Developing a must-have course
England’s roads networks are under pressure like never before, with a record number of vehicles and an urgency to develop innovations that perfect the environment. Strong leadership is crucial to find the solutions needed to keep the country and economy moving.
National Highways, the Government-owned company that manages England’s motorways and major A-roads, set up Roads Academy as a leadership programme for the sector.
A decade in, National Highways drafted in Ernest & Young to evolve the course structure and boost learners numbers. They applied for CMI course accreditation, known as CMI Recognised. To prove Roads Academy was teaching the highest skills and capabilities in leadership.
Senior consultant Charlie Giffin says: It’s a huge USP for Roads Academy to say it’s a CMI Recognised programme.
Whenever we’re speaking to prospective learners and organisations about the course, they are always very interested when we mention the CMI recognition. That’s something we’re finding really beneficial in boosting the profile and reputation of Roads Academy.
Solving tomorrow’s problems
CMI recognition involves aligning an employer’s in-house training to CMI’s Professional Standard in management and leadership, ensuring course excellence.
Experts at CMI appraise all educational materials such as workshops and e-learning programmes, to ensure they hit quality benchmarks and add as much value as possible for course participants. Resources are also checked for accessibility for learners with additional requirements, so no one is excluded.
Charlie adds: “When we redesigned the Roads Academy structure in 2022, we really took a step back and thought about some of the emerging sector challenges which were coming down the line, be it hyperinflation, biodiversity and so on. We wanted to make sure that equality, diversity and inclusion are positioned in everything the sector does.”
"That became the crux of the Roads Academy delivery programme. We wanted to really make sure current and future leaders have the capability to deal with those challenges and are equipped to create the solutions to overcome them."
To have such an esteemed organisation like CMI recognise our programmes provides even more integrity to the impact that we’re delivering for the roads sector
Added value for learners
As a part of studying a CMI Recognised course, learners gain 12 months access to all of CMI’s cutting-edge leadership and management resources. This includes mentoring, networking with leaders in other sectors and thousands of additional learning materials to enhance learning outcomes.
After successfully completing the programme, Roads Academy graduates become a CMI Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr), setting them on the pathway to becoming fully Chartered.
Joe Murphy, eastern area manager for Associated Asphalt Contracting, enrolled in the Roads Academy programme to equip him with the skills to become an area director.
“I am highly motivated to continue growing as a leader and as I progress I plan to delve further into the CMI tools, such as webinars, templates and interactive assessments, to enhance my leadership and decision-making skills” he says.
“Eventually, I’d like to become a Foundation Chartered Manager. It would be a significant milestone in my development as I progress towards an area director”.
I truly value CMI’s ability to provide structured and practical guidance that aligns with my career goals. It feels like a strategic step forward in advancing my career, and I’m confident CMI’s support will make a meaningful impact on my journey