Our Associate Programme is a leading job placement scheme that recruits mid- and senior-career built environment professionals for placemaking roles in the public sector.

Our Associate Programme is a unique job placement initiative that connects experienced built environment professionals with public sector placemaking roles.

Over the 12-month programme, we support mid- to senior-level built environment professionals in transitioning to public sector careers, placing them in organisations looking to enhance their placemaking expertise. Associates benefit from tailored training and ongoing support, while Authorities gain access to our high-calibre candidates and our specific sector expertise, supporting them bring in diverse talent into their teams.

Authorities are required to pay a programme fee of £6,000 (+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.

Taking part in the programme is free for Associates.

We recruit built environment professionals with at least three years of experience in practice.

All roles submitted for recruitment through our Associate Programme must be eligible and suitable for at least one of our eight built environment disciplines, and likewise, candidates applying must have professional experience from this list.

Over 90% of our candidates apply to the programme without any prior public sector experience and we require Authorities to not require any prior public sector experience for the roles we recruit Associates to.

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 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.

We specialise in recruiting for roles focused on 'place-based' work, where candidates directly impact the development, management, and revitalisation of communities. Our expertise is in sourcing talent for positions within local government that shape urban planning, regeneration, infrastructure, housing, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. By joining these roles, candidates have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in their local areas, influencing the future of the communities they serve.

Authorities can submit roles at any time throughout the year aligned with our place-based focus. We carefully review each job opportunity to ensure it fits one of our eight disciplines and role requirement criteria. Candidates can apply twice a year to undergo a series of assessments to evaluate their experience, motivation, and suitability. If they meet our criteria, they are added to our pool of candidates available for matching.

We connect the most qualified individuals with the appropriate roles. Authorities conduct the final interview stage, and if both the Authority and the Candidate agree to the process, the Authority directly employs the candidate for a minimum of 12 months, often for longer.

We match Candidates to Authorities throughout the year.

Contact us as soon as you are looking for built environment recruitment support. We then discuss and support you in confirming the role requirements before asking you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the role you would like us to recruit for. We take the time to understand your team's needs and skill gaps, then match you with the best candidate for your role.

If you want to read more about the process of recruiting an Associate, read our short article that explains the process in more detail.

We accept applications to join our Associate candidate pool twice a year.

If you successfully meet our requirements through our multiple online assessments, you will be added to our pool of candidates. You will then be considered for roles over the following year(s) and, hopefully, be successful in securing an Authority job during this time.

If you want to read more about how to become an Associate, read our short article the explains the process in more detail.