Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), an industry association for transport technology, and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), the main body for the development of professional highway engineering, have agreed a partnership to deliver even greater benefits to their memberships and the wider sector.

Signed at Traffex, the major industry trade show for transport technology, the Professional Development Partnership between the two organisations will deliver a range of benefits, from the mutual promotion of events, courses and activities to the opportunity to work together on policy development and representation to government.

The new partnership will also result in discounts being made available for members of both organisations to each other’s events and courses and will see ITS UK events countable toward IHE’s continuing professional development (CPD) programme.

Promotion of IHE’s ITS courses to the ITS UK membership will also be an added benefit of the partnership.

Max Sugarman, chief executive of Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), said the agreement would be of great value to both memberships and in supporting the sector in an ever-changing technology landscape.

“Transport technology is becoming ever more crucial to the effective and efficient running of our road network and it is therefore vital that, as an industry, we continue to focus on maintaining our understanding of the latest developments across the sector," said Sugarman.

“So, I am very pleased to agree a new partnership with the IHE that will support both our memberships in having access to the latest knowledge and events, support mutual promotion of the two organisations and see collaboration in representing the sector to government." 

Steve Spender, chief executive at the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), said he hoped the agreement will deliver "mutual support and collaboration between our two organisations".

He added: "The IHE Professional Development Partnership initiative was introduced by the Institute a couple of years ago and is intended to promote closer cooperation between the Institute of Highway Engineers and potential partners and other organisations working in the highways sector.

"Our aim is to work together to provide industry standard training, promote the IHE Highway Engineering Academy (HEA) and to support all the practitioners working in the highways sector through the provision of suitable training, guidance, and advice, and to assist them where appropriate in seeking membership of a professional body as well as guiding individuals through towards professional registration.

“The IHE is looking forward to working with ITS UK to support the membership of both organisations in the challenges faced in an increasingly technology driven environment, which will impact on the highway sector."