LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival 2026 – In Words

“I just wanted to take the time to say a huge thank you for delivering such a fantastic event – especially given the challenges of the extreme heat. It really didn’t detract from the overall experience, and in many ways we actually found it even more valuable than last year. We came away with a significantly higher number of contacts, but more importantly, they were meaningful and relevant to what we need as a service. It genuinely felt like we were having the right conversations with the right people this time. As a result, we already have around five lunch-and-learns to schedule, and there are several products and solutions we’re actively looking to progress following conversations at the event. The outcome for us has been incredibly positive, it’s given us real momentum, which is brilliant. We’ve come away feeling like we’ve made tangible progress and connections.” 

“I just wanted to email you to mention how much of a great event this year’s Innovation Festival was once again. I’ve picked up several company details with the view of trialing new products within Doncaster’s Network in the upcoming months. I’ve also passed details on to colleagues from other departments of advertised services I believe may help in their day to day delivery. Thanks again for giving me and my team the opportunity to attend and we are already looking forward to next year.” 

“Just a thank you for arranging such a great event. Hot YES but brilliantly catered for and everything was exceptional.  A huge well done to all of the team. See you next year.” 

“Just wanted to say thanks and well done – the show was a great success and expertly run!” 

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for such a fantastic festival. It was a brilliant event and I really enjoyed hearing from the various organisations on a wide range of topics, attending the CPD sessions and having the chance to chat to exhibitors one-to-one. The outdoor sessions were a great addition too and I especially enjoyed the time spent with the other apprentices. I’m still feeling very grateful (and a little overwhelmed!) for the recognition in the Future of Local Roads: Apprentice Innovation Competition. It genuinely means a lot – Thank you. I can only imagine how much work goes on behind the scenes to make an event like this happen, particularly in the recent heat, so it’s really appreciated. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.” 

“Just wanted to congratulate you all on an absolutely fantastic Innovation & Learning Festival. Everyone we spoke to said it was the best ever. Didn’t have time to get the merchandise out from under our table until lunchtime on Wednesday, as with 4 of us on the stand talking to clients / prospective clients from around 8.30 and a queue waiting, we hardly had a minute.” 

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you from all of us for the Innovation & Learning Festival. This was my 2nd time (but Dan and Tanya’s first) and I found it just as interesting and enlightening as last year! Even with the really hot weather, I have to say that everybody from the LCRIG staff, the event staff, to all the contractors, exhibitors and the hotel staff were amazing, so helpful and polite. A relaxed professionalism would be the best way to describe it! Thank you so much once again and see you next year.” 

“A big thank you to everyone who visited our indoor and outdoor stands, and to the LCRIG team for putting on another brilliant event.” 

“A conversation with my neighbouring authorities, reviewing best practice initiatives followed by presentation after presentation of innovative practice and products. A few welcome drinks, lovely food and a relaxing evening. Next day finds me catching up with my peers across the country, a summarisation of Live Labs 2 and more informed discussions from industry leads. Where else but LCRIG. Thank you for another great event!” 

“Well done to the entire team on the tremendous success of this year’s LCRIG Learning and Innovation Event. Thank you all for your hard work, dedication, and commitment in looking after every single person who attended, ensuring everyone’s wellbeing and making the event such a welcoming experience. Despite the challenging weather and intense heat, you remained positive, professional, and always wore a smile. Your teamwork, passion, and attention to detail make these events truly memorable and a great success. Thank you for going above and beyond to showcase innovation, collaboration, and excellence. You should all be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. Well done, everyone!” 

“Thank you to you all at LCRIG for another great festival and for all the extras you put in place to accommodate the weather. Your hard work is very much appreciated.” 

“Well done to all involved. A very successful and relaxed event bringing the whole sector together.” 

“Great event, really appreciate how hard everyone worked in such extreme heat. You all worked so hard to make it a success. Thank you!” 

“Great work. Every single one of you never stopped making sure everything went to plan and everyone was happy! Thank you.” 

“Congratulations to everyone involved in delivering another highly successful Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) Innovation & Learning Festival. The LCRIG teams commitment and engagement with the guests, exhibitors and presenters throughout the event was exceptional. Events such as these continue to showcase the collaboration, innovation and leadership that drive our highways sector forward.

