Roads Academy - National Highways

Better leaders, better roads, better journeys

Achieving our vision of a connected country with safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for our customers, relies on successful outcomes from us and our supply chain partners.

Roads Academy is a joint initiative with the roads industry to develop leaders and solve sectoral challenges.

Our sector faces increasing complexity, a significant shift towards renewals at scale and greater expectations around customer, safety and environmental outcomes. Our current and future leaders must have the confidence and capability to meet these ongoing challenges, aligning and developing their knowledge and skill sets to achieve sector, business and personal objectives.

Supporting this ambition, Roads Academy has brought together more than 900 leaders from over 100 organisations across the sector, helping to strengthen capability, integrated working and collaboration across the supply chain.

Introducing Leadership Champions

Enable

Enable entry level participation. Build leadership capability and sector connections.

Expand

Expand scaled capability. Develop talent while increasing organisational visibility and influence.

Engage

Engage strategic partnership. Drive leadership excellence and share the future of the sector.

Leadership Champion recognition demonstrates organisational commitment to developing capable leaders across the sector. Through a two-year partnership with Roads Academy, we'll work together to support individuals and enhance your organisational maturity and leadership capability across the sector.

Becoming recognised as a Leadership Champion helps you to:

align leadership to sector priorities
demonstrate a commitment to leadership excellence
develop a sustainable leadership pipeline

Explore the value of becoming recognised as a Leadership Champion, our available packages and organisational benefits.

Our next intake dates for all programmes

We have three intakes per year across summer, autumn and winter. Our next intake dates start w/c 26 October 2026 – spaces limited!

The world is changing fast and our customers’ expectations and needs around the environment, wellbeing and support for the local and wider economy are evolving and becoming more demanding. The future strategic roads network (SRN), and our approach to it, must also evolve to provide innovative solutions to emerging challenges, such as climate change and increasing the value we add to society, whilst continuing to deliver the basics safely and on target.

Our current and future leaders must have the confidence and capability to meet these ongoing challenges; aligning and developing their skill and knowledge sets to enhance their ability to achieve sector, business and personal aspirations. Roads Academy combines eLearning, in-person learning and collaboration opportunities to develop leaders who can further revitalise the SRN by working together to accelerate change, overcome the challenges of today, proactively address the challenges of tomorrow and exploit creativity and innovation.

Roads Academy brings together leadership learning into a unique blended learning package for future and current leaders in the sector. We've engaged with a wide range of suppliers and stakeholders to shape the design of our programmes. A Federated Advisory Board consisting of senior leaders in the supply chain and National Highways works together to steer the strategic direction of the Academy.

Through a blend of eLearning, in-person learning and peer collaboration opportunities, Roads Academy develops leaders to revitalise the sector by working together to accelerate change, navigate today’s challenges, adapt to future demands, and foster creativity and innovation.

Our programmes are underpinned by a common set of core leadership capabilities and learners are expected to complete their selected programme in one year. Each journey has been carefully designed with its own distinct structure, learning experience and developmental focus. This ensures leaders at different careers stages receive tools that are practical, relevant and impactful.

Through engagement with organisations and senior representatives across the sector, we identified three key themes that form leadership development through the Academy.

These are:

Operational Excellence

Covering capabilities such as:

Delivery: Project management, maximising productivity and setting goals
Operations: Budgeting, lean principles and IBIP
Teaming: Running successful teams and improving collaboration

Emotional Intelligence

Covering capabilities such as:

Culture: Developing emotional intelligence and an inclusive workplace
Coaching: Becoming a great coach and mentor
Communication: Developing great listening, questioning and presentation skills

Future Capabilities

Covering capabilities such as:

Change: Leading through change and building resilience
Creativity: Thinking outside the box and encouraging different perspectives
Strategy: Moving to a more strategic way of leading and actioning a vision

Leadership Champion recognition demonstrates organisational commitment to developing capable leaders across the sector. Through a two-year partnership with Roads Academy, we will work together to support individuals and enhance your organisational maturity and leadership capability.

As the sector responds to workforce challenges, evolving skills landscape and the growing need for collaboration across organisations, Leadership Champions recognises organisations that are taking meaningful action by embedding leadership and people development into the way they operate and grow.

