Transport minister Lord Ahmad has teamed up with the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) to encourage young people into a career in transport.
The CIHT has produced educational material for use in primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, to help educate and inspire the transport professionals of tomorrow.
The news follows the Department for Transport’s 2016 Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, which highlights the current skills crisis in the sector and sets the target of creating 30,000 new apprenticeships in transport by 2020.
Lord Ahmad
The interactive set of educational materials have been produced with the help of CIHT’s Careers Material Group and have been tested with a number of learning partners including schools and colleges.
CIHT is calling on members to volunteer their time to bring the material into their local schools to help inspire the next generation.
Transport minister Lord Ahmad said: 'This Government is supporting record investment in infrastructure and I am determined this translates into jobs and apprenticeships for young people. The transport sector now offers rewarding careers to work on some of Europe’s largest and innovative construction projects. It is important we have the diversity of skills and experience required to deliver our ambitious agenda.
'I am therefore delighted that CIHT have published this timely and useful Careers Toolkit, and want to encourage those from all walks of life, to consider a career in this vital and fascinating sector.
'With Year of the Engineer in 2018 this Toolkit will help focus industry on the importance of engaging with young people. Careers in transport have a breadth and range like no other and hopefully this toolkit will help to highlight this and help create more diversity within the transport sector.'
Sue Percy, chief executive, CIHT said: 'A career in highways and transportation allows you to help shape and enhance the world around us. The transport sector offers a wide choice of creative and technical roles, ranging from re-designing and transforming environments, to contributing to scientific developments, connecting communities and helping to form government policy.
'The launch of these careers materials will enable CIHT members and industry to highlight the myriad of opportunities a career in transport can provide.”
The CIHT Careers Material has been funded by a grant from the Rees Jeffries Road Fund.
CIHT members can register to receive a toolkit here - although they must sign up with STEMNET first before taking the packs into schools.
STEMNET ambassadors will recieve support, training, a background check and insurance.
For more information please email: education@ciht.org.uk
