* less than 0.5%

Source: PHCFMS 2003, table 2. Data derived from the autumn 2002 Labour Force Survey.

There are about 45,436 qualified architects in the UK most of which work in private practice as partners, associates or as salaried architects. Private practices can range from small firms with just one architect to large firms with up to 50 architects. Approximately 60% of architects work in firms employing fewer than ten people.

Within private practices:

• 31% of architects are principals in partnerships
• 12% are associates
• 20% are salaried staff
• 23% are sole principals

Freelance and contract work is increasingly in architecture employment. However, some commercial organisations (e.g. banks, supermarkets, and breweries) have in-house architectural teams (5%). Public sector employers employ less than 10% of the profession as more work is being tendered out to private practice. There are increasing employment opportunities with private developers, house-builders and housing associations.

Source: Prospects website 2004 and PHCFMS 2003

The majority of town planners (more than 60%) are employed in local government but the number of those employed in planning consultancies is growing rapidly. There are about 15,658 professional town planners and 15,446 architectural and town planning technical occupations.

Planners also work for:

• house-builders
• major retailers
• central government
• environmental organisations
• water companies
• tourist authorities
• business parks
• the Countryside Agency
• charities

Source: Prospects website 2004 and CITB-ConstructionSkills 2003

There are significant problems in recruiting junior town planners:

approximately 50% of employers indicated that they were filling all vacancies at the first attempt to recruit

• 36% of employers have increased the salaries in order to fill posts
• 63% of employers report an upward trend in high demand, which is expected to continue
• 39% of employers appointed someone not fully qualified for the post following recruitment difficulties

There will be increased demand for junior town planner over the next years. This might be linked to pressures for development and the Government’s growth area plans in the East of England. Click the link below to see data on the the need for junior planners over the next five years.

Source: Mawson and Pendlebury 2003

See Data and charts for more data on the recruitment difficulties for town planners.

There are about 43,462 quantity and 58,675 chartered surveyors in the UK. In addition, there are about 59,133 estimators, valuers and assessors in main technical occupations.
The built environment employs:

• 86% of the quantity surveyors
• 40% of the chartered surveyors
• 18% of the estimators, valuers and assessors

Source: CITB-ConstructionSkills 2003 and PHCFMS 2003

The Housing Bill (2004) will change the way property is surveyed and valued in England and Wales. It will require anyone marketing a home to assemble a home information pack (HIP), so that the information needed by buyers and sellers is available when the property is marketed. The new occupation of Home Inspectors has been created, to supply the demands anticipated for home condition reports. For more infomation on Home Inspectors go to the PSNTO website.

Click here for the more information on the new Housing Bill.

European policy initiatives will continue to have an impact on town planning practice in the UK. The focus of the European Commission is on three strategic themes, which are ‘Regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation’. ‘?e-Europe: the information society at the service of regional development’ and ‘Regional identity and sustainable development’.

Source: PHCFMS 2003 and ECOTEC 2001