Consultancy Awards
Entry for the Consultancy of the Year Awards has now closed.
Planning Consultancy of the Year - £150+VAT
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year - £65+VAT
Planning Consultant of the Year - £60+VAT
Entry category is determined by the size of the consultancy. For the purposes of this award scheme, a Small Planning Consultancy is defined as a practice employing no more than 10 chartered town planners. A ‘Planning Consultant’ is defined as a chartered town planner who is the sole fee-earner in the practice.
Eligibility
The consultancy must have:
- At least one chartered town planner (MRTPI or FRTPI) who is a principal, partner, director or in permanent employment (including self-employment) at 31 May 2011.
- A permanent trading address in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man at 31 May 2011.
Criteria
To merit an award, entrants must be able to demonstrate exemplary good practice in planning consultancy. Entries will be assessed on the basis of evidence of the consultancy’s capacity to provide high-quality planning services, its contribution to the development of sound professional planning practice and its track record in implementation as demonstrated in up to four specific projects. It is for entrants to decide whether to submit projects that reflect the breadth of their work or that focus on a particular area of expertise.
The following criteria will be taken into account and should be specifically addressed wherever relevant in entry submissions
- The development and application of innovative approaches and techniques to achieve high-quality and imaginative planning solutions which promote sustainable development and equity;
- Achievement of exemplary standards in established or mature areas of work;
Influence and standing within the planning profession and the public, private and community organisations that it serves; - Client satisfaction in terms of the service provided. Relevant factors may include timeliness, flexibility, ability to respond imaginatively to a brief, quality of presentation and communication and the value added to projects through the appointment of consultants;
- The ability of chartered town planners to manage multi-disciplinary projects or to work within a multi-disciplinary environment;
- A commitment to professional ethics;
- A commitment to professional and business development extending beyond the immediate requirements of particular clients. An important dimension of this is the value placed on research and knowledge and underpinning practice and evidence of reflective learning. Relevant factors may include staff development, training and quality assurance certification.
- A commitment to participation in professional and educational activities and the long-term development of the planning profession. Relevant factors may include representation on official or voluntary bodies, involvement in Planning Aid, links with educational institutions and participation in the affairs of professional bodies.
Judges may also take into account a consultancy’s work in relation to particular categories in the RTPI Planning Awards including work in relation to climate change, proposals to reduce energy use and emissions, equality and diversity, community planning and engagement. Evidence of achievement in these areas may be addressed both in general statements about the consultancy and through material on up to four specific projects. In addition to the entry material submitted, assessment will also be based on feedback from clients and other referees on the performance record of shortlisted consultancies.
How to Enter
There are three elements to the submission - a general statement, details of four projects and the names of three referees:
1. General statement: A summary of no more than 500 words explaining the consultancy’s approach, its capacity to undertake planning and related work, its planning experience and its commitment to improved planning practice. It is essential that the summary explains how the entry fulfils the judging criteria. The summary should detail, as of 31 May 2011:
- The total number of staff employed in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
- The number of staff employed in the planning team (if different).
- The number of chartered town planners (MRTPI or FRTPI) employed, specifying whether these are full-time, part-time or advisory.
Where appropriate, please supply separate figures for staff employed outside the areas mentioned above. This general statement should be uploaded during the online entry process.
2. Project details: Description of four specific projects on which significant consultancy input has been required during the eligibility period ending 31 December 2010. These summaries should consist of no more than 300 words. The judges recognise that some projects by their nature may have long lead-in times. The RTPI wishes to promote schemes which are on the ground so they may, at their discretion, look at projects which have achieved consent/implementation and which may have been commissioned in previous years. The summaries must explain how the projects selected meet the judging criteria as appropriate. Each project summary must list the project director, the project manager and all chartered town planners involved. Colour photography, plans or other illustrations may be incorporated into the project summary text.
Please supply four copies of each project summary so that each judge can receive an original copy. These should be posted to:
FAO Kate Webster
The RTPI Planning Awards
RTPI
41 Botolph Lane
London EC3R 8DL
3. Referees: Contact details for at least three referees who have indicated their willingness to answer such questions about the consultancy’s performance as may assist the judges in their assessment. At least two of the referees must be clients for specific projects covered in the entry submission.
Names of referees should be included with your hard copy projects details and sent by post. If you wish, you may also upload these (in one document) with your general statement.
Please note that before beginning the online entry process you should have payment ready by invoice (requiring a Purchase Order) or credit card. Costs of entry are:
Planning Consultancy £150
Small Planning Consultancy £65
Planning Consultant £60
All cheques must be payable to RTPI Planning Awards
and sent to
FAO Alessandra Zorzato
RTPI Planning Awards
174 Hammersmith Road
London W6 7JP
Judging
The awards will be judged by a panel of widely experienced practitioners nominated by the RTPI.
Based on written submissions, the judges will announce a shortlist in early August 2011. It is anticipated that this shortlist will including at least one Planning Consultancy, one small Planning Consultancy and one Planning Consultant. Clients and other referees will be approached for their views on the shortlisted consultancies. Referees’ responses will be treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to entrants or to other parties.
Shortlisted consultancies will be invited to make presentations to the judging panel in September 2011. The panel will not undertake site visits. All shortlisted consultancies are encouraged to attend the RTPI Planning Awards ceremony in February 2012, at which winners will be announced.