Highways magazine launches the Highways Champions Awards, recognising the immense contribution of the people who keep the UK moving.
Every day across the UK, thousands of highways professionals work in conditions that most people rarely stop to consider - through the night, in harsh weather, alongside live traffic, under extraordinary pressure and scrutiny. Yet despite their essential role in keeping the country moving, much of their work remains unseen and under-celebrated.
The Highways Champions Awards have been launched to change that. As a new sister event to our long-established Highways Awards, this programme aims to shine a spotlight on the individuals whose commitment, skill and courage underpin the resilience of UK infrastructure. The Highways Champions Awards will be overseen by a steering committee drawn from our national highways institutions and trade bodies, as well as key commercial organisations, to ensure these awards deliver everything possible for the sector.
Helen Blood, founder of Boundary Marketing and a leading figure in the industry with 20+ years' experience, said: ‘I'm honoured to be asked to chair the steering committee for the new Highways Champions Awards. Recognising the good work our industry does and those who go above and beyond across the sector is so important on so many levels.'
It is time our sector recognised the extraordinary people who ensure that our networks function safely, efficiently and reliably, often against the odds.
Creating a culture of recognition in a high-pressure sector
The highways sector can be not only technically demanding, but also emotionally taxing. Whether dealing with severe weather, complex machinery, difficult traffic management scenarios or, increasingly, public frustration and aggression, our workforce navigates challenges that would deter many others.
In such an environment, recognition is not a luxury. It is fundamental to building a motivated, confident and resilient workforce. Time and again, organisations that invest in recognising individual achievement report stronger morale, higher retention and a greater sense of shared purpose. When teams feel valued, they remain engaged; when excellence is acknowledged, it becomes contagious.
The Highways Champions Awards speak directly to this need. By highlighting exceptional contributions from across the sector, from frontline workers to engineers, innovators, the blue and orange light services, and safety specialists, we can help create a culture where dedication is visible and celebrated rather than quietly taken for granted.
Why this matters for our sector
The sector is too often defined by the materials, budgets (or lack thereof), politics and technology. But in reality, it is our people who are the heart of the system.
Announcing the launch of the Highways Champions Awards, Richard Castle, publisher of Highways Magazine, said: ‘I am proud that we are able to launch these new awards dedicated to recognising the blood, sweat, energy, innovation and thoughtfulness given by the highways workforce day in day out, often in the most challenging of environments. The Highways Champions Awards will honour and celebrate the best and bravest individuals who are the backbone of our sector, from the frontline all the way to the boardroom'.
The Highways Champions Awards put the workforce front and centre. They will help the public understand the scale and importance of the work undertaken on their behalf, while giving organisations a platform to celebrate the achievements that often go unseen. They also offer the chance to share stories of ingenuity, bravery and leadership, stories that can inspire the next generation and help shift perceptions of our industry for the better.
The Awards will be held at the London InterContinental Hotel Park Lane on 4 November 2026. For more information and to register your interest, visit the awards website here. Full details will be announced in the new year.
