22 October 2025: Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), the national association for the transport technology sector, has revealed the winners of its prestigious annual Awards at the 19^th President’s Dinner, held last night in Westminster, London.

The ceremony, held at the historic Church House, was hosted by ITS UK Board Director Neil Levett. This year’s Dinner was the largest in the event’s history, with over 300 leading figures from industry and government gathering to honour the individuals, projects and organisations delivering excellence in the intelligent transport sector.

Attendees heard from the Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood, who delivered a keynote address on the Government’s priorities for transport, before announcing the first winner of the evening. In his speech, the Minister set out what transport technology can enable, saying: “My view is that by making journeys easier, making journeys safer and more accessible, by giving people real choice in how they get around, we can improve lives, livelihoods and the liveability of our towns and cities.”

Speaking to ITS UK’s role, he added: “None of this happens in isolation, ITS UK is a vital partner, bringing together industry, government and innovators to shape the future of transport”.

Max Sugarman, Chief Executive, Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), said: “Many congratulations to all the winners of the ITS UK Annual Awards. Now in their 19^th year, it’s fantastic to see the awards continue to grow. This year, we received more entries than ever with 120 nominations to the awards and over 300 people joining us for an amazing evening in Westminster.

“Every year, I’m so impressed by the quality of projects, organisations and individuals who receive awards. This year was no different – all the winners are a testament to the dynamism, innovation and creativity this sector provides, and demonstrates clearly how the transport technology sector is delivering a more seamless, sustainable and safer transport network for everyone.

“Congratulations to all the winners!”

1. Individual Awards
2. Rees Hills Award for Outstanding Personal Contribution

Winners: Sarah Sharples & Lucy Wickham

Judges’ Comments on Lucy Wickham: “Lucy’s work has blended engineering with empathy, and compassion — designing transport systems that not only move people efficiently but protect them along the way. She is a strong winner for this award, as a leading professional in the sector and a pioneer of the holistic approach to ITS, integrating people, vehicles, infrastructure, and data to facilitate safer mobility.”

Judges’ Comments on Sarah Sharples: “Sarah was a worthy winner for this award – both for her work in the public sector, as Chief Scientific Advisor for the DfT and for her academic research which has studied the interactions within complex systems involving both people and technology. A strong advocate for ITS and human factors, her work has helped support a transport network that offers travellers safer, cleaner, cheaper and more effective real-world solutions.”

2. Eric Sampson CBE Award for Early Careers Professional of the Year

Winner: Raphael Sicking, WSP

Judges’ Comments: “In a great start to his career, Raphael has designed an interactive pack to help industry understand connected services; developed a Digital Network Management Strategy in Manchester; and supported National Highways’ cyber security programme. A considerable achievement!”

3. Jennie Martin MBE Award for ITS Woman of the Year 

Winner: Beckie Faulkner, WSP

Judges’ Comments: “From front-line Regional Operations Centre Operator at National Highways to Deputy to the Group Director supporting a 76-person team, Beckie’s career would make her a worthy winner for this award. However, when you combine these achievements with her work supporting ED&I in the sector, as Vice Chair of ITS UK’s Women in ITS Forum and as an EDI Ambassador for the CIHT, it is clear why Beckie so thoroughly deserves to be named Woman of the Year.”

4. Richard Harris Award for International Achievement

Winner: Gary Crockford

The former Department for Transport Connected Roads Policy Lead received the Award for his considerable work and support for connected services in Europe and across the world. Gary sadly passed away last Friday, just a few days before he was due to receive this award and following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Before his passing, he was informed of the award – and former ITS UK Secretary General Jennie Martin read out a speech he had written before he passed. There was a standing ovation after Mrs Martin had finished his message.

2. Project Awards
3. Better Mobility through Technology Award

Winner: Swarco – Flow Forward – ImFlow as a Platform for Better, Greener Mobility

Judges’ Comments: “Cheshire East Highways, in collaboration with SWARCO, has implemented an innovative traffic management system, ImFlow, to transform junction performance across key parts of the local road network. The judges were impressed at how the scheme has helped encourage active travel and community or public events, and the opportunity for scalability at other sites across the UK.”

6. Better Accessibility through Technology Award, sponsored by Railway Industry Association

Winner: WheelsOnboard – Real-time Onboard Monitoring

Judges’ Comments: “WheelsOnboard uses an AI system, trained and tested against over 200 real-world scenarios, to detect wheelchairs, prams, walking aids, luggage, shopping bags, and other common objects that impact accessibility. The judges hailed this project as a great example of a low cost, high impact innovation that could have major benefits for passengers.”

7. A Sustainable Environment through Technology Award

Winners: Indra Sistemas – Silvertown Tunnel Project and 4way Consulting – Blackpool Smart Traffic Corridors

Judges’ Comments on Indra Sistemas – Silvertown Tunnel Project: “The judges were impressed by how the Silvertown Tunnel, operated through Indra’s In-Mova Traffic platform, was already reducing congestion and delivering quantifiable environmental gains in one of London’s most polluted transport corridors. The use of data, automation, and real-time coordination made this a worthy winner of the sustainability award.”

Judges’ Comments 4way Consulting – Blackpool Smart Traffic Corridors: “Instead of relying on fixed-time traffic signal plans or reactive manual intervention, Blackpool now uses a real-time system that actively reduces congestion, improves air quality, and supports low-carbon modes of travel. The judges saw this project as an excellent example of how technology can support a more sustainable environment.”

