Strategic Planning Graduate Scheme 2026

The Professional Services teams focus on the employees at the heart of the business. The Strategic Planning graduate scheme provides individuals with the opportunity to shape the wider business, London’s transport network, and London itself.

As a graduate, the two-year development programme is made up of four placement rotations. The aim is to equip participants with the range of skills and experience needed for a successful career within strategic planning. During the scheme, placements could be across a range of teams including Business Strategy, Spatial Planning, Local Communities and Partnerships, Innovation and Advisory, or the Chief Customer and Strategy Office. Every graduate’s journey is unique, and placements are tailored to individual interests. An example of a possible journey is as follows:

Placement 1 – Transport Policy – 6 month placement
This team sets the strategic direction of the city’s transport. The team is at the forefront of efforts to transform the Capital’s transport to create a city where people choose to walk, cycle or use public transport and can do so free from the harmful effects of air pollution. The team plays a vital role in addressing the climate emergency. Participants could be placed in areas such as developing the strategy to achieve net zero carbon for road transport by 2030, planning the delivery of London’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, or making freight transport safer, cleaner and more efficient for London. Participants will commission and carry out research, analyse data and engage with teams from across the organisation along with external stakeholders in order to develop evidence-based policy or scheme options. They will provide advice on their specific area of focus and use this to assist with drafting briefings, reports and presentations to influence and support decisions around the development and promotion of policies and projects.

Placement 2 – Local Communities and Partnerships – 6 month placement
This team builds connections with London’s diverse communities, local businesses, and political stakeholders. Through effective engagement and consultation, the team helps TfL understand the needs, wants, and sometimes frustrations of living, working or playing in London. By harnessing these relationships, and the intelligence gathered, decision makers can reflect on community and stakeholder feedback to make the best possible future transport decisions for London. Engagement and consultation work stretches across every facet of TfL’s transport remit, from reshaping the bus network, to building new tube lines, to major policy decisions on Congestion Charge and ULEZ. Participants will support the team of engagement and consultation specialists to work with and strengthen relationships with local politicians and community leaders. This will involve supporting local engagement activities, researching key local policy areas, and supporting the delivery of local and pan London consultation delivery. Participants will also work with the community engagement and consultation leadership team to identify and build new proposals, projects, and initiatives to strengthen how TfL works with young Londoners, the seldom heard, and other underrepresented community groups.

Placement 3 – Spatial Planning – 6 month placement
This team leads TfL's work with the Greater London Authority, boroughs and developers to integrate land use and transport planning to solve London's biggest challenges including achieving net-zero and tackling the housing crisis. The team develops and influences policy, secures third-party funding, masterplans changing areas of London, and makes the case for transport investment. Participants will be involved in developing the London Plan (London's overarching spatial strategy) and shaping local/area plans to deliver mode shift in practice, lower car ownership, reduce carbon and drive future fares revenue growth via sustainable development. Participants will be involved in planning many of the biggest and most challenging development and regeneration opportunities in London as well as early feasibility on new interchanges with a focus on sustainability and inclusion. This will involve making a compelling case to government and others for transport investment.

Placement 4 – Chief Customer and Strategy Office – 6 month placement
In Customer and Strategy, a broad range of disciplines are covered. The team devises strategies, plans for London’s future, undertakes research and engagement, and provides insight and data. The Office for the Chief Customer and Strategy Officer is at the heart of the department. As part of this placement, participants will have the opportunity to shadow the Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, working alongside them on their priorities for the organisation. Participants will also learn about the governance processes which set out the processes and structure for the organisation, working with the team to prepare for Executive Committee sub-groups and various Boards and Panels. As part of this placement, participants will work closely with the other Offices across TfL and the Greater London Authority; preparing briefings, reports and correspondence. No two days are the same and participants will be working alongside a team of experts in their field.

Sustainability is intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos, and the organisation ensures that it operates in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world. Participants in the Strategic Planning graduate scheme will understand how the business operates sustainably and how it is planning a sustainable future for London.