The latest Transport for the South East (TfSE) Centre of Excellence Capability and Skills Survey has helped shape the Centre of Excellence programme for 2026/27, ensuring future support reflects the challenges and opportunities facing transport professionals across the region.
The survey gave officers working in local transport authorities an opportunity to reflect on their development needs and identify where additional support would be most valuable.
The results highlighted eight priority areas, including policy and strategy development, accessibility and inclusion, AI in transport planning, modelling and forecasting, scheme development, project/programme management, and presenting and communicating information.
To create a more focused and practical offer, these priorities have been grouped into four themes: Strategic Policy Leadership and Decision Making, Evidence-Based Scheme Development, Stakeholder-Focused Transport Planning, and Decarbonisation, Zero Emission Vehicles and Freight. Bringing related topics together will help officers develop the broad range of skills needed to plan, fund and deliver transport improvements, while creating a more joined-up programme of support.
The survey also showed strong support for the Centre of Excellence’s current approach, with webinars, online learning, guidance and toolkits identified as the most useful forms of support. This feedback will help shape next year’s programme, ensuring learning remains flexible, accessible and relevant.
The findings are already being used to develop a targeted programme of activity for 2026/27, helping transport professionals across the South East build the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.