Project ROUTE puts students on track for transport careers

by Kevin Borras

Young people are being challenged to tackle real-world transport problems as Project ROUTE looks to inspire the next generation of digital and data talent.

A national initiative encouraging young people to explore careers in transport is giving students the opportunity to work on real industry challenges, from planning reliable rail journeys to assessing the safety of autonomous vehicles.

Project ROUTE, a collaboration between ITS UK and Digdata, aims to make careers in transport technology more accessible by showing students how data, digital skills and problem-solving can help address the challenges facing the sector.

Joe Collis, Project ROUTE lead, said involving young people in shaping the programme was central to its approach.

“For me, one of the most important aspects of Project ROUTE is that we are not just telling young people what a career in transport could look like, we are actively involving them in shaping that story.

“We saw the value of this approach first-hand through the Next Step career challenge, where colleagues worked directly with our Youth Advisory Group. Their perspectives challenged us to think differently about how we talk about our industry and what genuinely resonates with young people. They also helped us consider how we can make careers in digital, data and technology feel more real, relevant and accessible.”

The Next Step career challenge, designed for students in Years 10–13 and further education, asks participants to consider how rail travel can get passengers to their destinations on time and within budget.

Students take on the role of a rail planning team, using resources to investigate the options and recommend the best journey. They then present their findings, developing practical skills and gaining insight into the work of transport professionals.

A further challenge, aimed at university and higher education students, explores the question of whether autonomous vehicles can be trusted. Participants can choose from three pathways: using Excel to investigate data and identify patterns, using geographical information systems (GIS) to map risk, or applying data science and artificial intelligence to model performance and predict potential problems.

For younger students, the First Step challenge focuses on bus route planning, asking them to analyse how routes serve passengers and recommend the smartest option.

Each challenge combines a live industry briefing with independent project work, a presentation of the proposed solution and certification recognising participation. The activities are designed to give students practical experience of applying data to transport problems, while introducing them to potential career paths across the sector.

Collis said the programme reflected the growing importance of digital skills to the future of transport.

“That experience reinforced something I believe strongly: if we want to attract a broader and more diverse generation of talent into transport, we need to listen to young people, and not just speak to them. We need to show them the real challenges our industry is tackling, and more importantly, the role they can play in solving them.

“This is exactly what Project ROUTE is working to achieve. As transport becomes increasingly digital and data-driven, bringing in new skills, perspectives and ideas will be essential to the future of our sector.”

Project ROUTE aims to engage 10,000 students across the UK, provide 5,000 work experience opportunities and support the creation of 100 industry placements. Its wider programme also includes classroom resources, onsite Data Days and events connecting students with transport professionals and their career journeys.

The initiative has received endorsement from the Department for Transport and is supported by industry partners, including lead partner Arup, platinum partners Amey and Kainos, and a wider network of organisations from the transport and technology sectors.

The programme is intended to help address skills shortages by broadening awareness of the opportunities available across road, rail, aviation and maritime transport, particularly as data and digital technologies become increasingly important to the way networks operate.

Collis added: “There is real momentum behind the programme, and I’m excited to see it grow and, most importantly, the difference it can make for the young people we want to inspire.”

Students can find out more about the challenges and register for the relevant activities through the Digdata Project ROUTE career challenge resources.