CIHT Corporate Partners – Regional Involvement As we are all too well aware, the international and UK economies are being severely tested and in particular the Highways & Transportation sector in the UK is feeling the impact of much reduced investment. It is therefore crucial more than ever, that we work together to ensure that we maintain our voice, status and professional reputation in these difficult times. For a number of years CIHT has aligned with a large number of leading companies and organisations through its Corporate Partner scheme. This provides core benefits on a national basis; however regional interaction between CIHT and Corporate Partners has had until now a somewhat limited focus. Towards the end of 2010, the North Western Branch took the initiative to work more closely with Corporate Partners; establish and confirm regional Corporate Partner contacts and begin to work with them to: • Enhance professional relationships and industry communication, • Aim to raise joint profiles, • Explore the sharing of local facilities for meetings, lectures, project/product presentations, • Leverage increased membership • Encourage greater Young Professionals Committee involvement, • Discuss sponsorship of educational focussed prizes or awards, • Provide an advice of routes to Professional Qualifications. We are already starting to see early benefits, which we strongly believe will particularly support the professional development of our younger members and in unison help raise greater awareness of many of the fantastic projects and products being delivered by our industry Contractors, Consultants and Suppliers. It is key going forward that regional relationships are strengthened and we continue to build upon our early successes – we ask that you become involved where possible to support this initiative. Please contact Brian Thompson (btjtet@gmail.com) – NW Regional Corporate Partner Liaison or Mike Peet (michael.peet@btopenworld.com) - NW Branch Chair for more information.