Exploring future skills with emerging highways professionals

Rees Jeffreys Road Fund has collaborated with the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Emerging Professionals Network to ask “Are you ready for the future?”

What are the future skills transport professionals will need for a career in transport planning and delivery, and how can they be acquired? Guest speakers at our online webinar event highlighted several skill areas they felt will be key for transport professionals in future:

Behavioural sciences – being able to support people to learn to change the way they use public spaces and change their model of travel.
Climate – being able to understand the whole life cost and whole climate cost of proposals to support better decision making. Being carbon literate.
Data science – data is integral and mission critical to transport – it’s as essential as a road or a bridge. Being able to understand metrics and measure impact.
AI, machine learning and optimisation – transport professionals need to be able to discern true from false.
Becoming more comfortable with uncertainty and being able to exploit scenario planning.
Software engineering –a shortage of people skilled in software engineering and developers who can apply their skills to “wicked” transport problems.
Business skills – the skills and commercial awareness that is acquired through studying for an MBA.
Using technology to better communicate can help people visualise project proposals.

How can emerging professionals upskill themselves, ready for the future?
The message from the session was don’t shy away from topics that are unfamiliar – sign up for short introductory courses such as carbon literacy, AI, GIS, and other new technologies and skills.

For transport professionals at any stage of their career who unable to access funds for such training, Rees Jeffreys Road Fund is offering Ready for the Future grants. To find out more visit https://reesjeffreys.co.uk/ready-for-the-future/