London South Bank University (LSBU) is the first UK university to launch fully Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship (Level 7) in partnership with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Just under 100 delegates, including representatives from around 25 local authorities attended the launch event at LSBU’s Passmore Centre for Professional and Technical Education. They were joined by a number of private sector companies and academic staff from LSBU’s School of Law and Social Sciences (LSS) which oversees the University’s Town Planning degree course.

The Level 7 Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship programme starts this September and includes: planning, politics and theory; with optional specialisms in housing and regeneration, sustainable infrastructure, mobility and urban design; planning law in practice and best practice in spatial planning.

On completion of their course, successful apprentices will gain a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) fully-accredited qualification and become Chartered Members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), allowing them to use the title ‘Chartered Town Planner’.

Speaking at the event, Professor Craig Barker, Dean of LSBU’s School of Law and Social Sciences. said:

LSBU is already renowned in the industry for excellence in delivering town planning qualifications. We are very proud to be able to build on this heritage now, with our new Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship scheme.

There are currently five providers listed with the RTPI at the moment, but LSBU is the only one to offer the full five-year route, taking on people with ‘A levels’ or experience but no formal qualifications, all the way from level four to level seven.

LSBU has been running town planning degree courses for 50 years and recently held a celebratory event to mark this impressive milestone.

Find out more about apprenticeships at LSBU and how to apply here.