Upon becoming a Leadership Champion, you'll earn a recognition certificate providing acknowledgement of your leadership development journey and commitment to creating positive impact within your organisation.

Available packages

To support all organisations of different sizes, maturity levels and needs, we have the following packages available:

Engage: Recommended for large sized organisations seeking to play a leading role in shaping the future of the sector through a strategic partnership that offers maximum development opportunities, benefits, profile and recognition.

Expand: Recommended for medium sized organisations looking to scale capability, developing talent whilst increasing organisational visibility and influence.

Enable: Recommended for small sized organisations stepping up their commitment to building leadership capability and growing relationships across the sector.

Each Leadership Champion package provides your organisation with exclusive benefits, these include:

Senior leader roundtables

Exclusive leadership roundtables bring together senior leaders from across the sector to address shared challenges, exchange insights and influence the future direction of the industry. Through these discussions, organisations can help shape sector thinking on skills, inclusion, social value, productivity, talent attraction and more.

Flagship events

Invitations to Roads Academy flagship events that connect professionals from across the sector to learn, collaborate and share best practice. From action learning showcases to graduation celebrations and sector-wide gatherings, these events provide opportunities to build networks, hear different perspectives and engage with the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the sector.

Targeted mentoring

Targeted mentoring opportunities that connect emerging and developing talent with experienced senior leaders from across the sector. Through guidance and challenge, mentoring supports individuals at key stages of their development, helping to build confidence and share knowledge with future sector leaders.

View our packages below, including learner enrolments and the exclusive benefits available:

Our packages

Learner enrolments and added organisational benefits displayed by package

Programme / benefit	Engage for large organisations	Expand for medium organisations	Enable for small organisations
Learner enrolments included:
Future Leaders	2	3	1
Inclusive Leaders	2	2	2
Aspiring Leaders	7	5	3
Strategic Leaders	7	5	2
Exclusive benefits:
Flagship events - attendance and participation in senior leaders' events eg graduation	2	1	1
Senior leader roundtables - Peer problem solving on sectoral challenges and opportunities	2	1	1
Targeted mentoring - supporting critical talent with mentoring from senior sponsors	3	2	1
Value hub sponsorship - influence and visibility in the transport ecosystem	2	1	1
Collaboration diagnostic - improving performance across complex supply chains	1	-	-
Recognition in marketing material - evidence of capability and alignment	1	1	1
Newsletter feature - insight sharing and strategic visibility	2	1	-
Total	£98,000	£77,000	£39,000

Value hubs are at the heart of Roads Academy structure and provide leaders with an opportunity to apply their learning to real-life challenges. These are in-person events that increase collaboration and innovation by bringing different groups of leaders together, to work on solutions and develop thought leadership. Value hubs are about helping us to deliver long-term value and address strategic challenges. These interactive learning sessions cover a range of diverse topics, such as net zero carbon, social value and digital roads.

Value hubs are available as a core experience across all of our programmes. Leaders attending value hubs will:

Apply their learning and experience to a sectoral challenge
Collaborate and innovate with leaders from other organisations
Drive value for the sector by generating ideas and outputs that have a practical application

Our programmes have been recognised by respected professional bodies including the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Collaborative Working (ICW).

Learners who successfully complete all mandatory programme requirements and graduate from Roads Academy have routes to professional recognition, including Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status through our recognised pathway.

Roads Academy creates measurable value at every level of the roads sector, strengthening leadership capability, improving organisational performance and building a more resilient, collaborative and future-ready industry. It equips current and future leaders with the skills, confidence and connections needed to deliver better outcomes for customers, organisations and the wider sector.

Sector

Roads Academy supports building of a stronger, more connected roads sector by developing leadership capability across the entire supply chain. Through an accessible and inclusive model, organisations of all sizes, specialisms and different locations can benefit from shared learning, collaboration and leadership development, creating a consistent uplift in capability across the industry.

By bringing together leaders from across client, contractor and supplier organisations, Roads Academy creates powerful networks that accelerate collaboration, strengthen resilience and support more effective responses to the sector's challenges.

