Shaping cities and communities
Geography opens doors to a variety of careers across urban development and planning. Explore careers in sustainability and placemaking through the lens of urban development.
Explore how towns and cities grow, change and adapt and what it takes to design places where people can live well. Dive into urban planning, regeneration, sustainability and the challenges of creating places that work for everyone.
Find out how geographers shape the future of the spaces we use every day through our career profiles, resources and event recordings.
This is part of our virtual work experience programme with Springpod, If you haven't completed the module yet, head to Springpod.
Meet real people working in sustainable cities and placemaking
Explore our range of career profiles, spanning jobs across multiple sectors linked to sustainable cities and placemaking.
Nick Richardson - Technical Principal in Integrated Transport
Hear more about Nick's work to manage transport initiatives and advise on passenger transport systems.
Emma Rawlings Smith - Transport Planning Consultant
Hear more about Emma's work to improve and manage our transport infrastructure.
Matthew Morton - Sustainability Consultant
Hear more about Matthew's work on sustainability issues and their associated challenges and opportunities.
Sally Hadley - Graduate Environmental Consultant
Hear more about Sally's work to investigate the environmental and social impacts of planning decisions.
Ashley Parry Jones - Director for Planning
Hear about Ashley's work in land referencing for infrastructure projects.
Isabella Krabbe - Research Officer, The Royal Town Planning Institute
Hear about Isabella's work in planning and policy, linked to climate change, climate justice and community engagement.
Robert Hanley - Communications and Promotions Officer, Sustrans Scotland
Hear about Robert's work to promote sustainable transport and active travel to a range of audiences.
Tom Grahamslaw - Associate, WSP
Hear about Tom's work in the delivery of major projects such as smart motorway schemes.
Watch videos and listen to podcasts
Listen to our podcasts and watch online lectures featuring geographers working in the sustainable cities and placemaking sectors.
Jonny Riggall - Climate change and sustainability consultant
Hear more from Jonny about his career as a climate change and sustainability consultant.
Sustainable cities podcast
Hear from Professor James Evans whose specialism focuses on the development of smarter and more sustainable cities.
Use geography: careers in transport, utilities and infrastructure
Find out more about a career in transport, utilities or infrastructure companies.
Geography in practice: digital twins for urban planning
Digital twins are data models of places or systems, bridging the physical and digital domains.
Mapping underground Infrastructure through the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR)
Find out how NUAR is set to revolutionise the way we manage underground infrastructure in the UK and its impact upon planning and land management.
Link up your learning
Use these learning materials and activities to explore how geographers working in sustainable cities and placemaking are linked to the geography you learn in the classroom.
Geographical careers in real estate
An introduction to the geographical career opportunities available in the real estate consultancy sector.
Employers to explore
Learn about organisations working in the sustainable cities and placemaking sector, and discover how they make a difference in the real world.
Aether are a consultancy company who use environmental data to develop solutions for governments, local authorities, international organisations and property developers.
WSP are a consultancy company that deliver solutions that help the United Kingdom’s places and communities to thrive. Across the UK, their teams provide local authorities with advice on everything from transport to urban regeneration.
Additional information about careers in the cities and communities sector
NLA have a Skills for Places: Careers Toolkit that shows the breadth of employment opportunities in the built environment.
My Environment My Future (MEMF) is a fully-funded school programme which embeds knowledge, resources and guidance on careers within the built environment into the curriculum.
The Royal Town Planning Institute provide information about what a planner does and the routes to a career in planning.
Transport Planning Society provide information about what a transport planner does and the routes to a career in transport planning.
Find out about the role of a Town Planner.
Find out about the role of a Sustainability Consultant.
Find out about the role of an Environmental Project Manager.
Find out about the role of a Transport Planner.
Find out about the role of a User Researcher.
Find out about careers in the transport sector.
Find out more about the role of a Sustainability Consultant.
Try other virtual work experience
Why not try some of Springpod's other free virtual work experience modules. Here are some that are relevant to our 'shaping cities and communities' programme module:
- Digital Tech Work Experience with Yunex Traffic
- Net Zero Careers: Sustainability Experience with LSBU and Green Skills Hub
- AtkinsRéalis Virtual Work Experience programme
- Our City, Made Better by You: Transport for London Virtual Work Experience
- Becoming a Chartered Surveyor - Surveying Work Experience with RICS