One week left to submit your entry to the TPS bursary competition

The Transport Planning Society’s 2021-2 bursary competition will close to applications in just one week.

The bursary scheme is a brilliant opportunity for young professional members of TPS to produce a piece of structured thought on a topic of current relevance to transport planning, supported by a mentor who will be a senior member of the profession.

TPS is currently welcoming proposals for this year’s topic: ‘Scenario planning – how can Transport Planners best plan for the new normal?’ The deadline for submission is Friday 27th August. 

If your proposed title is accepted, you will be asked to write the full paper with the help of your mentor and present it at a special meeting of TPS Board members in January 2022.  You will then receive £500 and be featured in a TPS news item.

The bursaries provide a great opportunity to:

• expand your knowledge of your chosen topic;
• raise your profile within the profession;
• promote your career development;
• benefit from your mentor’s experience and advice.

For those participating in the Professional Development Scheme it also counts towards satisfying relevant proficiency and experience requirements.

Participation in the competition, especially winning the “Bursary of the Year” award, has helped previous bursarians attract the interest of their employer, gain promotion, get a new job, and even to be invited to chair a conference session related to their paper. It can give your career a real lift.

Victoria Heald, Transport Planner at WSP and previous Bursary of the Year winner, said:

“Participating in the Transport Planning Society's Bursary Competition not only broadened my knowledge on the competition topic area, but also allowed me to expand and gain new skills. I have been able to transfer these skills to day-to-day project work which has subsequently helped me to complete objectives for the Society's Professional Development Scheme (PDS).

“As well as this, the experience widened my professional network, and gave me the opportunity to present at a range of transport conferences in the UK and internationally. I have also since been invited to write for several high-profile industry publications on a variety of themes, including on the competition topic area.

“I am thankful to have had the opportunity to take part in the Bursary Competition as I have gained so much both professionally and personally, helping me to develop into a well-rounded Transport Planner.”

Please visit https://tps.org.uk/bursaries for further information on this year’s scheme, including how to apply, the application form and full guidance notes.