This week, Keely and I have been enjoying another one of our semi-regular road trips.
This time though we’ve been using trains, and there have been some “almost” challenges with delays and changing platforms with minutes to spare. Running upstairs with suitcases, bags and exhibition banners certainly gave us a workout!
Wherever possible, we attend (and I speak) at open days, or customer days, that our associate members hold with their Local Authority customers. Obviously, with such a small team we can’t attend every open day our supply chain members hold, but we do try if we’re asked.
Our role at open days is often to provide an update on LCRIG activities to councils, and share knowledge and intelligence. As we’ve expanded our work, I usually talk, not just about LCRIG events, but other programmes of work we’re involved in, such as practical research or policy insights that we are feeding into. It’s a great way for our DfT colleagues to also reach out to councils.
This week, we attended the XAIS open day in Doncaster. The theme for their Open Day this year was “Collaboration”. Collaboration is close to our hearts, and as the only CIC of our type with ISO 44001, collaboration is part of our DNA. When presenting at the XAIS open day, I metaphorically wore triple hats. I talked about LCRIG and the work we are undertaking, I talked at length about TTF (representing DfT colleagues) and the exciting ITMF guidance released last week. I also talked about the importance of data and evidence and used the example of the £15m signals funding and how this had increased to £70m in 2024/25 with the use of evidence and its congestion improving benefits. I had also received a message from DfT that very morning urging Highways Managers and Heads of Service to seek out information relating to additional DfT funding announced last November, that had been sent to their Chief Executive’s. This latter message is important for every English Highway Authority. So if you are a council reading this and have not received from your Chief Executive the email sent to them by DfT, do seek this out as it contains important reporting information.
Another opportunity we take when attending Open days or regional LCRIG activities, is that Keely and I try and take time to visit councils. Last Autumn, we spent time with Officers (and Elected Members) at Reading Council and Plymouth Council. We spent almost a day with each seeing innovations in action, talking about challenges faced in funding, seeing opportunities in play and hearing stories from elected officials.
This time, after this week’s LCRIG South West Event on “Procuring Innovation” in Exeter, we are with colleagues at Devon County Council. We also took the opportunity to meet leadership colleagues at CORMAC and Cornwall Highways – this was a great opportunity to discuss mixed economy models of procurement and their role as a Teckal. We have a packed programme planned at Devon County Council and we are looking forward to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that they have embraced. By hearing from councils, we can share their hopes, ideas, ambitions and lessons with other councils through our regional groups, communications and many conversations we have with councils across the country which for me is all about collaboration.
With more than 85% of all highways authorities being members of LCRIG, there is not just a lot to share, but a lot to collaborate on. Furthermore, by supporting councils we are also supporting our supply chain
Paula Claytonsmith, Chief Executive