Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Graham Dalton, has been appointmented as the first Transport Skills Champion. This new role has been created in response to a recommendation by an IHT, DfT and TfL-supported industry study, Project Brunel, which highlighted a shortage of skilled professionals in the road and rail sectors.

The Transport Skills Champion will coordinate and lead the implementation Project Brunel's recommendations, whilst raising the profile of the transport industry. He will emphasise the need to improve and invest in skills as well as driving the diversity agenda within the industry.

Graham Dalton said:" The Transport Industry is vital to how we live and do business in this country, and offers some of the most challenging and rewarding careers for people of all interests and backgrounds. So I look forward to working with government, with employers and with professional bodies to raise the profile of transport as a professional career."

Chris Jackson, Institution of Highways and Transportation (IHT) President said: "IHT welcomes Graham Dalton’s appointment as Skills Champion. The Project Brunel survey highlighted some of the challenges that the Transportation Industry faces now, and is likely to face in the future. A Skills Champion will provide a focal point for stakeholders to coordinate their efforts and strengthen our position when putting our case to government and other organisations."

For more information on Project Brunel, please contact:
t: +44 (0)20 7336 1566
e: communications@iht.org