My name:
Claire Churchill
My job:
Principal Planner
Who I work for:
Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk
A bit about my job:
My role is to plan for the borough over the next 15-20 years. This includes selecting sites for new development and protecting the environment. We also do a lot of work with the community to make sure their ideas are taken into account when planning their town or local area.
How I got it / Qualifications needed
I went to Wisbech Grammar School and got 10 GCSEs, and 3 A Levels. I then went straight on to Sheffield Hallam University to do a Degree in Planning Studies and a Post-graduate Diploma in Town Planning. This took four years on a full time course.
I have worked for Sheffield City Council and Peterborough City Council before moving to King’s Lynn. I enjoy working here because of the differences in the borough; we have the three towns but also lots of countryside and the coastline. It makes this area an interesting and varied place to work.
I have recently got a promotion and am now a manager in my department.
What I earn:
Over £30,000
Anything else?
Most – Meeting and working with different people (especially the general public), being able to spend some time out of the office, and I enjoy working as part of a team. Planning offers really flexible career options and there is a wide variety of work.
Least – Planning can be controversial and we do have to deal with unhappy members of the public.
