President update 3rd November- latest news from ADEPT
Hello everyone,
I’ve just returned from two weeks’ leave – it’s always good to take some time to recharge before the busy run-up to the end of the year.
Before I went, I joined the Engineering Board to say hello and catch up on their latest work – thank you to everyone who made me so welcome. A big thank you as well to Andrew Cook for representing ADEPT as Ambassador at Highways UK. I understand it was the biggest event yet, with plenty of great conversations and connections across the sector.
I'm pleased to report that the National Traffic Managers' Conference on 8th October was a great success. The theme, 'Adapting to change: the role of the traffic manager', clearly struck a chord - thank you to everyone who joined us.
Hannah and I have been busy meeting with MPs and the momentum is building nicely. Since June, we've met with seven MPs, with a further 10 meetings in the diary and 14 more in the pipeline. These conversations are proving invaluable for raising ADEPT's profile and showing how we can support government on place matters.
I also wanted to remind you about the Autumn Conference, as the booking deadline is quickly approaching (5th November). Taking place on 21st-22nd November at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, this is shaping up to be an unmissable event. We're delighted to have Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, joining us as a keynote speaker, alongside other expert voices. We'll be exploring devolution, local government reform, resilience and innovation – if you haven't already booked, I'd encourage you to do so here.
In response to strong demand, we’ve added two new training dates for the ADEPT Carbon Leadership Programme on 20th and 27th January 2026. The programme, supported by DfT, continues to fund local highway authorities to measure and identify how to reduce their carbon emissions. Find out more.
I’m also pleased to share that we are now accepting applications for the 2026 Leadership Development Programme, designed for senior leaders to develop the skills needed to shape the future of their organisations and places. Delivered with SOLACE, it combines practical workshops, reflective learning and networking opportunities.
For more updates on ADEPT's latest news, publications, and the work of our boards and groups, visit our website: www.adeptnet.org.uk