“We all commented on how professional the event was planned especially in the increased temperatures. Big thank you to the LCRIG team, members, local authority partners, exhibitors, sponsors, award nominees and winners for their contribution to one of our valuable industry events.” 

“First visit for me. Well worth it. Thank you team.” 

“Well done guys! Really well delivered event with the challenge of the heat.” 

“Well done team LCRIG for raising over £1100 for a very important charity that affects families across the UK.” 

“Thank you for having us. It was a pleasure to be a part of it and start the conversation with like minded industry peers.” 

“The Festival will probably be remembered for more than just the innovation on display. The 30°C+ heat certainly made it an event to remember. Looking back, what stands out most is the breadth of innovation across the highways sector. From heavy machinery and construction materials to AI, connected infrastructure and digital platforms, every solution had the same purpose: helping road networks become safer, smarter and more efficient.” 

“Lots of interest in our materials and we’re excited to see where those conversations lead.” 

“Our first attendance at the Innovation Festival and didn’t disappoint! Thank you to all the team at LCRIG for making us feel welcomed. It was brilliant to collaborate with such a forward-thinking community, bringing together local authorities, innovators, and industry specialists all focused on tackling the real challenges in roads and highways.

“We had some super conversations and it was great to speak with so many local council partners, sharing ideas and discussing the challenges and opportunities. Events like this highlight the importance of collaboration in driving innovation across highways and transportation, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

“Thank you to the LCRIG event team for putting on and hosting an excellent Innovation & Learning Festival. Providing an inclusive and collaborative environment for all attendees. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to give a joint presentation with the Department for Transport (DfT). Well done to all those involved and keeping us hydrated and safe in the hot weather too.” 

“Thanks to LCRIG for bringing together local authorities, industry partners, and innovators to share ideas and drive positive change across the highways sector.” 

“Last week was my first time attending the LCRIG Learning and Innovation Festival, and what a great couple of days it was – albeit very warm ones! It was fantastic to see firsthand the amazing work LCRIG does in bridging the gap between local authorities and the private sector. LCRIG did a stellar job in ensuring everyone stayed happy, engaged, and hydrated, despite the scorching temperatures!” 

“The event brought together a tantalising mix of ideas and technologies from across the highways sector, from solutions already making an impact to emerging innovations shaping what comes next. Between the talks, exhibitors, live demonstrations, and conversations, it was a fantastically interesting event to be part of. Bring on 2027!” 

“Last week, we were pleased to exhibit at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival in Stoneleigh. Despite the heatwave, it was fantastic to see so many people from across the highways sector come together to share ideas, explore innovation and discuss the future of local roads. The event provided a great opportunity to catch up with members, partners and industry colleagues, while meeting new faces and having plenty of valuable conversations. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to visit us over the two days.”

“Last week I had the opportunity to attend the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival, followed by the DfT Awards Evening, and I took a lot away from both. One of my favourite things about the Festival was seeing just how much technology is being used across the industry. There was everything from drones and rovers to weather tech, thermal cameras and VR simulators. The Festival really opened my eyes to the wider supply chain and the huge number of businesses, innovators and specialists helping to shape the future of transport infrastructure. The Awards Evening was also a highlight. I was incredibly proud to be recognised as a finalist for Inspiring Apprentice of the Year.” 

“This week, the UK Academic Alliance for Pavement and Highway Engineering (UK-AAPHE) had a fantastic time at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival 2026. It was a great opportunity to connect with industry colleagues passionate about improving highway maintenance and advancing transport innovation, and to share more about who we are and what we do. We also had the pleasure of sponsoring one of the DfT Recognition Apprentice Awards. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand to chat and learn more about our work.” 

“It was great to attend this year’s LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival. Despite the hot weather, it was a fantastic event, with some great conversations and opportunities to learn. I’m incredibly proud to have won the DfT Exceptional Frontline Apprentice Awards. It’s a real honour to be recognised. Thank you to LCRIG for a fantastic event.” 

