Highways-Industry President Commends Leeds College of Building Transport Apprenticeship

A unique Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship was given an official seal of approval after a visit from The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT).

Martin Tugwell, the newly elected CIHT President for 2019/2020 and Director for England’s Economic Heartland, attended Leeds College of Building to find out more about the programme. The trailblazing apprenticeship was the first of its kind to launch in the UK in October 2016. 

During the site visit, CIHT representatives had a tour of the facilities, met apprentices, and talked to faculty lecturers. Employer representatives from Mott Macdonald, SCP, AECOM, Atkins Global, and Highways England were also on hand to talk about the successful training initiative.

Now in its fourth intake, the programme oversees approximately 120 students (first and second-year students, as well as those undergoing their End Point Assessment through CIHT). Taught at the College’s North Street Campus over 2-3 years, apprentices gain a Level 3 BTEC Diploma while gaining experience of working in industry.

During the apprenticeship, technicians learn the policy, legal and regulatory context within which transport planners work, the collection and analysis of data, transport and traffic models, forecasting and principal analytical methods and software packages, and the assessment of transport and traffic policies, plans and projects.

Martin Tugwell, President, CIHT said:

“We are delighted to be involved with Leeds College of Building and the Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship, which gives apprentices the knowledge and skills that employers are looking for and allows them to learn as they earn.

“Linking the apprenticeship to a professional qualification provides greater value and recognition for both the apprentice and their employer and is an important first step on a professional career pathway in transport planning or engineering.”

Brian Duffy, Leeds College of Building Faculty Director, said:

“It’s an honour to host this visit as we value this fantastic collaboration with CIHT. Our team worked incredibly hard on the creation of the BTEC Diploma and the skills standard – every staff member should be commended for progressing such a brilliant programme.”

The Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship programme engages with companies across the UK including Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Suffolk and Hull & East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Arup, Curtins, TFL, Jacobs and Ardent.

Transport Planning Apprentice and Technician at North West Transportation, Joel Shevlin, said:

“The College supported me greatly on the course and in my career with Atkins, as I studied on the first Transport Planning Apprenticeship […and as] I progress through my career, I look to actively promote the college and the course to people who I rub shoulders with in the sector.”

The College visit coincided with the second-year group’s visit to Essen in Germany and also the Yorkshire & Humber CIHT Regional Awards Dinner at Leeds City Hilton Hotel. Leeds College of Building apprentices Viren Lad (SCP), David Powell (West Yorkshire Combined Authority), and Lynsey Turner (AECOM), were all shortlisted in the Graham sponsored ‘Apprentice of the Year 2019’ category which recognises a positive impact made in the field of highways or transportation in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.