National Highways will be highlighting the importance of its partnership work with regional transport bodies at a major conference.
The second STB (sub-national transport bodies) conference at The Vox in Birmingham on June 5 is being organised by England’s seven sub-national transport bodies with the purpose of showcasing the added value of their work.
With an emphasis on practical outcomes and delivering economic, environmental and social benefit, the event focuses on the STBs’ collective role in prioritising regionally joined up transport investment and enabling its local implementation.
There are currently seven sub-national (or regional) transport bodies in England. Outside London, their membership is formed from a mix of local highways authorities, local enterprise partnerships, local airports, National Highways, Network Rail and the Department for Transport. They also work closely with Chambers of Commerce and other business interests.
Among the attendees are National Highways Chief Executive Nick Harris, Director of Strategic Planning Adam Simmons, and Executive Director, Safety, Engineering and Standards, Mike Wilson.
In his speech, entitled: ‘The relationship with national partners’, Nick will talk about the importance of some key documents which have recently been published including Connecting the Country and Route Strategies reports. National Highways has also just published its Strategic Road Network Initial Report, giving its priority areas for investment in the next road period, 2025-30.
There will then be a conversation on engagement with STBs and other partners curated by Andrew Summers, Strategic Director, Transport East.
National Highways join a diverse range of renowned speakers and panellists from across the public and private sectors addressing the big challenges facing our regions, including how we enable inclusive economic growth, cut emissions and support freight and logistics.
A spokesperson for the conference said: “The STB conference is in its second year. It is an exciting opportunity to connect with all seven of England’s sub-national transport bodies at the same time in the same place and for them to demonstrate their collective plans about long term investment in transport infrastructure from the North West to the South East of England.
“The conference is a fantastic opportunity to not only learn more about the increasingly important contribution of STBs, but to gain valuable insights and best practice from across the country. This is an event which will firmly shine the spotlight on the need for joined-up thinking which cuts across silos and modes.”
There will be a welcome address from Maria Machancoses, Chief Executive from Midlands Connect, followed by a ministerial address with Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Minister of State for Transport, and in conversation with Naomi Green, Managing Director, England’s Economic Heartland.
For more information on the event you can see the full programme here:
Nick Harris will also be a keynote speaker at Traffex, the UK’s leading road and highways tradeshow which takes place at the Birmingham NEC from June 6-8.
The conference’s mission is to deliver better roads for a better tomorrow by providing the knowledge, products and connections to drive innovation, efficiency, safety and sustainability across the road network.
Speaking on June 6, and entitled ‘The roads sector delivering RIS2, and looking ahead to RIS3’, Nick will assess how National Highways has dealt with the challenges of delivering RIS2. He will also look at the priorities for the strategic road network during the period of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) from April 2025 to March 2030.
Find out more about Traffex here: https://www.traffex.com/about/
