Assistant Urban Design Intern

Are you an Architecture Graduate who is looking for a year in practice between your Part 1 and Part 2 courses, or an Urban Design Graduate looking for a year in practice in a friendly and high achieving team?  Do you have an interest in shaping the quality of the built environment through Urban Design and are looking to start a career in this sector?  This could be the opportunity you are looking for!

Interviews will take place in person at County Hall, Chelmsford the week commencing 11^th August 2025. 

Benefits: 

• Healthy work life balance with flexible and hybrid working options
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group
• A range of employee networks and communities to support staff and promote change, including, LGBTQ+ Employee Network, Ethnically Diverse Employee Network (EDEN), Differently Adept Working Network (DAWN), Young Person’s Network & Many more!

What our Interns say: 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at place services. The team and staff are welcoming and very willing to share their wealth of knowledge. I have especially appreciated the opportunities presented to me to complete different forms of work. My involvement in all sorts of projects has given me valuable exposure to the industry as a whole”. Kieran Sullivan, Assistant Urban Design Intern. 

The Role: 

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver sustainable development. The Assistant Urban Design Intern will support the effective delivery of urban design services to our clients across the UK. 

The post holder will provide urban design support, including development management and policy advice; context appraisal and master planning; design guides and codes; assisting with design reviews; helping to prepare design briefs; and undertaking supervised specialist tasks on multi-disciplinary projects. 

The role requires a graduate level practitioner with knowledge of development management processes, legislation, policy, standards, and guidance; information management and communication skills; and a collaborative, enterprising, and client focused approach. 

About You: 

• Previous work or volunteer experience working within a similar environment would be beneficial, but not essential as full training and support will be provided.
• Builds effective working relationships with colleagues and customers across the functional area and wider organisation, which are collaborative to deliver effective customer service.
• An interest in improving the built environment 

Essential Requirements for the role: 

• Educated to Graduate Level in Architecture (RIBA Part 1 Eligible Course) or Urban Design (Urban Design Group Recognised Course) or studying either BA or Bsc in Architecture (Graduating 2025) OR MA or Msc in Urban Design (Graduating 2025)
• Experience of working with IT systems including Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, Autocad, SketchUp, and Rhino, and willingness to learn new systems.
• A high level of written and oral communication skills.
• Please note – if your application is progressed to interview stage, there is a requirement to bring a portfolio of work to discuss at the interview

What will you be doing?

Contributing to effective delivery of a range of urban design services including:

• Downloading and registering Application documents for consideration by the team.
• Assisting with a case load of straightforward and minor development management consultations at all stages of the planning/consent process including Preapplication, Full, Outline, and Reserved Matters Applications and discharge of Conditions (RIBA stages 2 to 4).
• Supporting the evaluation and preparation of design codes and design briefs (RIBA Stages 1 to 3).
• Drafting new parameter plans and diagrams for Design Codes using AutoCAD, SketchUP, Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhino under the direction of Seniors and Principals. 3D Modelling and sketching (RIBA Stages 1 to 3).
• Assisting with context appraisal and master planning including desk top publishing and 3D modelling and sketching (RIBA stages 1 to 3).
• Assisting with and minuting design reviews (RIBA Stages 2 to 3).
• To undertake work shadowing for site visits, and consultation feedback meetings with applicants and local authorities (RIBA stages 1 to 3).
• To write, publish and distribute minutes for the above meetings.
• Work shadowing other disciplines as required including Heritage and Landscape consultants.
• Assisting the development and delivery of learning and promotional material, training activities and events, and engaging with networks, to enhance the recognition and reputation of Place Services.
• Helping to maintain a collaborative, high-performance culture and improve personal competency continually seeking to enhance personal performance and practice, securing feedback, and building knowledge and skills.
• Completion of RIBA Professional Education and Development Record (PEDR) 

To read more about our business area, please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health 

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk  

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