ITS (UK), the Intelligent Transport Systems society for the UK, has launched a new Working Group for Capabilities. The CWG will work on best practice in recruitment, training, qualifications and career progression in the ITS sector. It is led by ITS (UK) Technical Director Fraser Sommerville of Atkins, and includes representatives from Local Authorities, Highways England, HS2, consultancies and research institutions.
The CWG has drawn up an initial list of deliverables:
- A definition of ITS skills and tasks
- A compendium of formal qualifications useful to an ITS professional
- A collection of existing, successful ITS career path studies
- A Best Practice Guide to training and development for ITS employers
Fraser Sommerville said: “As an industry we need to focus on getting the right capabilities available to deliver complex projects in a rapidly changing environment. Skill shortages are predicted in ITS and Intelligent Mobility so we need to be pro-active in encouraging new people into the sector and actively training and developing those already involved in ITS.“
Jennie Martin, Secretary General of ITS (UK) commented: “The skills shortages in our sector are linked to the wider picture in the STEM sector and we will continue to work with our colleagues in the CIHT and at the IET as well as run this internal Working Group. We need to work together to grow the pool of competent staff, not compete for recruits from other areas of the transport sector. The CWG is our contribution to the wider efforts.”
