“Their approach was critical in setting relationships up correctly and managing high-quality communications in a way not tackled before at this stage.”
— Terri Harrington, Development Director, Complex Infrastructure Programme, National Highways

National Highways required a step-change in how it engaged stakeholders during the earliest phases of its Road Investment Strategy. With over 30 projects to progress and increased scrutiny from the Department for Transport, the organisation needed a partner to drive consistency, uplift quality, and provide national leadership on early-stage engagement.

Context & Circumstances

RIS3 represents the future of England’s strategic road network, delivering both upgrades and new capacity. But delivering those outcomes depended on early stakeholder buy-in, coordinated communication, and credibility with both local partners and national government.

Solution

Infrastructure Matters became the central strategic partner across supplier teams, developing the frameworks, guidance and materials that transformed engagement from reactive to robust. We introduced new tools, improved DfT alignment, and embedded best practice across nearly 40 schemes—helping National Highways elevate its reputation and secure internal and external confidence.

Results
  • Led national engagement strategy across early-stage RIS3 projects, setting the benchmark for future delivery.
  • Created tools and training that professionalised the supplier interface, raising standards across the board.
  • Positioned National Highways as a confident communicator, improving trust and alignment with DfT.
  • Strengthened corporate reputation, through smart, credible, and timely engagement with stakeholders.

Most importantly we gave National Highways the tools, clarity and strategic confidence to lead early-stage engagement at scale, laying the foundations for the successful delivery across the RIS3 programme.