Yorkshire’s Transport Future

Emerging Professionals Chart a Course to Yorkshire’s Transport Future

The next generation of transport planners was treated to a glimpse into the future at a special workshop held at Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus.

Led by Professor Glenn Lyons, President of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), the ‘Yorkshire’s Transport Futures’ event used AI technology to explore imagined regional transport scenarios in 2040.

After a welcome from Leeds College of Building CEO & Principal Nikki Davis, Glenn and the group discussed how regional transport might be affected in the future by two critical factors chosen by the audience: the extent of infrastructure investment and global climate change mitigation.

Four possible visions of Yorkshire in 2040 were created in the lecture theatre, and then brought to life using AI-generated images in real time. The cohort then cast votes on the likelihood of the different scenarios taking place, and their preferred transport future. 

Students believed a scenario where infrastructure investment remained low and climate change mitigation was high would be the most likely to emerge. The “ecological paradise” scenario proved to be their preferred outcome where both infrastructure investment and climate change mitigation were high. 

Dr Paul Firmin, Lecturer in Transport Planning at Leeds College of Building University Centre, said, "The College was honoured to play host to this thought-provoking event, which provided an excellent CPD opportunity for our Transport Planning Technician Apprentices and young professionals alike. It was fantastic to see these talented young transport specialists benefit from using interactive technology to visualise the future sector."

Co-organised by the CIHT Yorkshire & The Humber Regional Chair Ed Downer, the event welcomed 12 Transport Planning Technician Apprentices alongside 16 emerging career professionals from the industry, including several former Leeds College of Building apprentices. Ed, who has contributed to the highly successful Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship course in recent years, said:

“Today’s session has been important to understand what the next generation of Transport Planners think about Yorkshire’s transport future. Everyone has been so excited and engaged, and I’m looking forward to digesting the outputs and giving our emerging career professionals a voice into the future of transport they will have a hand in shaping.”

Professor Lyons added, “It was an energising morning with future leaders in the transport sector, where we explored our hopes and fears for the future of transport and society in Yorkshire. One participant's takeaway message seemed to particularly capture the optimistic mood of the room - that there is lots of hope and some really passionate and intelligent people driving positive change in an uncertain future."

Professor Lyons added, “It was an energising morning with future leaders in the transport sector, where we explored our hopes and fears for the future of transport and society in Yorkshire. One participant's takeaway message seemed to particularly capture the optimistic mood of the room - that there is lots of hope and some really passionate and intelligent people driving positive change in an uncertain future."

After lunch, the group took part in an informative “net-walking” tour around Leeds. Rachael Unsworth from Leeds City Walking Tours led the transport-oriented walk to look at historical and present day evidence of ever-evolving transport developments in Leeds.

The event followed news that Mathias Salvatico, a Leeds College of Building student who completed a Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship in September, has been shortlisted in the 'Apprentice of the Year’ category at the CIHT 2024 Apprentice and Emerging Professional of the Year Awards. Shortlisted applicants now move to a round of interviews with judges before winners are revealed at the Emerging Professionals Conference at Aston University, Birmingham, on 9th April 2025.

Find out more about Transport Planning and other careers on our website, or at the next Leeds College of Building Open Event: Saturday, 22 March, 10am – 1pm.