Entries for 2024/25 Emerging Professional of the Year Award are now closed. Register your interest for the 2025/26 below: 

Overview

For emerging professionals

This is your chance to go further, get the recognition you deserve and get access to an incredible network of leaders in the sector to fast track your career.

Enter the CIHT Emerging Professional Award and have the chance to be recognised as a rising star in highways and transportation.

The CIHT Emerging Professional Award recognises and celebrates a young professional who is making a difference in our industry.  Open to all CIHT members under 35 or with fewer than seven years’ work experience in any aspect of transport infrastructure.  This is a great opportunity to fast track your career and raise your profile with industry leaders.

Not a CIHT Member? Don't worry

If you are not yet a member, it is easy to join and CIHT offers discounted rates for early career members.

Visit here for more details or contact membership@ciht.org.uk +44 (0)20 7336 1555.

For your organisation

Having a young professional shortlisted for the award increases the profile of your organisation with national PR opportunities and enhances your organisation’s reputation as a champion of young professionals.

Free to enter

CIHT are committed to ensuring that the Emerging Professional Award is inclusive, enabling everyone with the talent and drive to succeed to be recognised.

Why you should enter

The recipient will:

• Be mentored by CIHT’s President and immediate Past-President
• Receive £100 gift voucher
• Be profiled in Transportation Professional and on CIHT Website
• Be invited to contribute their views as an emerging professional to CIHT Council for one year and make the voice of young professionals heard
• Boost your profile in the sector
• Further enhance your reputation and confidence in your workplace
• Fast track your career with this prestigious award
• Receive numerous opportunities to network with leaders in the industry
• Receive formal recognition of your dedication and achievements

Why employers should encourage emerging professionals to enter

• Increase the profile of your organisation with national PR opportunities
• Enhance your organisation’s reputation as a champion of young professionals
• Demonstrate the contribution and value of the young professionals to your employers
• Showcase their achievements and boost your reputation as a positive employer

Want even more?

The recipient will:

• Be named as one of the UK’s top Highways and Transportations young professionals
• Be invited to contribute to the Emerging Professionals Conference
• Receive public recognition for their commitment to the industry through national and regional media
• Access excellent networking opportunities with other young professionals and senior colleagues
• Become Chair of the Emerging Professionals Network

CIHT Emerging Professional finalists will also benefit from:

• An invite to attend the next CIHT Emerging Professionals Conference
• A certificate of commendation to demonstrate their achievement in reaching the final
• Entry into a prize draw with the opportunity to win a £50 gift voucher

Entry criteria

Judges are looking for young professionals who have made a difference to the organisation they work in and the wider industry. This will be measured according to the following criteria:

• Made a personal contribution to a substantial project or initiative that has benefited their organisation, transport users and/or the sector more widely
• Engaged with CIHT, either regionally or nationally, to develop themselves and/or others
• Acted as a role model for their profession.

Timetable

Deadline: 27 September 
Shortlist announcement: week of 28 October 
Interviews: 21 November 
Winner announced: Emerging Professionals Conference in April 2025

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, a nominee must be a current CIHT member under the age of 35 OR have up to seven years’ work experience. All nominees must be registered members of CIHT at the time of nomination (or at least have their membership application in progress).

Not a CIHT Member?  Don't worry

If you are not yet a member, it is easy to join and CIHT offers discounted rates for early career members.

For more details or contact membership@ciht.org.uk +44 (0)20 7336 1555.

Judging

A panel of judges drawn from the industry will review each entry for evidence of excellence across the three entry criteria to determine the winner of the CIHT Emerging Professional of the Year Award. The judges will identify a shortlist of finalists who will be invited for a short interview to give them the opportunity to speak about their experience as an emerging professional. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide a five-minute presentation. The winner will be announced at the Emerging Professionals Conference in 2025

Any questions?

For any queries regarding the Emerging Professionals Award, please contact membership@ciht.org.uk