Students from Leeds College of Building, who enrolled on the UK’s first Transport Planning Apprenticeship earlier this year, met transport professionals from the very highest level this week when representatives from the UK Department for Transport visited Leeds. 

(In the photo left to right: Councillor Keith Wakefield, Sam Armstrong – Jacobs, Adam Gibbons – Curtins, Andrew Jones MP, Sam Vickers – Arup, Luke Morris – Leeds City Council)

Transport Minister Andrew Jones, who is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport as well being the local MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, was in Leeds to confirm the Government’s preferred route for Phase Two of HS2.  He was joined by Councillor Keith Wakefield.

During the visit Mr Jones spoke to the select group of five students about the opportunities HS2 would present and explained how high speed services will run between Sheffield, Leeds and other northern cities.  The group considered potential upgrades that will be made to Leeds Railway Station before heading to the top of Bruntwood’s neighbouring ‘Platform’ office development which offers views over Leeds city centre’s key transport infrastructure routes.  

Earlier this year Leeds College of Building launched its Transport Planning Course with 40 Transport Planning Technician (TPT) Apprentices to mark the start of what is one of the government’s first Trailblazers – a new form of apprenticeship.

Sarah Carter, Leeds College of Building’s project manager for the TPT apprenticeship, said: “This was a great opportunity for these students, who are the Transport Planners of the future, to hear first-hand about the Government’s aspirations for HS2 and the exciting opportunities it will create.  
“Even though it will be 2033 at the earliest before a high speed train arrives in Leeds, by that time these students will be established in their careers and could even be working on parts of the project which makes it very pertinent.”   

Leeds College of Building’s two year Transport Planning Course sees apprentices split their time between in-company training, which gives them the chance to gain vital experience across a range of projects, and block release college teaching, all whilst being paid.

The course was developed by a group of employers with input from the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), the Transport Planning Society, Leeds College of Building and support from the Leeds Institute for Transport Studies.  At the end of the course, successful apprentices will achieve a Level 3 qualification and will have amassed a portfolio of evidence for professional review by CIHT. 

Leeds College of Building are the first and only College to offer this trailblazer apprenticeship. For more information about Leeds College of Building and its courses visit www.lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6000.