Carlos Chikwamba

• Year of graduation: 2017
• Current job title: Senior Town Planning Officer
• Current employer: Buckinghamshire Council
• Industry sector: Urban and Town Planning

Why did you choose your course at UON?

I chose BSc Geography because I had a passion for and always excelled in Geography – dating back to GSCE, all the way to my A levels. Furthermore, I wasn’t sure which career field I wanted to venture into after my postgraduate studies, but I knew it would be something related to Geography. The course gave me the option to explore both the physical and human sides of Geography to help me understand what I enjoyed and excelled in the most and this eventually led me to my current career path in urban and town planning.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most and why?

I really enjoyed the versatility and flexibility of the course, in terms of the different elements within the human and physical sides of Geography. Furthermore, it was a practical course that included field trips, which enabled me to gain practical experience and skills which are more transferable in prospective jobs.

Did you participate in any extra-curricular activities whilst studying at UON?

Yes, I was part of the Northampton Rotary Club and helped organise charitable functions which were held at the University. I was also a member of the Southern African Society and briefly joined the African Caribbean Society.

How did these extra-curricular activities enhance your career prospects?

They helped improve my intersocial and teamwork skills, which are skills that I use in my current role as Senior Town Planning Officer to communicate and work with different stakeholders, whilst balancing their various competing interests.

How do you think your studies have helped your career or personal development?

The Geography degree equipped me with practical skills which assisted me in choosing my career path and preparing myself for the working world. A particular module called ‘Geographers at Work’ in the third year of my studies allowed me to understand how to apply for professional jobs in terms of the application and interview process. Undertaking this module helped me to understand which skills were relevant for my prospective role and how best to highlight and transfer them on the job.

This also helped me in my future studies when I undertook a Master’s degree in Spatial Development, in terms of choosing modules which would be directly relevant to my employment and how best I could transfer the skills I had acquired whilst studying my Master’s to my job.

Describe your career progression so far, and any plans you have for the future. Are there any particular hurdles you may face?

Upon graduating in 2017, I was able to secure a job as a graduate Town Planner within the Development Management team at Newham Borough Council, where I spent seven months gaining valuable experience in the town planning field.

I left that role to become a Planning Officer at The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), also within their Development Management team. During my time at RBWM, I continued to progress and gain experience and I also started and completed my Master’s degree in Spatial Development (the tuition fees for this were funded by RBWM). Lastly, I got promoted to Senior Planning Officer.

In January 2023, I left RBWM to seek a change and challenge myself within a different environment at Buckinghamshire Council, where I’m currently a Senior Planning Officer within the Development Management team. I’m also currently working to become a Chartered Town Planning Officer, a process which involves being inducted into the Royal Town Planning Institute – I hope to achieve this late 2023 or early 2024.

In terms of hurdles, I would say Geography is a very broad degree and whilst you gain valuable knowledge and skills in various areas, you’re not specialising in one specific area. So to progress within a specific career field, you’re likely to require further studies like a Master’s degree, like I did with my Master’s in Spatial Development, which then helped to propel me into a senior role. This was challenging as I had to work and study at the same time but, in the end, it was all worth it. Also, many companies are more than willing to support you with further studies whilst working, as long you show the desire and ambition to do so.

Which, if any, skills and knowledge/understanding gained on your degree are most useful in your current role?

The skills I picked up which are most relevant in my current role are:

• research and analysis methods gained from relevant modules and tasks which required such a skill
• report writing skills garnered from writing my assignments/essays in a structured format
• QGIS mapping gained from my QGIS module.

What advice would you give to undergraduates interested in this career path or anything you wish you had known earlier?

I would advise students to tailor their second and third year modules to their chosen specific career paths, as this will help them to narrow down their skills and gain the relevant transferable skills and knowledge, which in turn makes it easier to be employable upon graduation.

How would you summarise your UON experience?

Fun and challenging, but the support and help from lecturers and staff made it easier and a much more enjoyable experience.