Planning Skills Fund
campaigns
PLANNING SKILLS FUND
The Hidden Barrier to Business Growth
Britain is being held back by a slow and unresponsive planning system. While there are many factors at play, one of the main challenges is that local councils simply don’t have enough trained planners.
This is a major headache for businesses, adding costs and holding back investment.
The impact on the UK economy is huge – fixing the planning system could unlock £70bn in economic value.
Without action, the planning crisis will get worse. Every delayed project means lost investment, lost jobs, and lost opportunities. This costs us all.
A business-led solution
The BCC Planning Skills Fund aims to help tackle the planning crisis by raising £3 million to train and upskill planners. This will make a vital contribution to boosting skills and capacity in the UK planning system.
The 5-year programme is funding 100 students through planning qualifications, administered by the Royal Town Planning Institute, and upskilling existing planning professionals.
This is real action from businesses, stepping up to the challenge alongisde existing government initiatives. By working together across industry and government, we can offer a fast route to a rewarding career in local authority planning, alleviating shortages and accelerating business growth.
Turn your investment into impact
The Fund is seeking donations from businesses of all sizes, sectors, and UK regions. Aviva has already donated the first £500,000, but we need more businesses to support us to reach our target.
We’re asking you to donate. No matter how big or small, the more businesses invest together, the more planners we can train – and the faster we can help speed up the planning system and unlock growth.
The fund is already making an impact:
- The first students start their courses in September 2025
- 22 universities are delivering across the UK
- Every £15,000 funds one student
- £500,000 donated by Aviva
The BCC Planning Skills Fund is managed by the British Chambers of Commerce as a donor advised fund, administered by Charities Trust under charity registration number 327489.