For Nik Bowyer CTPP, FCIHT, (Technical Director, WSP) CIHT membership has never simply been about belonging to a professional body. It has been something he has actively used to develop his knowledge, build his network and progress professionally.

Nik joined CIHT in 2009 after starting his career from a background in physical geography rather than transport.

I’m very much a geographer and have a background in physical geography, glaciation, climate change and peat bogs, nothing transport related. But this shows the diverse background of professionals that we have in CIHT.

Early in his career, Nik wanted to develop beyond his immediate area of work and become a more rounded transport professional. CIHT gave him opportunities to gain exposure to areas outside his day-to-day role through CPD, conferences and connections with other professionals.

Building knowledge beyond the day job

Nik sees the professional network he developed through CIHT as one of the most important benefits of membership.

It allowed him to connect with people he would not ordinarily encounter at work, exchange knowledge and good practice, and develop his understanding of areas beyond his core specialisms of transport modelling and transport economics.

CIHT allowed me to gain awareness and knowledge in areas outside of my core scope of work. The CPD and conferences really helped me to start filling in that awareness and knowledge.

That wider exposure also helped build his confidence, giving him a broader understanding of the transport profession and enabling him to contribute to conversations beyond his immediate specialism.

Using membership to achieve CTPP

Professional qualification became an important part of Nik’s CIHT journey.

He achieved TPP in 2018, having begun working towards the qualification in earnest in 2016. He credits the support, professional development and learning available through CIHT with helping him build the knowledge and evidence he needed.

I’m quite confident saying that if I hadn’t been a member of CIHT, I certainly wouldn’t have achieved TPP when I did back in 2018.

For Nik, gaining Chartered TPP with CIHT provided both professional recognition and external validation of his skills.

CIHT was the institution that was going to give me that validation of professional credibility and recognition. I also felt that it was where I got the most support, not having that educational background in transportation.

Turning involvement into career progression

Nik has also seen a direct relationship between becoming involved in CIHT and opportunities within his career.

His work with the CIHT South West Regional Committee helped him broaden his professional network, develop new skills and build contacts. He believes that experience contributed to his promotion to Principal Consultant.

Later, progress towards professional accreditation and achieving Chartered status supported his progression to Associate Director.

I can directly link promotions in my career back to my CIHT work.

For Nik, the value therefore came from actively using the opportunities available, rather than treating membership as something passive.

From developing yourself to supporting others

Nik’s relationship with CIHT has continued to evolve as his career has progressed.
Having become a Fellow of CIHT, he now uses his experience to support others, including mentoring professionals through accreditation and contributing to CIHT regionally and nationally.

It represents a shift from using membership to build his own career to using his knowledge and experience to help others develop theirs.

As Nik puts it, CIHT has provided “access, industry insight and a wider professional network”, helping him maintain his professional knowledge while developing his long-term leadership capabilities.

Making your membership work for you

Nik’s experience also highlights a wider point as members look towards 2027: the value of membership grows when you use it.

Whether your next step is expanding your professional knowledge, working towards TPP or another professional qualification, developing your network, getting involved with your local region, contributing to the profession or mentoring someone else, CIHT membership can support you at different stages of your career.

As we approach the 2027 membership year, ask yourself: what could your next step with CIHT be?

Not yet a CIHT member?

Get the most out of your career and join today.

If you wish to contact us, please get in touch with our Membership team who are ready to help you. Email us at membership@ciht.org.uk or call us on ‪+44 020 7336 1555‬‬‬ (Option 1)   or make an enquiry.