The Value Hubs we deliver provide a platform for collective problem-solving, innovation and knowledge sharing, helping to advance strategic priorities such as net zero, digital transformation, environmental improvement and future workforce readiness. The opportunities it creates also make the sector more attractive to aspiring leaders and new talent.

Organisations

Offering a leadership development programme with a pathway to accreditation will help your business to attract and retain talent. Skilled leadership delivers better organisational outcomes in terms of safety, quality, performance and productivity. Shared knowledge and experience acquired through Roads Academy will result in improved collaboration and a consistent, more efficient approach to leading practice.

Participation also connects organisations to a wider community committed to raising standards and shaping the future of the industry. Through access to diverse perspectives, shared experiences and collaborative networks, organisations can strengthen relationships across the supply chain, influence sector priorities and contribute to the collective success of the sector.

Individuals

Learners have access to the latest leadership practices and how to apply them in a way that is most relevant to their role. Participation in classroom-led learning and value hubs increases individual capability and impact, and improves levels of engagement and wellbeing. Through shared knowledge and experience, learning from both success and failure, individuals can substantially improve their career potential.

Beyond the learning experience, learners become part of a growing community of sector leaders, benefiting from shared experiences, collective problem-solving and ongoing professional development that helps them maximise their impact today while opening up future career opportunities.

Applications for Roads Academy are open

To Apply for Roads Academy, complete this form.

Please note, the person completing the application form should be the main point of contact moving forward in your organisation’s application process. If this point of contact needs to change, please inform the support team and provide their name and contact information, including email address. Please also inform the support team of any additional requirements or reasonable adjustments required for your learners.

Transfers and deferrals

It's the responsibility of the applying organisation to ensure individuals they enrol in Roads Academy have the appropriate capability and capacity to participate fully and complete the required learning within 12 months.

Requests for the transfer or deferral/extension of an individual’s place will be accommodated where there are extenuating circumstances significantly impacting the learner’s ability or capacity to participate. Extenuating circumstances include:

maternity/paternity/shared-parental/adoption leave
long-term sickness
compassionate leave

Other requests for the transfer or deferral/extension will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All transfers, deferrals/extensions will incur an additional charge to cover administration costs.

*Prices may be subject to annual inflationary adjustments.

Courses and upcoming course dates

Intakes for our programmes are at the end of February, June and October each year. Please note that dates are provisional.

Strategic leaders

For Senior leaders developing strategic thinking and change management skills.

Aspiring leaders

Aimed at up to mid level managers, client/supplier facing roles and high-potential individuals.

Future leaders

Aimed at inspiring early-career professionals in their first 3 years after graduate or apprenticeship programmes.

Inclusive leaders

Aimed at empowering leaders to advance inclusion within their teams, organisations and communities.

Inclusive Leaders

Inclusive Leaders is aimed at individuals at entry to manager level, with limited leadership knowledge and exposure. This programme is aimed at supporting individuals to advance inclusion within their teams, organisations and communities as they progress their career. The aim is to develop leaders who empower people, drive innovation, and build cultures where everyone is welcomed, driving improved performance sector-wide.

Provisional date for next intake: w/c 22 February 2027

Future Leaders

Future Leaders is targeted at inspiring early-career professionals in their first 3 years after graduate or apprenticeship programmes. These individuals are keen to enhance their confidence, grow their professional network and understand the fundamentals of leadership.

Provisional date for next intake: w/c 15 February 2027

Aspiring Leaders

Aspiring Leaders directed at up to mid-level managers, individuals in client/supplier-facing roles and/or individuals who have been identified as high potential. These individuals are keen to further develop their leadership skills, collaborate with like-minded individuals and apply their learning and experience to pressing sector challenges.

Provisional date for next intake: 26 October 2026

Strategic Leaders

Strategic Leaders is for senior leaders looking to further develop and apply their strategic leadership and change management skills. These individuals are keen to apply their learning to complex challenges around innovation and transformation in the sector.

Provisional date for next intake: 28 October 2026

Book your place

Places on all courses are limited, so please be sure to apply in good time to secure the start date you prefer. The courses are designed to last a year, with a mixture of e-learning, face-to-face workshops and collaborative value hubs.

Please use the button below to access the Roads Academy sign up process. The form will allow you to register as a new Roads Academy applicant, or you can use it if you have previously registered.

