In a recent insight report carried out by Planning magazine, we have been ranked the number one planning consultancy with the highest proportion of female planning partners and the number 5 planning consultancy with the highest proportion of female planners.
The Planning Insight report highlighted the proportions of female planning directors in large businesses across the UK. Having Liberty Stones as our Head of Planning, and Angela Brooks and Sarah DeRenzy Tomson as partners meant that 100% of the senior roles within the planning team are held by women. This percentage is significantly ahead of all other planning consultancies with the second-ranked consultancy in this category, DPP Planning with 57% and most other consultancies having under 40% representation.
Commenting on the figures, Liberty said: “Getting to this figure has been an organic journey for the Planning Department We have always been progressive in offering flexibility to both women and men within the planning team.
Offering flexibility has helped to retain staff who have then progressed to senior and director positions. We find that having women in senior positions supports other women in the Department, who can see where they can go, and it helps young women in the property industry aspire to progress in their careers.
“We have to be more flexible as an employer, we must operate as a business for all and offer roles that are equally attractive to everyone.”
The report also recognised us as the number 5 planning consultancy with the highest proportion of female planners. Last year’s report highlighted that seven of the biggest planning consultancies had reported at least gender parity among their numbers of chartered town planners. In 2024, that number jumps to ten. 56% of our planning team are female.
Liberty added: “Things have changed since I joined this sector, it is important to have a diverse team which reflects our clients and the communities we work in, and we must offer the same flexibility to everyone. It’s about having the right skill sets, determination, and ambition across the business.
“When we recruit, we have a wide range of skill requirements, but what is most important are the skill sets, work ethic and ambition. We have more females joining Fisher German than ever before, and offering a flexible team culture will help us to retain staff as their responsibilities change outside work.”
