Episode 41

full
Published on:

28th Oct 2025

Building the road to talent: Skills for Life discussed on today's Highways Voices

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is how to attract talent into highways and transport, so today on Highways Voices we discuss that very issue and hear about a solution that’s there for us to use now, as we talk Skills for Life.

This is a government-led campaign that promotes and provides access to funded skills and technical education opportunities for individuals and businesses, offering various programmes like apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and free courses for jobs to help people improve their career prospects and businesses find a skilled workforce.

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National Highways are very much behind this idea, so today we talk to its Head of Talent, Natalie Jones to find out more about it and its approach to apprenticeships and T Levels which can help you future-proof your workforce.

Whether you’re a public or private sector organisation, understanding how to attract and retain skilled people through real-world training could be the key to staying competitive, and sustainable, in the years ahead.

In today's podcast you'll hear practical ways to address industry-wide skills shortages, from apprenticeships to T Levels and digital upskilling that’s all covered by Skills for Life. You'll hear about proven methods to attract young people and career changers to roles in highways, transport, and STEM, including how early engagement and storytelling make all the difference and how we’re all in this together because collaboration across the sector, from supply chains to schools, can create a stronger, more resilient workforce ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology ForumLCRIGADEPT and ITS UK.

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About the Podcast

Highways Voices: Talking Roads and Transport Technology innovation
The highways and transport technology industries' podcast from Highways-News.com
The Highways Voices podcast is a must-listen for professionals in the Highways and Transport Technology industries covering construction, maintenance, Intelligent Transport Systems and Public Transportation.

Presented by leading journalists Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum, you’ll hear industry leaders sharing insights you won’t hear anywhere else, giving you a taste of the latest thinking about the sector's new techniques and technologies, collaborations and innovations. All in the time it takes for an average daily commute (or dog walk!).

We bring you keynote-speaker quality guests into your phone or laptop, ensuring every time you listen you’ll learn something new you can use in your day-to-day job.

Plus, you'll catch up with the top stories from the daily newsletters sent by Highways-News.com and hear the latest from our podcast partners LCRIG, the TTF, ADEPT and ITS UK.

About your host

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Highways Voices

Highways Voices is the weekly podcast from Highways-News.com. In it, Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum speak to thought leaders, decision makers and inventors in the highways and transport technology industries. New editions are unloaded every Wednesday.