LUC

A landscape, environment and planning consultancy founded in 1966 as Land Use Consultants, with offices across the UK.

About LUC

LUC, which began as Land Use Consultants, is a consultancy focused on land use, the environment and places. Its tagline is better futures for nature, people and places. It describes its work in three stages: Understand, covering evidence, mapping, ecological surveys, consultation and tree work; Design, covering landscape architecture, development planning, urban design, impact assessment and visualisation; and Guide, covering open space management, strategic planning, nature recovery, green and blue infrastructure, climate and carbon work, and expert witness services.

LUC was founded in 1966 and has worked for decades on how land use changes while balancing the needs of nature and communities. In its own words, it aims to leave the world in a better place, and that impact shapes how it runs the company. Its approach follows the founders' principle of understand first, act second. Projects named on its site include the Glasgow Claypits project, the Bude Town Centre Investment Plan, the Kirkton Farm to Killin Path feasibility study, the Glenmuckloch to Glenglass Reinforcement Project and the Herefordshire Natural Environment Evidence Project.

LUC's UK offices are in Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Sheffield, with London as the registered office, so it reaches England, Scotland and Wales. News reports in the search results mention it opening offices in Manchester and Lancaster, which shows it has grown beyond London in recent years; the website's current list is the one to trust.

LUC says it invests in staff growth, both professional and personal, and treats talent as a core priority. It holds Armed Forces Covenant and Living Wage Employer recognition. These are the company's own claims. Because its work includes mapping, surveys, planning and design, teams often combine people with different training, such as ecologists, landscape architects, planners and GIS mappers.

Jobs at LUC include landscape planners and architects, ecologists, planners, arboriculture and urban forestry specialists, GIS and data analysts, and project support. Geography, biology, environmental science, art and maths are all useful starting points, and people in the sector often come from degrees accredited by the Landscape Institute or the Royal Town Planning Institute. The firm lists openings on its website. Chartered status through those professional bodies is a common long-term goal.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Mapping, ecological surveys, evidence gathering and consultation.', 'title': 'Understand'}
• {'desc': 'Landscape architecture, urban design, impact assessment and visualisation.', 'title': 'Design'}
• {'desc': 'Nature recovery, green infrastructure, climate and strategic planning advice.', 'title': 'Guide'}

Key facts

• Founded in 1966 as Land Use Consultants
• UK offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Sheffield
• Principle: understand first, act second
• Armed Forces Covenant and Living Wage Employer recognition (company claim)

Website: www.landuse.co.uk