Member Article

Transport planners are on the road to success

The UK’s very first Transport Planning Course was launched this week at Leeds College of Building, with the college welcoming 40 Transport Planning Technician (TPT) Apprentices to mark the start of what is one of the government’s first Trailblazers – a new form of apprenticeship.

The three year course will see apprentices split their time between in-company training, which will give them the chance to gain vital experience across a range of projects, and block release college teaching, all whilst being paid.

The course has been developed by a group of employers with input from the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), the Transport Planning Society, Leeds College of Building and support from the Leeds Institute for Transport Studies.

At the event, employers, industry leaders and guests heard from a number of key speakers including Christine Crossley, Training Manager at Atkins Global and TAC Chair; Kate Morris, who is the Director Of Strategic Planning & Advisory Transportation at AECOM; and Barry Falconer, the Curriculum Manager for Technical and Professional Apprenticeships at Leeds College of Building.

Christine Crossley of Atkins Global, which is taking on two TPT apprentices, said: “This course has been designed with employers’ requirements in mind. It will also give the apprentices a broad understanding of transport planning, opening doors for their future career development.”

At the end of their three years, successful apprentices will achieve a Level 3 qualification via Leeds College of Building, and will have amassed a portfolio of evidence for professional review by CIHT.

Curriculum Manager for Technical and Professional at Leeds College of Building, Barry Falconer, said: “With assessment based on academic coursework and assignments, as well as workplace competency, and with topics taught in college including legislation, data analysis, modelling designs and public consultation, our apprentices will be very well equipped for careers as Transport Planning professionals.”

Talking directly to the apprentices at the launch event, Barry went on to say: “You are pioneers, blazing a trail that others will follow. You will shape transport planning and policies for the next twenty years. You have exciting times ahead.”

Leeds College of Building’s project manager for the TPT apprenticeship Sarah Carter added: “We are excited to offer a new and unique course in Transport Planning. Learners will use state of the art technology to work on current and future industry innovations and we will very much be leaders in the field in this area.”

Speaking last month, John Dale, Urban Movement, and Chair of the Transport Planning Society said “The Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship is a challenging and ambitious programme of academic study and work based skills development aimed at attracting talented young people into a career as a transport planner. It will provide an excellent grounding for anyone, whatever their background, entering the profession, and leads directly into the industry standard TPS Professional Development Scheme.”

Leeds College of Building are the first and only College to offer this trailblazer apprenticeship. For more information about Leeds College of Building and its courses visit www.lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Mortimer .