HTMA

The Highways Term Maintenance Association (HMTA) is the trade association for the highways maintenance and management industry. The association's key aims were to raise their profile and become an influential voice in the industry. HTMA wanted to ensure the private sector point of view was being heard before high-level industry decisions were made and asked thePRfirm for help.

thePRfirm set about facilitating a Stakeholder Engagement Programme. Stakeholder groups were identified and classed in two tiers. A programme of meetings, led by the HTMA Executive Director, was set up to raise awareness of HTMA and to promote the vision and aims. These stakeholder meetings were opened up to all Committee members to encourage them to be involved and to create wider engagement with the stakeholders. Other activities to support the Stakeholder Programme including the HTMA conference, ongoing press coverage and publicity for the working group projects, all of which continue to raise the awareness of HTMA.

As a result of this programme, industry and government bodies are now approaching HTMA for consultations, advice and private sector input. HTMA is now recognised as a credible industry body and is in a strong position to influence the industry's political dialogues.

Recently, the DfT approached HTMA for support on their Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme (HMEP), which they launched at HTMA’s 2011 Conference. DfT are now depending on HTMA to represent the private sector and to help make the programme a success.

There have been six significant industry consultations during 2010 and 2011 in which HTMA has actively participated:

• DfT’s Winter Resilience Review
• TfL Pan-London contracts
• Transport Scotland Roads Maintenance Review
• TfL Lane Rental Scheme
• Transport Scotland Gateway Review of 4G Project
• Highways Agency Review