Common questions and answers

As a learner, is there a selection process and/or criteria required join?

Individual organisations may have their own selection process or criteria in order for individuals to be eligible to complete a Roads Academy programme. If you are a National Highways employee please speak to the Talent team for more information.

The Roads Academy curriculum has been designed to accommodate all levels of prior education - once your organisation has completed the application form, we will be in touch to begin the invoicing and gaining access process.

Who should I contact for more information?

For more information or to register your early interest, please contact:

roadsacademy.support@uk.ey.com

How will Roads Academy benefit my organisation?

Offering a leadership development programme will help your business to attract and retain talent. Skilled leadership deliver better organisational outcomes in terms of safety, quality, performance and productivity. Shared knowledge and experience acquired through Roads Academy will result in improved collaboration and a consistent, more efficient approach to leading practice.

My organisation already provides learning to support development as a current or future leader, can Roads Academy complement what we already do?

Roads Academy is a flexible programme designed to be able to complement existing talent development offerings. Organisations can choose which package you would like your learners to access and progress to, depending on what best suits your organisation.

My organisation does not currently have a leadership development offering, will Roads Academy provide a comprehensive offering?

With four programmes of learning across three gears, Roads Academy provides a comprehensive leadership development offering for organisations who are looking to provide this for the first time.

Is there a limit on the number of participants I can send from my organisation?

There is no cap to the number of learners an organisation can send to Roads Academy. Having more participants join Roads Academy will increase the impact it has on the roads sector; we encourage organisations to send as many learners as possible.

As a learner, how will Roads Academy benefit me?

As a learner, you will have access to the latest leadership practices and how to apply them in a way that is most relevant to your role. Participation in classroom-led learning and value hubs increases individual capability and impact and improves levels of engagement and wellbeing. Through shared knowledge and experience, learning from both success and failure, you will have the opportunity to improve your impact and career potential.

What is the learning pathway? Do I have a choice on what topics I complete?

Each programme requires a set number of learning hours to complete. However, learners can choose from a wide range of learning to reach the set number of hours. Learners can also choose to complete additional eLearning within the programme(s) they have access to at no extra cost.

Is it possible to join Strategic Leaders without completing Aspiring Leaders, Future Leaders and Inclusive Leaders?

Yes, it is possible. Each programme is aimed at leaders with different levels of experience.

What are the topics covered in each gear in the curriculum? What are the learning outcomes?

The learning content is organised into three gears, which each have three competencies. The gears and their associated competencies are:

Gear 1: Operational Excellence

This Gear is looking to develop leader’s abilities in the following three competencies across four different packages. Covering capabilities such as:

Delivery: Project management, maximising productivity and setting goals
Operations: Budgeting, lean principles and IBIP
Teaming: Running successful teams and improving collaboration

Gear 2: Emotional Intelligence

This Gear is looking to develop leader’s abilities in the following three competencies across four different packages. Covering capabilities such as:

Culture: Developing emotional intelligence and an inclusive workplace
Coaching: Becoming a great coach and mentor
Communication: Developing great listening, questioning and presentation skills

Gear 3: Future Capabilities

This Gear is looking to develop leader’s abilities in the following three competencies across four different packages. Covering capabilities such as:

Change: Leading through change and building resilience
Creativity: Thinking outside the box and encouraging different perspectives
Strategy: Moving to a more strategic way of leading and actioning a vision

What topics will the value hubs cover?

Value hub topics will cover strategic challenges that the roads sector is currently facing. Topics may include net zero carbon, social value and digital roads.

Does Roads Academy provide an accreditation?

We are looking for Roads Academy to offer a pathway towards an academic accreditation that leaders will have the opportunity to pursue. More information will be available soon.

Is it possible to do masterclasses and/or learning in addition to what is covered as part of Roads Academy?

We plan to offer additional classroom sessions and value hubs for learners enrolled in all programmes. We are launching our first masterclasses in November and this is something we may offer more of in the future.

How long will I have access to Roads Academy for?

Access to Roads Academy is on a yearly basis. The expected duration of Inclusive Leaders is 12 months, the expected duration of Future Leaders is 12 months, the expected duration of Aspiring Leaders is 12 months and the expected duration of Strategic Leaders is 12 months, the expected however this timing is flexible, and learner driven.

