Spotlight on - Public Practice
Please introduce yourself! Who are we speaking to?
My name is Fiona and I’m the Communications Manager at Public Practice.
So, in a few sentences what does Public Practice do?
We build the skills that local authorities need, to shape the places we need. Our main offering is the Associate Programme, a leading job placement scheme that offers built environment professionals from the private sector with an attractive route into a public sector career. We match Associates with place-shaping roles at Authorities and provide them with an in-depth learning and development course to support their transition into local government.
What qualities do you look for when matching ‘Associates’ to a ‘Authorities’?
We look for people who are passionate about making a positive impact on places. When matching, we consider the skills and experiences of the Associates along with the role requirements, work environment, and ambitions of the Authorities. We know that job descriptions can be hard to understand, and strive to uncover roles where we think Associates can have a real positive influence. The roles we offer cover a diverse range of skills, including architecture, urban design, sustainability, digital & data, and more.
Why should candidates join your programme?
We believe that local authorities are the best place to make a direct and lasting impact on creating inclusive and sustainable places. The Associate Programme offers candidates the opportunity to use their skills for the public good, and provides an intensive learning and development course to support their transition into a public sector career. Alongside the course, we provide a network of peers who can share their knowledge and support each other. If you’re interested in becoming an Associate, you can learn more here.
Why was the creation of the Town Centre Recovery Report important?
The Town Centre Recovery Report was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, together with the National Retail Planning Forum and the Planning Officers Society. It came at a time when high streets and town centres across England were reopening and local economies were being rebuilt. The report provided an important collection of case studies from different regions, each with their own unique context and challenges, and shared these learnings amongst local authorities who were taking on similar initiatives.
How can people support Public Practice?
If you work at a local authority and are interested in hosting a placement with us, let us know. If you work within the built environment industry and are interested in becoming an Associate, find out more here. You can also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to find out when our next application round opens.
Why did you choose to work here at Better Space?
As a social enterprise, we are excited to share a space with other organisations that are delivering social impact. We love the ethos of Better Space and the fact that it is an initiative led by Islington Council fits well with our aim to support local authorities. On a practical level, we have a hybrid work policy and Better Space offers us the flexibility that our team needs. We look forward to getting to know the community!
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Jones