Our Thames Valley office is going from strength to strength with the appointment of its latest recruit, graduate planner, Alice Attwood.
Alice joins our commercial planning team from Mendip Council, before which she was at Cardiff University where she completed her MSc in Spatial Planning and Development.
Joining our graduate scheme, Alice will gain experience in a whole host of commercial planning issues, including planning validation, planning policy, general planning and housing legislation.
We spoke to Alice to get to know a bit more about her – including the fact that she’s an identical twin who loves the songs of the 80s. Read on to find out more!
How long were you in your previous role, and what did you specialise in?
I worked at Mendip District council for a year and specialised in the validation of planning applications and the homeless application process.
What attracted you to your new post at Vail Williams?
I wanted to expand my planning knowledge and experience. I was attracted to the graduate planning post because it would give me the opportunity to work on many different projects, allowing me to gain a variety of different skills.
What are your ambitions in the role?
My ambition in this role is to learn good planning practice and to complete my APC. I also want to actively help shape projects to create places instead of spaces.
What’s the best thing about working in property, and why?
The best thing about working in property is the variety of work there is to do. There is always something going on.
What was your first ever job?
My first ever job was when I was 16 and I worked in Cheddar Garden Centre on a till.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best bit of advice was to always work hard at everything you do.
If you had to recommend a good book, what would it be, and why?
No time for good bye by Linwood Barclay. I would recommend reading this book because it’s full of twist and turns. The author has you in suspense until the very last page.
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.
I have a twin sister called Catherine and my teachers could never really tell us apart.
What’s your favourite band?
I don’t really have one because I enjoy most music, but if I had to pick something, then I’d say that I love music from the 1980s the most.
If you could work in any other profession, what would it be and why?
I would be a chef because I love cooking for people and creating interesting food combinations.
