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Membership
Events & Webinars
Skills
Innovation Procurement System
Industry Jobs
Working Groups
Resources
News

Connecting the sector through innovation and collaboration

A Community Interest Company with a focus on the highways sector

Creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and learning to facilitate positive change within the highways community.

About LCRIG

Our mission, centred around collaboration, innovation, skills, and a dedicated commitment to decarbonisation in the highways sector, facilitates positive change within the highways community and among our members. We act as a vital link between central and local government, the supply chain, and the wider highways community.

Our growing community includes government, local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, national organisations, supply chain, academia and associations. With a membership of over 350 and a circulation list of over 9,000, we reach individuals who are working across the sector, including Civil Servants and local authority representatives ranging from Directors, Assistant Directors, Heads of Service, Asset Managers and Engineers.

We are proud to support the Department for Transport (DfT) and other Government teams to provide policy advice and share challenges faced by councils and suppliers. LCRIG also delivers the Transport Technology Forum on behalf of DfT and Innovate UK, supporting local authorities in navigating innovation in future technologies. 

Our Commitment

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), we are committed to giving back to the highways community. LCRIG local authority members benefit from fully funded access to a knowledge sharing environment and a wide range of LCRIG services including attendance at LCRIG Events, participation in national and regional working groups and access to publications and reports. For a full list of member benefits click here.

Our Core Values

LCRIG is guided by a set of core values that define our identity:

Achievement
We consistently push boundaries to exceed expectations and to make a lasting impact in our sector.

Laughter
Our commitment to laughter is a commitment to the well-being and happiness of our team. 

Family
We achieve success through the strength of relationships we build and the positive impact we make on the lives of our team members, their families and the wider LCRIG community. 

Integrity
We are honest, transparent, and treat everyone fairly and with respect. Maintaining our integrity ensures we maintain our position of trust and credibility within the sector.

Meet the team

Meet our team of extraordinarily talented individuals who share a passion for achieving the very best in everything they do.

The Team that makes things happen for our members

Paula Claytonsmith
Chief Executive

LCRIG

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Paula Claytonsmith

Paula has worked in local government leading frontline services, a national public sector improvement agency tasked with performance improvement, KPMG Government Advisory, international consulting assignments, political lobbying sector, and independent national government advisory roles. Paula has also worked in executive leadership roles in the charitable sector including a major stem cell cancer charity leading their operations department and a strategic policy and lobbying role in a leading environmental charity focused on behaviour change to improve local environmental quality. Latterly she has been involved with PIARC, World Roads Association technical committee on accessibility and mobility in rural areas. Paula’s passion for technology, data, and public services means that she has spoken on more than one occasion on BBC Radio4’s programme “In Business” about technology and Infrastructure. Paula has authored articles about infrastructure, data, and its social impact for the Institute of Highways Engineers. In 2019, Paula gave evidence directly to the Transport Select Committee on Local Roads Funding and Governance. Paula is also a member of the Royal Meteorology Society, with a strong personal interest in extreme weather, climate change, and other weather phenomena.

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Kerry Winstanley
Finance & Operations Director

LCRIG

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Kerry Winstanley

Kerry Winstanley is Finance and Operations Director at LCRIG and a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team. She plays a central role in shaping LCRIG’s direction and growth, driving the development and delivery of member-focused services across local authorities, suppliers, academia and partners. Kerry leads on all aspects of operations including marketing, membership engagement, service delivery and the strategic oversight of LCRIG’s flagship events including Innovation and Learning Festival and Strictly Highways. She also oversees the delivery of key national and international programmes including the ITS European Congress and the Transport Technology Forum, supporting LCRIG’s strategic relationships with the Department for Transport. In her role as Finance Director, Kerry ensures LCRIG operates as a financially robust and compliant Community Interest Company. She manages statutory reporting, financial performance and provides commercially focused insights to support Board-level decision making. A CIMA-qualified finance professional, Kerry brings extensive senior leadership experience from the Highways, Transport and Professional Services sectors. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in enabling business growth and supporting the successful sale and integration of businesses. Her ability to deliver robust financial frameworks, alongside clear commercial insight, has helped organisations scale sustainably, enhance their market value and navigate complex change with confidence. Kerry’s expertise continues to underpin LCRIG’s mission to support innovation and collaboration across the highways sector.

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Susanne Ingham
Relationship Director

LCRIG

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Susanne Ingham

Susanne is LCRIG’s Relationship Director and has worked within the civil engineering, highways and transportation sector for over 25 years. Susanne’s extensive network of contacts and broad range of experience serves her perfectly to facilitate LCRIG’s aim to create a fully inclusive ‘highways community’.

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Charlotte Bromley
Head of Events

LCRIG

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Charlotte Bromley

Charlotte is LCRIG’s Head of Events and she oversees all LCRIG events and webinars. Charlotte has worked within the civil engineering, highways and transportation sector for over 15 years.

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Keely Metcalfe
Relationship Manager

LCRIG

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Keely Metcalfe

Keely is LCRIG’s Relationship Manager and she is responsible for onboarding and supporting members. Keely has experience in customer service and account management which she gained from working in the rail sector.

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Shelley Hainsworth
Marketing Manager

LCRIG

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Shelley Hainsworth

Shelley is LCRIG’s Marketing Manager and responsible for all marketing and communications. Shelley has worked in the civil engineering, highways and transportation sector for over 15 years and has a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Level 6 Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.

