Skills and training
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Question |
Answer |
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Do you have an up-to-date training and development plan for those responsible for highways asset management in your authority? |
Yes |
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Do you or your main highways contractors support professional development through a recognised professional training scheme (e.g. Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or Institution of Highway Engineers (IHE))? |
Yes |
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Does your authority contribute towards the cost of professional membership or professional development required for relevant highways roles? |
Yes |
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Do you employ a professionally qualified engineer (e.g. Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent competence) with responsibility for the management of highway structures (either in house or through a contracted arrangement)? |
Yes |
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Does your authority define competence requirements for key highways asset management roles and take steps to address any identified gaps (either directly or through contractual arrangements)? |
Yes |
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Do you or your main contractors support early career development in your local area, for example through apprentice schemes, traineeships or pre-apprenticeship programmes, sponsored qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND, degree, MSc), graduate schemes etc |
Yes |
Evidence Summary
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is committed to investing in the professional development of its workforce and ensuring that it has the skills and expertise required to manage a modern highway network. As part of this commitment, the Council is currently working with the Engineering Council and relevant professional institutions to support a number of Principal Engineers and Assistant Principal Engineers in achieving Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
This programme forms part of our wider workforce development strategy and helps ensure that technical staff continue to develop their professional competence, leadership capabilities and asset management expertise. Supporting professional registration strengthens the Council's ability to deliver best-practice highway asset management, promotes knowledge sharing across the service and helps attract and retain high-calibre engineering professionals. By investing in our people, we are building a resilient and future-ready highways service capable of meeting the challenges of managing increasingly complex infrastructure and delivering the best outcomes for residents and road users.
Further context on skills/training
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is committed to supporting the next generation of highways and engineering professionals through a structured early careers programme. We currently employ 12 apprentices across a range of disciplines, from Level 2 Highway Maintenance through to Level 6 Civil and Structural Engineering and Flood Risk Management qualifications.
We recognise that developing local talent is essential to maintaining a sustainable workforce and ensuring the long-term resilience of the highways sector. In addition to our existing apprenticeship programme, we are exploring opportunities to establish a dedicated Highways Academy to provide clear career pathways into the profession. We are also working with colleagues across the Council to identify opportunities to support care leavers and young adults entering the workforce, helping them gain valuable skills, qualifications and long-term employment opportunities within the highways service. This investment supports both our workforce needs and wider social value objectives.