Department for Transport

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Do you have a passion for sustainable mobility and liveable places? Do you want to put these at the core of your future career?

The Department for Transport (DfT) is recruiting for one Transport Planning apprentice.

This role comes at an important time for the country as the way people and goods move around is changing. How transport planning policy considers these changes will impact where we work and live, as well as how we reach our climate goals and organise the economy. The Department’s Transport Planners play a critical strategic role in delivering the Government’s levelling up agenda to reduce regional inequality and boost growth, while facilitating the pathway to net zero by 2050.  

It’s an exciting career – working as part of the wider DfT planning community you will think strategically across transport modes to apply best practice in transport planning and deliver the best outcomes for the country’s urban and rural communities areas. You will work closely with teams across Whitehall to create forward-looking solutions that address the needs of the future country and your work will make a direct contribution to making people’s journeys safer, cleaner, faster and more affordable.

Some examples of the work of Transport Planners are:

• Providing advice for ministers on key planning issues that face the country;
• Working with different teams and departments to help deliver transport decarbonisation and levelling up through the planning system;
• Updating policy and guidance to improve outcomes for all modes from walking, wheeling, and cycling to future transport;
• Engaging with industry to understand the challenges faced

For this opportunity, you don’t need to have transport planning expertise – what’s important is that you enjoy getting your teeth into complex urban and rural planning issues and have a desire to learn. We’ll start you off with small parts of larger projects, and as your line manager coaches you in the fundamentals of transport planning you will have plenty of opportunities to apply your skills to more significant projects work and take ownership of projects.

•  Work with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and key stakeholders to improve integration between the spatial and transport planning systems in support of our objective for high-quality transport provision to be built into plans for new employment and housing from the outset, including promoting sustainable and active transport.
• Help develop and draft a range of tools, policy and guidance to place transport delivery at the heart of the levelling up agenda and the key catalyst to drive sustainable growth.
• Assist the Department in influencing and negotiating emerging planning legislation, policy and guidance across Government, so that DfT policies and objectives are appropriately reflected.

 This will be complemented by studying for a part time BSc in Transport Planning with Aston University over five years.

Click here to find out information on the Transport Planning BSc.

Click here to find out Information on the apprenticeship.

The Level 6 Transport Planner Apprenticeship:

An apprenticeship is an exciting opportunity to ‘earn whilst you learn’ by combining theoretical learning with practical ‘on-the-job’ experience; allowing you to work towards a nationally recognised qualification, whilst building skills in your daily role and earning a salary. An apprenticeship also allows you to secure a qualification with no tuition / student fees as the programme is fully funded by the department.

You will spend 6-hours per week of your contracted working hours dedicated to your apprenticeship and will be surrounded by a supportive network. You will be allocated an apprentice buddy, and will have regular development conversations with a dedicated learning coach and the DfT Apprenticeship Team to ensure your learning needs are met and you are on track to successfully complete your apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship will provide you with new skills to apply to your job role, ensuring you are continuously learning, in a stretching but supportive environment.

Further information about the Transport Planner Level 6 Apprenticeship is available here.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this programme, you will need to:

• Be at least 16-years old.
• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Have been a resident in the UK/EA/EEA continuously for 3-years before starting the apprenticeship.
• Have left full-time education when the apprenticeship starts.
• Not be in receipt of funding for other learning programmes (including another apprenticeship)
• Three A Levels, or equivalent qualifications
• At least a 5 (C) for English GCSE and a 6 (B) for GCSE maths.

Individuals who hold or who are working towards a similar qualification of the same level or higher will also not be eligible to apply. Candidates who possess unrelated qualifications will be considered. In order to be eligible for the apprenticeship, any qualifications previously held or currently being worked towards must differ in content so that this apprenticeship provides substantial new skills. If you apply and are found to possess any of the above, your application will not be considered and any offer of employment will be withdrawn and your contract terminated. If you are unsure on whether you will be eligible for this apprenticeship, please do contact the recruitment manager outlined on this job advert for advice.

Duties and responsibilities

Your responsibilities will vary depending on which team you are first posted to but could include: 

• Help develop and draft a range of tools, policy and guidance to place transport delivery at the heart of the levelling up agenda and the key catalyst to drive sustainable growth.
• Work with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and key stakeholders to improve integration between planning and transport in support of our objective for high-quality transport provision to be built into plans for new employment and housing from the outset, including promoting sustainable and active transport.
• Assist the Department in influencing and negotiating emerging planning legislation, policy and guidance across Government, so that DfT policies and objectives are appropriately reflected.
• Support internal engagement to ensure the implications of changes in planning policy are communicated to and understood by DfT colleagues in order to apply them to their work and spread good practice and knowledge of planning policy within DfT.

 Please see the attached role profile for more information around these and the apprenticeship information.

About you

As this is an apprenticeship, we will provide you with the tools and skills you need to successfully complete your apprenticeship. We would love to hear from you if have experience of the following:

• You have experience of following plans to achieve a goal or positive outcome
• You have experience of taking responsibility for your own personal and professional development
• You have experience of working with others to achieve a common goal

Additional information

A minimum of 40% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Job contact :

• Name :Marco Picardi
• Email :marco.picardi@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email :dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk