The Preventative Highways Maintenance Fundamentals eLearning course offers English Local Authorities a fast, flexible way to meet the DfT requirement for incentivised funding; providing a route to demonstrate continued professional learning, including in relation to preventative maintenance before the 30 November 2026 deadline. It also enables contractors, consultants and other UK local authorities to upskill and build capacity. The online learning format minimises operational disruption and eliminates the need to wait for scheduled classroom dates, release staff from the workplace or incur additional travel costs. 

As highway authorities face growing pressure to maintain ageing assets, improve network resilience and maximise constrained budgets, preventative maintenance is becoming an increasingly important part of long-term asset management strategies. 

Cat Goumal, Director of Education, Learning and Training, CIHT said: 

"Highway authorities are under increasing pressure to do more with less while maintaining safe and resilient networks. The move towards preventative maintenance is an important step in achieving that, but it requires the right skills and knowledge across the workforce. This course, which has been developed with practitioners, for practitioners, to help build capability and confidence in delivering proactive maintenance approaches. By supporting the sector to develop these skills, we can help ensure organisations are better prepared to meet both current requirements and future challenges." 

Authored by our past president Matthew Lugg OBE, who is internationally recognised as an expert in highway asset management, and reviewed by leading industry practitioners, this course is endorsed by UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG) Roads Board, supported by The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) and delivered on CIHT's award-winning eLearning platform. It provides credible, practical learning designed to be an effective, efficient and economical solution to the challenges organisations face. 

James Bailey, Chair of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) Engineering Board, said: 

"The additional funding now being made available to local highway authorities is creating greater opportunities to increase investment in preventative maintenance and achieve a better balance between planned interventions and reactive repairs. This shift towards a more proactive approach is one of the most important developments in our sector and it depends on people having the right skills. That's why ADEPT is supporting CIHT's new Preventative Highways Maintenance Fundamentals course, which will build capacity across local highway authorities and give teams the practical skills to plan ahead and act early. It's a timely and welcome addition and we'd encourage colleagues across the sector to sign up." 

Amanda Richards:  BA (Hons), MSc, MCIHT, Chair of the UKRLG Roads Board and Assistant Director Highways, Asset Management, Surrey County Council said: 

“A core role of the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG) Roads Board is to identify, develop, promote and share best practice across the highways sector. The Roads Board is also committed to supporting improved asset management, helping the sector respond to the climate emergency and net zero ambitions, and promoting skills, competence and professional development. 

The CIHT Learn preventative maintenance course aligns strongly with these objectives by providing practitioners with practical knowledge and evidence-based guidance on how to implement effective preventative maintenance strategies, improve asset performance and deliver sustainable outcomes for communities.” 

The course brings together industry-leading expertise, professional body accreditation and sector-wide support, providing organisations with a trusted route to building preventative maintenance capability.

Supporting better asset management 

The new course forms part of CIHT Learn, the Institution's online learning platform, which provides highways and transportation professionals with access to expert-led training designed around the needs of the sector. CIHT Learn enables organisations to onboard, upskill and reskill staff efficiently and cost-effectively while supporting lifelong learning and career development. 

Find out more: Preventative Highways Maintenance course or register an interest here