8. Digitisation & Digital Services Award

Winners: TfGM & Aimsun – 5G Innovation Region Digital Twins and WSP – National Highways Lighting Asset Inventory Survey

Judges’ Comments on TfGM & Aimsun – 5G Innovation Region Digital Twins: “Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), in strategic collaboration with Aimsun, has delivered a groundbreaking, AI-powered traffic digital twin that brings real-time intelligence to the Greater Manchester network. TfGM’s use of the digital twin has enhanced understanding of its network, data assets, and operational strategies, while laying the foundation for integrating future mobility tech through 5G and connected vehicle infrastructure.”

Judges’ Comments on National Highways Lighting Asset Inventory Survey: “One-third of England’s strategic road network is illuminated by approximately 100,000 streetlights so keeping track of equipment changes and measuring the carbon footprint of these assets is a significant undertaking.  WSP, working with Univrses, leveraged AI-based machine learning technology to identify lighting type and its geolocation to create a precise inventory of assets. The system would distinguish if a particular unit was a LED or lamp type, to help National Highways to track upgrades and measure sustainability efforts”

9. Connected & Automated Mobility Award sponsored by Balfour Beatty

Winner: AISIN RoadTrace In-Vehicle Demo: Bridging Connected Vehicle Data with Euro NCAP and Public Policy

Judges’ Comments: “In 2025, Aisin launched its first public in-vehicle demonstration of RoadTrace in Brussels, showing how predictive safety insights derived from connected vehicle data can be surfaced directly within vehicles and used to support both infrastructure decisions and future vehicle system development. The judges thought the demo showed huge potential in showing real applications of connected mobility and its benefits to safety.”

10. Better Safety through Technology Award sponsored by Kier Transportation

Winner: Swarco – ClearPath: Smart Flood Response for Safe Roads

Judges’ Comments: “Flooding remains one of the UK’s most persistent and dangerous road safety threats. ClearPath is an innovative flood detection and alerting system that leverages real-time data to provide local authorities with the ability to respond immediately. As flooding incidents become more common, the judges felt this entry showed how data insights and real time monitoring will be essential for the continued safety of our transport infrastructure.”

11. Changing Behaviour through Technology Award sponsored by Yunex Traffic

Winner: CrossTech – Escalate – reducing accidents on escalators in stations

Judges’ Comments on CrossTech – Escalate: “Escalate is an AI-powered, behaviour-focused safety system developed by CrossTech in partnership with Network Rail High Speed that addresses slips, trips, and falls on escalators using real-time computer vision algorithms. The judges were amazed at the impact and changes in behaviour of passengers, who would be prompted through dynamic, customisable alerts when approaching with unsuitable luggage.”

12. Public Transport Award

Winner: Alchera Data Technologies Ltd and Lancashire County Council – Alchera Bus

Judges’ Comments: “In 2024, Alchera partnered with Lancashire County Council (LCC) to deliver a data-led solution to improve the performance and reliability of the county’s bus services. The judges highlighted the impressive improvements the platform has made, including to wait times, administrative overheads, reliability and rural access and decarbonisation.”

13. Better Integration through Technology sponsored by Interchange

Winner: DfT, SYSTRA and Travelai – FUSION

Judges’ Comments: “The FUSION project is a groundbreaking DfT initiative that brings together the depth of traditional survey research with the scale and objectivity of passively collected multimodal data from smartphone sensors using transport specific AI. Although not integrating transport itself, the judges felt FUSION had major potential in supporting better decision making for those looking to build integrated networks”

14. Project of the Year

Winner: TfGM & Aimsun – 5G Innovation Region Digital Twins

Judges’ Comments: “When the judges select the project of the year, they are looking for that one project that is a leading light for the industry, and demonstrates the future of transport technology. Aimsun and Transport for Greater Manchester’s Digital Twin programme fit this bill exactly – showing how digital twins can act as a game-changer for the management of our transport networks, supporting better safety, integration and efficiency!”

3. Organisations
4. Start Up or Scale Up of the Year Award 

Winner: Intelligent Instruments

Judges’ Comments: “With only one permanent, and four part-time staff, the judges were greatly impressed by the reach and growth of Intelligent Instruments, whose noise camera technology now operates in multiple cities across four continents. With noise cameras offering a major opportunity to reduce nuisance road noise, the organisation looks set to have an exciting journey ahead!”

16. Public Sector Body or Client of the Year

Winner: TfL and Yunex Traffic

Judges’ comments: “The judges saluted this entry as a clear example of a client working with their partners to deliver effectively, for the benefit of transport users. Transport for London shows what it means to be a forward-thinking, collaborative, and outcomes-focused public sector client, and their work with Yunex Traffic, including through the delivery of their Real-Time Optimiser, has shown considerable benefits in modernising London’s traffic system.”

17. Exporter of the Year 

Winner: TRL – Digital Transformation of Malta’s Infrastructure

Judges’ comments: “TRL has been supporting Malta through their TM Roads Project, which allows for real-time roadworks planning and monitoring, supporting smarter, data-led decisions while reducing disruption to residents. The judges highlighted this as a key example of a British organisation delivering a transformation project overseas, exemplifying the skills, expertise and innovation of the UK industry.”

Note to Editors

17. More information on the ITS UK Awards here.

About ITS UK: Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) is the voice of the transport technology industry. ITS UK provides a national platform to support the roll out of technology for a cleaner, safer and more effective transport network, both at home and abroad. We support over 190 members – from both the private and public sector, and covering all sizes and disciplines – through advocacy to policy makers, connecting people and organisations, promoting the industry overseas and supporting innovation across the intelligent transport ecosystem. www.its-uk.org