In the morning I was thrilled to visit the Leeds College of Building where they run courses for the Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship.

Transport planning is a key part of our profession being at the forefront of shaping our future strategies and providing the evidence in support of proposals seeking funding. Last year I had the pleasure of meeting the 6 finalists for CIHT’s inaugural Apprentice of Year, the majority of whom had been on this course. The quality and professionalism of those 3 women and 3 men shown through time and time again, not just in terms of their day job but in their enthusiasm for the wider agenda, with many involved in promoting STEM subjects to their peers.

Meeting the College team first hand it was very easy to see how their approach and support for their students acts as inspiration and enables these young professionals realise their potential. It says something of both the College and the students when one hears that candidates going for their End Point Assessment (which the CIHT provides) show performance consistently exceeding the required standard. A successful assessment leads to the award of Eng. Tech qualification by the CIHT, a stepping stone on the career path for the young professional that can lead all the way to Chartered status, including the Chartered Transport Planning Professional qualification awarded by CIHT.

In the afternoon I had the opportunity to visit Highways England’s Regional Control Centre at Wakefield. Early on in my career I spent a time being responsible for the UTC/SCOOT system in Devon as a result of which I occasionally worked in the county’s 24-hour control room – at the time a facility that was cutting-edge. Seeing the latest generation of control centre for real I was immediately struck by how the dedicated team of operators go about their business of managing the network.

When I chose my theme – Shaping Tomorrow Today – I quite deliberately wanted to ensure that the vital contribution of those managing and maintaining our transport networks is given greater recognition. The service that control centre operators provide is just as important as those working on long term strategies or delivering investment on the ground. Looking after the day to day operation of our transport network makes a real difference to individuals and businesses alike. Whilst the role of the control centres might only come to the fore of our minds when there is a problem that personally affects us, we shouldn’t forget that their ability to intervene in anticipation of changed circumstances brings benefits that perhaps go unnoticed.

In a similar vein it was a pleasure to meet to Traffic Officers, part of the dedicated team that patrol the Strategic Road Network in their black and yellow checked vehicles. It was interesting to hear first-hand how the role of the Traffic Officers has evolved over time – I must admit I was amazed to hear that they’ve been with us now for 15 years – and how that has been helped by the impressive amount of kit that they carry. I had no idea for example that their vehicles are now equipped with load cells that enable them to tow vehicles clear and allow normal service resume – the sight of a Land Rover Discovery towing a 44-tonne artic must have been particularly impressive. And who knew that shortly all vehicles will be equipped with defibrillators?

One of the key points I took away from my conversation with the Traffic Officers is the knowledge and experience of ‘their roads’ that they hold: increasingly they – not the Police – are the ones that understand how best to make sure that delays to our journeys are kept to the minimum. It’s a timely reminder of the importance of appreciating the skills of those maintaining and managing our networks.

My visit to Yorkshire and Humber was rounded off by the Annual Dinner and Awards. Regional Chair James Leeming was the perfect host and Rob McCartney – as the Chair of the Awards Panel – acted as master of ceremonies for the awards section. I’d like to thank everyone in the region for making my time with you an absolutely cracking one – great company, great visits and fabulous weather.