How can I flex the learning around my work commitments?

The inclusion of eLearning via an online learning platform is designed to provide flexible learning ‘on the go’. At all programmes, learners will have a choice of in-person classroom learnings allowing you to choose the topic, location and date that suits you the most.

Do learners have to have a certain amount of leadership experience or be at a certain level in their organisation?

No, Roads Academy is designed to accommodate leaders with different amounts of experience and seniority. The curriculum is structured to encourage all participants to complete a set amount of learning to provide a foundational level of learning and consistency prior to the in-person events where both Roads Academy learning and the individual’s experience are applied to sector topics and challenges.

How long will I have access to Roads Academy for?

How will I access the eLearning content?

All online learning content will be accessed through a singular online learning platform available 24/7.

Where are the in-person events located?

The location of in-person events changes on a case-by-case basis. Locations so far have included Birmingham, London and Manchester. Learners attending the event are given a full overview of the venue including travel options well ahead of the date to help them plan accordingly.

How can I flex the learning around my work commitments?

The inclusion of eLearning via an online learning platform is designed to provide flexible learning ‘on the go’. At both Aspiring Leaders and Strategic Leaders, learners will have a choice of in-person classroom learnings allowing you to choose the topic, location and date that suits you the most.

I have a disability or health condition, is this programme suitable for me?

Yes, the online learning is housed on a platform that meets accessibility requirements and venues for the in-person events will be selected only if they meet National Highways accessibility standards.

Information on the legacy Roads Academy programmes

Prior to the re-design of Roads Academy outlined on this page, Roads Academy was run by Coventry University and included four programmes: Step up to Leadership, Emerging Leaders, Senior Leaders, and MA Top-up.

As a result of the re-design, we will not be accepting applications to the legacy Roads Academy and no new intakes will be started for these programmes.

The re-design will have no impact on existing intakes participating in the programmes that are currently underway. These will continue as planned.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Coventry University contact.

Why are the organisational recognition packages being introduced?

Our organisational recognition packages provide organisation-wide access to leadership development, building capability at every level and create a stronger pipeline of future leaders. These packages provide a unique opportunity to enhance active engagement with current and emerging priorities of the sector and strategic direction.

Which package is best for my organisation?

Each package accommodates specific organisational requirements and levels of ambition.

Engage: Recommended for large sized organisations seeking a strategic partnership with maximum development, visibility and recognition benefits.

Expand: Recommended for medium sized organisations looking to build capability across multiple levels.

Enable: Recommended for small sized organisations starting their leadership development journey.

Why should my organisation invest in Leadership Champions packages rather than individual enrolment?

Building on our success in developing capable leaders across the sector, Leadership Champions extends the impact of Roads Academy beyond individual learner development, providing organisations with a recognition of their commitment to strengthening leadership capability across their workforce.

In addition to guaranteed learner places, Leadership Champions provides opportunities to participate in exclusive leadership and networking opportunities, increased visibility, and stronger alignment with industry priorities. Underpinning these benefits is a structured approach to developing capability across multiple career levels, helping organisations create a sustainable culture of development and increase leadership maturity.

How long does Leadership Champion recognition last?

Leadership Champion status lasts for two years (from application processing) and confirmation is provided to you by the Roads Academy support team.

What options are available for any unused places?

Our packages are available as a 24-month investment period for your organisation, which should allow for flexibility in individual start dates.

There is also the possibility for places to be gifted to other organisations in the supply chain, or to support social mobility across the sector. The Roads Academy support team can facilitate this on your behalf. We particularly encourage gifting to the following: SME (small and medium-sized enterprise), VCSE (voluntary, community and social enterprise) organisations, or local authorities.

What if we don't yet have a list of learners for the package?

That's not a problem. Organisations can purchase an organisational recognition package before finalising their learner nominations. As part of the booking process, you can provide learner details if they are known at the time of purchase. If some or all learners have not yet been identified, these details can be submitted later.

Once your booking is confirmed, the Roads Academy team will work with you to capture any outstanding learner information and ensure that nominated learners can access the programme.