The new bursaries will be administered by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and augment the 30 already available via Scottish Government grant funding to students on RTPI-accredited Planning Masters courses across Scotland’s three planning schools (University of Glasgow, University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University) for the 2025/26 academic year.

The organisations behind the donations are Brodies, Mac Mic Group, Miller Homes, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

HFS director of planning, Kevin Murphy, said: “At a time when the Scottish planning system has never been under greater pressure it is important to help support the next generation of planners into what are critical careers. In what is our 25th anniversary year, HFS is delighted to have facilitated these five new bursaries with the generous support of members and to be part of the solution to addressing what is a vastly under-resourced function.”

RTPI Scotland director Dr Caroline Brown added: “At the RTPI, we’re working hard to ensure a continuing pipeline of qualified planners are entering the workforce. The ‘Future Planners’ bursary scheme present an excellent opportunity for students from varied backgrounds to play an important role in shaping the future of planning in Scotland.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Homes for Scotland and its supporting members. Such partnership is essential if we are to address not only the skills shortage in the planning system but also the housing emergency and ensure Scotland has the homes of all types and tenures required to meet the needs of its population.”

Elaine Farquharson-Black, partner, Brodies LLP, said: “Brodies is pleased to support the next generation of planners through this postgraduate bursary. With Scotland facing a critical housing shortage, investing in planning talent is essential to delivering the homes our communities urgently need.”

Ross Mickel, group director at Mac Mic Group, added: “At Mac Mic Group, we’re deeply committed to addressing Scotland’s housing emergency. As we celebrate our centenary, this initiative underscores our dedication not only to tackling long-term planning challenges but also to nurturing the next generation of talent. Beyond financial support, the bursary recipient will gain invaluable hands-on experience by shadowing our planning team, offering a unique perspective on the entire development process—from securing planning consent to on-site delivery.”

David McGrath, executive managing director, Scotland and North, Miller Homes, commented: “Miller Homes is proud to support the planners of the future.  By providing this backing for training, we’re investing in the next generation who will help shape the sustainable communities of tomorrow.”

John Roocroft, regional chair, Persimmon Scotland and North West England Division, said: “Encouraging more people to pursue a career in planning is key to delivering the homes we need. By supporting the next generation of planners, we can help ensure local authorities have the skills and capacity needed to bring forward well-designed, successful and sustainable communities.”

Ian Drummond, divisional chair, Taylor Wimpey - Scotland, North East and North Yorkshire, added: “Scotland needs a robust and dynamic planning system. It is fundamental to fostering sustainable economic growth and enabling thriving communities through the delivery of much-needed all-tenure homes.

“At Taylor Wimpey, we recognise that attracting new talent to the profession is crucial to driving innovation, expertise, and resilience within the sector. We are looking forward to collaborating with our partner university to deliver an enriching learning experience that equips future planners with the skills and knowledge to shape Scotland’s places of tomorrow.”