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Emma Farrell
Finance and Projects Lead

LCRIG

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Emma Farrell

As Finance and Projects Lead, Emma oversees finance administration while leading on a range of projects that enhance our support for members and drive our continued growth. With a career spanning over 18 years in the highways and transport technology sector, along with an additional 8 years in retail, hospitality, and distribution, Emma brings a wealth of experience to the team.

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Claire Noble
Events Executive

LCRIG

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Claire Noble

Claire is LCRIG’s Events Executive. Claire previously worked as an administrator within the fire and security sector, and has over 20 years of admin experience, within a variety of different industries.

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Ciara Parnell
Online Events Executive

LCRIG

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Ciara Parnell

Ciara is our Online Events Executive, responsible for the planning, coordination, and successful delivery of all online webinars for both LCRIG and the Transport Technology Forum (TTF).

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Karla Shorrock
Researcher

LCRIG

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Karla Shorrock

Karla has worked for LCRIG as an Administrator, on a part time basis since July 2021 and has played a key role in establishing and developing the LCRIG internal systems. Karla works part-time for LCRIG and is studying Marine Biology at Glasgow University.

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Georgia Ingham
Community Interest Manager

LCRIG

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Georgia Ingham

Georgia is responsible for managing the LCRIG community interest projects and the fund-raising activities for our local and national charitable work. Georgia has worked within the civil engineering, highways and transportation sector for almost 8 years part-time whilst studying for her BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care and her LLB Law (Hons) Degree which she completed in April 2019.

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We are supported by our Advisory Board Members

Advisory Board members are drawn from Chairs of the LCRIG Regional Groups, Innovation Board and our work to support skills in the sector.

Will Britain
President

LCRIG

Susanne Ingham
Relationship Director

LCRIG

Sean Rooney
Head of Service - Highway Maintenance

Oxfordshire County Council

Paula Claytonsmith
Chief Executive

LCRIG

Kerry Winstanley
Finance & Operations Director

LCRIG

Paul Binks
Asset Manager (Highways - Principal engineer)

Lancashire County Council

Ian Large
Head of Highways and Traffic Management Services

Blackpool Council

Dwayne Lowe
Deputy Director of Place

Bolton Council

Darren Capes (Corresponding member)
Manager

Transport Technology Forum (TTF)

Carol Valentine
Head of Business Services / highways and transportation

Kent County Council

Andy James
Business Director

 Cornwall Highways

Innovation board

Our Innovation Board provide support and guidance to help drive innovation in the sector

Ian Large (Chair)
Head of Service, Highways and Traffic Management

Blackpool Council

Adam Brunskill
Streetworks Manager

Electricity North West

David Capon
CEO

JAG (UK)

Joanna White
Roads Development Director

National Highways

Dr Ian Lancaster

Representing AIA

Nigel Smith
Head of Highway / Operations

North Yorkshire Council

Kim Harper
Efficiency & Programme Manager

Central Bedfordshire Council

Sam Shean
Highways & Traffic Services Manager

Reading Borough Council

Paula Claytonsmith
Chief Executive

LCRIG

Laura Alexander Webb
lane rental and innovation manager

Transport for London

Join the Team

If you are interested in joining our team of dedicated individuals, striving to making a difference for the benefit of the highways community, contact us today!

Get in touch

HOW IT ALL STARTED

LCRIG (formerly LCHIG) was originally established in 2011 by the then Head of Highways and Traffic Management Services at Blackpool Council, Will Britain, FICE. Will was always driven by innovation and his infectious enthusiasm was shared by six other forward-thinking founder councils that met regularly to share ideas on innovation and collaborate to share good practice. The founder Councils of LCRIG were Blackpool Council, Manchester City Council, Cumbria County Council, Halton Council, Stockport Council, Plymouth Council and Lancashire County Council, all of whom continue to be involved in LCRIG activities along with others.

2013

A group of 11 local councils form the Local Council Highways Investment Group (LCHIG).

2017

LCHIG is renamed the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG).

2018

LCRIG’s inaugural national conference, ‘Strictly Highways’ is attended by over 70 local councils. LCRIG then holds further technical training days which are also taken up by many councils.

2019

Second Strictly Highways conference takes place, with over 300 delegates, including representation from the DfT, councils and key organisations.

2020

LCRIG launches weekly e-newsletter, the LCRIG Insight. 2020 also sees the introduction of LCRIG-hosted and LCRIG-led webinars.

2021

LCRIG becomes a registered CIC and the first organisation of it’s type in the world to achieve ISO 44001 certification. DfT appoints LCRIG as Secretariat of the Transport Technology Forum (TTF). First virtual Strictly Highways event receives record levels of engagement. LCRIG/Steve Berry Think Exceptional £150,000 Innovation Fund launches.

2022

Project Amber Inaugural Collaboration meeting takes place with over 100 delegates in attendance and LCRIG delivers inaugural Innovation Festival with over 450 delegates and more than 60 different local highway authorities attending over two days. LCRIG Skills training platform launches.

2023

LCRIG was proud to be awarded Team of the Year at Highways Awards. We achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 300 members including 115 councils, 155 associates, 27 partner and 9 academia members. We published our first Annual Report. We also collaborated with Salford College and Salford City Council to deliver a new highways apprenticeship course.

2024

LCRIG has expanded its reach, strengthened partnerships, and delivered even greater value to our members. From record-breaking events to launching initiatives that drive forward-thinking solutions, there are many ways we have supported the sector to tackle challenges and embrace opportunities.