Highways Industry Alliance launches

New grouping brings together ndustry trade bodies and societies

Clockwise from top left, Jennie Martin (ITS (UK)), Paul Hutton (ITS (UK)), Steve Spender (IHE), Kealie Franklin (ARTSM), Mark Pleydell (ARTSM) and Peter Dipper (HCTA) at their virtual meeting

Clockwise from top left, Jennie Martin (ITS (UK)), Paul Hutton (ITS (UK)), Steve Spender (IHE), Kealie Franklin (ARTSM), Mark Pleydell (ARTSM) and Peter Dipper (HCTA) at their virtual meeting

A new group comprised of highways-related industry trade bodies and societies has had its first full meeting as an organisation providing a shared voice, the Highways Industry Alliance (HIA).

The HIA brings together ARTSM, ITS (UK), the IHE, ISA UK, REMA, BPA and HCTA – a range of organisations in the highway sector, incorporating signs, signals and control, highways asset management and technology as well as training, skills and qualifications. All the organisations have agreed to work together to share their knowledge and expertise.

The group’s aim is to make it easier for large public sector organisations such as the Department for Transport, Highways England and devolved governments to have a single point of contact with those organisations involved.

“The Highways Industry Alliance is a broad church and we have worked hard to identify the diverse parties that have a common interest in seeing a close liaison between users, industry and government,” said ITS (UK) Secretary General Jennie Martin. “Our associations and bodies consist of companies across all tiers – large corporations, SMEs and individuals.”

Steve Spender, chief executive of the Institute of Highway Engineers, said: “We believe we can contribute to the government Industrial Strategy and SME Agenda. We also think that contractual practices can often disadvantage small firms in the supply chain and that we can offer these organisations a voice.”

Kealie Franklin, General Secretary of ARTSM, said: “Such a UK forum can only be beneficial in future consultations for transport change, being able to prepare our members and provide guidance and support for the government strategies in the ways that only we can.”

The Highways Industry Alliance welcomes anyone in the sector wishing to get involved and stresses that it is not its intention to be seen as being in competition with any other organisations within the sector.