On Wednesday 17 April the Society will be releasing a revised version of its Professional Development Scheme, PDS; Version 3.

Since the TPS PDS was first launched in 2008, it has become the industry standard training scheme for new entrants.  It provides a structured framework to enable younger transport planners to progress towards becoming true professionals, with the breadth and depth of competence required for them to excel in their work, and to work towards award of the Transport Planning Professional, TPP, qualification. It also provides a framework within which more experienced transport planners can broaden their skill set to meet the requirements of the TPP.

Drawing on the experience of users of the original Scheme, the Society has worked with employers to prepare Version 3, which is contained within a single document, unlike the earlier versions which were in two volumes.  The new version brings the guidance for each Objective and the record of the trainee’s progress together into a single Objective Record Sheet, and has a simplified and more accessible presentation of the guidance.

Organisations using the PDS include AECOM, Arup, Atkins, CH2M HILL/Halcrow, Hampshire CC, Hyder Consulting, Integrated Transport Planning, Jacobs Consultancy, JMP Consulting, Leicestershire CC, Mott MacDonald, Mouchel, MVA Consultancy, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Peter Brett Associates, SKM-CBP, Transport for London, URS and WSP

Martin Richards, the Society’s Director for Skills said “PDS users, both trainees and mentors, will find Version 3 of the PDS much better suited to their needs. The Society is very grateful to all those users who have contributed to its development.”

The release of Version 3 is accompanied by an extensively revised PDS Mentor Guidance document as well as a new PDS Overview.  Copies of Version 3 of the PDS together with the Mentor Guidance will be distributed to licensed PDS users following their release; the Overview will be available on the TPS website. 

Anyone wanting to learn more about the PDS should contact info@tps.org.uk.