups in Westminster and the devolved nations and in our Politicians in Planning Network
- The RTPI engages planners across the world through our ‘Planning is Global’ programme and international visits
Planner welfare has also been high on our agenda this year and when we consulted our membership across the UK we found that 87% of planners feel social media is fuelling misinformation around local planning issues and alarmingly, planners are being negatively impacted – and in some cases personally targeted – as a result. In response, we established wellbeing and legal helplines available 24/7 to offer immediate support to our members, and we’ll soon be launching a campaign to battle misinformation around planners and their role in the planning system to champion the profession across the UK and Ireland.
As a RTPI chartered planner working at the public sector, the RTPI has a wide range of free CPD webinars for RTPI members. RTPI Nations and Regions also offer discounted CPD events tickets for members. Renewing my membership allows me to continue to enjoy this to support my continuous professional development and have networking opportunities. Importantly, RTPI membership allows me to participate in the regional and national governance of the RTPI so voices from public sector planners can be heard.
Jeffrey Ng, the Principal Planning Officer at Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and RTPI Young Planner Trustee
You belong to a community of over 27,000 planners worldwide. We exist to support you, your career, and the wider planning profession. Our work wouldn’t be possible without you. We will continue to advocate for resourcing of the sector, and for the respect and recognition you deserve. If you are an RTPI member working in the public sector why not get ready for renewals by setting up your direct debit today. You can continue to help us support the work we do on behalf of our public sector members.