“This week was my first time attending the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival, and what a year to make my debut! It was an outstanding event, but the highlight for me was having the privilege of presenting the Department for Transport (DfT) Special Recognition Outstanding Achievement Award – Level 2 Apprenticeship, sponsored by TRL. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to the LCRIG team for delivering such a brilliant event. I’m looking forward to 2027 already!” 

“The weather was hot, but the conversations were even better.” 

“The LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival this year was great – interesting, productive, and fun despite the melting heat.” 

“Thanks to LCRIG and Stoneleigh for looking after everyone so well in the heat! It was great to make so many new connections and see familiar faces. The start-up area was a great place to meet new friends, discover amazing ideas and think about collaborations.” 

“I am delighted to say that I have received the Inspirational Apprentice Award! The event was excellent, I got to meet and network with many different people across the industry and learn about an array of innovative products and solutions used in construction and civil engineering. I would like to give a big ‘thank you’ to LCRIG for this incredible event and for the award.” 

“Had a great time at the LCRIG Innovation Festival this week. It was great to catch up with everyone in the industry and great to see how the industry continues to both progress and collaborate. Whilst it was a very hot day, I love the fact the event is both indoors and outdoors, giving the space and opportunity for some impressive demos!” 

“A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the stand at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival this week. It was fantastic to meet so many local authority teams, highway professionals and partners, and to hear the common challenges you’re facing. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversations over the coming weeks. A huge thank you to LCRIG for organising another excellent Innovation & Learning Festival and creating such a valuable opportunity for the local highways and streetworks community to come together.”

“What a fantastic climate change hackathon workshop this week – absolutely loved getting to be a part of this and hear about the problems and challenges we’re facing from a wide range of stakeholders. We need more of this – getting everyone together in a room and having open conversations about the problems (and then the solutions).” 

“Thank you LCRIG for the fantastic opportunity to present our work and two packed days of catching up with our clients.” 

“A great couple of days at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival alongside colleagues and industry professionals from across the Highways and Infrastructure sector. Lots of valuable conversations, fresh ideas, and insights to take away. A big well done to everyone at LCRIG for putting on such a fantastic event in very difficult conditions.” 

“Our latest ITS Now feature looks at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival 2026, where the spotlight was firmly on technologies that are moving from concept to real-world application. From AI-enabled asset management and predictive maintenance to digital twins, connected work zones, low-carbon highways solutions and multimodal mobility tools, the festival highlighted a sector that is quietly but decisively modernising. What stood out most was the sense of purpose: innovation designed not for show, but to help local authorities deliver safer, greener and more efficient networks under real operational pressures.” 

“A huge thank you to LCRIG for hosting us at the Innovation and Learning Festival – it was such a valuable opportunity to reconnect with innovators, discover new solutions and engage with local authorities and industry! A big shoutout to the LCRIG team for adapting so well to the extreme heat and ensuring everyone was as comfortable as possible – your efforts didn’t go unnoticed.” 

“As a hot and busy couple of days draw to a close at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival 2026, we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to stop by and chat to us. It’s been fantastic to connect, share ideas, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Until next year!” 

“Yesterday, we attended LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival with some of our Highways Academy Apprentices and Senior Management, With the business shortlisted for awards, it was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate progress across the sector and showcase the work being delivered. For our Highways Academy apprentices, the event provided valuable insight into the latest technical capabilities and innovations shaping the industry, helping to bring their learning to life.” 

“As usual the LCRIG community has delivered a fun and collaborative learning experience, discussing the highways industry with our peers and fellow professionals is always a pleasure.” 

“One of the best parts of the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival has been watching visitors gather around our products, inspect the details, and discuss how they could be applied to real projects. It’s one thing to read a specification sheet. It’s another to see the products up close, understand how they fit together, and discuss real-world applications with the team behind them.”

“The best part of events like this is catching up with people from right across the sector, hearing about the work they’re doing and having honest conversations about the opportunities and challenges facing local authorities. It was also good to see the DfT Special Recognition Apprentice Awards included as part of the evening, recognising the next generation of highways professionals.” 

“Collaboration in action (again). One of the things I value most about events such as the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival is the opportunity to bring people together.”