Alice Kelly, currently pursuing her BSc in Geography with Applied GIS at the University of Exeter, joined us for a summer placement following her second year of studies. Curious about her motivations for applying and eager to learn about her experience at Atlas Planning Group? Read on as Alice answers our questions and shares her insights.
“My interest in town planning started during my A-level and university geography studies. Just like geography, planning delves into the connections between the built environment and the natural world. I'm keen to pursue a career that aligns with my degree.”
“I was able to get involved in many different aspects of planning including site visits, site appraisals, feasibility reports and planning statements. I could complete a variety of tasks because Atlas undertakes a wide range of projects for different types of clients including homeowners and developers. This diversity made it an ideal place to learn.”
“The highlight of my experience was having a mentor. This made my time here a lot easier as I knew who to go to if I had any questions and I was given support and feedback for how to best undertake new tasks. I was also able to choose which areas of planning I wanted to gain experience in. It was interesting to talk to the rest of the team about potential routes I could pursue to work towards chartered status including joining Atlas as an apprentice. It wasn’t all work, I also joined the team on pub trips, a team lunch and a team day!”
“Once you have an idea of what profession you would like to go into it can be difficult to know where to start. Completing a summer placement is a fantastic starting point as you have the opportunity to gain some professional experience and to decide if you would like to pursue a career in your chosen industry.”
“We have thoroughly enjoyed having Alice join our team for the last three months. I feel we have learnt as much from her as she has from us. Alice perfectly demonstrates how an excellent employee isn’t down to their years of experience, it’s about their keenness to learn, coming in with a fantastic work ethic and having the confidence to ask questions and share knowledge where they can.”
“We are very keen to expand our summer placement opportunities next year so if you are a current university student with an interest in planning, we're eager to hear from you. Send us your CV at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to embark on this journey.”
Please click here to find out more about our intern placements and join our talent bank so you can be the first to hear about new opportunities.
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