2026 Summer Scheme - Planning

Role title: Summer Scheme Student (Planning) - 15th June – 24th July 2026

Purpose:

Savills summer scheme is an opportunity for university students in the year before they will graduate (or start a masters) and be looking for a graduate role, to gain 6 weeks paid work experience. To learn about the business and industry and to ultimately prepare for a graduate role in the industry. We will be in a position to offer graduate scheme positions off the back of the summer scheme programme, so it is a great opportunity to put yourself in the best position before finishing university.

About the team:

With nearly 300 planners across the UK, we are the largest planning department in any mainstream real estate practice with a reputation for success and professionalism. 

We work with all types of property, but have specialisms in urban mixed use, housing, retail, major sports venues, energy, master planning, urban design, environmental impact assessment, community engagement, heritage and Section 106 agreements/Community Infrastructure Levy.

We negotiate planning permissions for everything from major urban regeneration schemes to modest domestic extensions. Our department consists of planners skilled in assembling evidence and building a case to achieve planning permission from local authorities, planning inspectors and government ministers.

Planning Locations and teams available:

London, Cardiff, Southampton, Wimborne, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Oxford, Reading, Guildford, Sevenoaks, Bristol, Perth

Key Dates:

This year the summer scheme has been redesigned into one intake, for 6 weeks, to offer the best insight to students and to better support graduate scheme hiring.

Placement dates: 15th June 2026 - 24th July 2026

The assessment process for this scheme is:

1. Application - CV and Essay question(s) (250 words) - Applications close on 24th March 2026

2. Screening Telephone Interview

3. Half Day Assessment Centre (1st May 2026 in London)

4. Possible Virtual Teams Interview with hiring team

Day to Day work:

As a Summer Scheme student, you will experience what it’s like to be on our graduate programme and receive the same exposure, based within a team for the six weeks.

Therefore, you will have the opportunity to gain a wide range of experience. For a Summer Scheme student, there is no one typical day, from visiting a business rates tribunal to inspecting an industrial park at the other end of the country, you could experience multiple aspects of the property industry during the scheme. We hope that you will get involved with as much as possible whilst in our business.

Departmental Talks:

Throughout the time that you are in the business, you will attend departmental overviews, to give you the best insight into our various service lines and a better understanding of both the industry and the business.

Social Events:

During the month there will be opportunities to network with other students, current graduates and directors within the business, whether this is a cultural walking tour or a networking lunch. We will put these events on for you throughout the internship.

What we’re looking for:

Ahead of anything else, we look for individualism and diversity, so it's very important at every stage of the selection process that you take every opportunity to show us what you're really like. Be honest and above all, be yourself.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Excellent communication skills

• Competent in MS Office Suite

• Highly motivated with a proactive approach

• Team player

• A positive attitude

• A strong interest in the business and industry

• High attention to detail, well organised and a proactive approach

• Ability to empower those around them

• A team player with leadership potential

• Ability to Listen to others and Collaborate effectively

• Strategic approach to problem solving

• Highly motivated

• Ability to challenge in a positive way

Right to work in the UK and employment offer:

Any employment offer made is contingent on you obtaining and maintaining the right to work and reside legally in the UK. We welcome applications from candidates who have their own right to work within the UK, where you can maintain and demonstrate your right to work throughout the duration of your employment. You will be asked to provide evidence of your right to work during the recruitment process.

Savills are unable to sponsor candidates for this role as the Home Office's eligibility criteria will not be satisfied.

Find your place to thrive:

Savills is an organisation full of extraordinary individuals. Brilliant people at the forefront of their specialisms, eager to drive progress for themselves, their colleagues and our business as part of a truly inclusive culture.

No matter the role you’re in, we all share one purpose: to help people thrive through places and spaces. This is built into our DNA, shaping the way we behave to deliver the best results. We define it by four key values.

Savills Values:

We listen:

Tell us your goals and aspirations and we’ll provide the support you need to achieve them. We appreciate the individual value of every team member and create an environment where you can reach your full potential.

We empower:

Here, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. We give you opportunities to have a real, positive impact in the community through the work you do, backed by access to our market-leading research and insights.

We challenge:

The best results happen when we question the status quo. We create an environment where you can safely challenge our thinking, bringing fresh ideas to the table to innovate as a team.

We collaborate:

When you join Savills, you become part of a 40,000-strong network of driven individuals, all sharing their knowledge and experience to push the real estate industry forward.

At the heart of it all, we deliver best-in-class insights and advice to help people make better property decisions. We're looking for colleagues who will help us on this mission. When you join Savills, our ask for you is simple – to be extraordinary, together. 

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