We’ve been registering engineers and technicians with the Engineering Council since 1972 and accrediting academic courses since 1989. We’re proud of our long history and provide our members with 50 plus years of highways experience.
| 1965 |
| The Association of Highway Technicians (AHT) was established by its first chairman and founder H.S. (Bill) Taylor under the trusteeship of the Institution of Highway Engineers (now called the CIHT). The first board of trustees was led by Bill Taylor, Professor Fisher Cassie, Henry Criswell, and Tom Sinclair. In its early years, the AHT established and evolved new grades. Technician Engineer and Engineering Technician were created in the late 1960s at a time when entry to Chartered Engineer was restricted to graduates. |
| 1972 |
| The AHT became a completely independent body called the Highway and Traffic Technicians Association (HTTA) under Bill Taylor’s leadership with the ability to add members to the national register. HTTA’s Brian Lacey chaired the Engineering Board of Engineers‘ Registration Board and the first conference on microprocessors and traffic signalling was held. |
| 1989 |
| The HTTA was renamed the Institute for Highway Incorporated Engineers (IHIE) and is licenced by the Engineering Council to accredit university and college courses. The IHIE delivered the first joint accreditation panel, chaired by IHIE members which was later absorbed into the Joint Board of Moderators. The IHIE became one of the first institutions to engage in ‘CISC' developing NVQs. |
| 1990 |
| The Institute’s first Traffic Signal Control conference was held. IHIE established the annual Traffic Signs forum and helped launch the Traffic Signs Regulations (TSRGD). |
| 1993 |
| IHIE launched the revised TSRGD and the traffic signs forum is inaugurated, becoming an annual event. |
| 1990 |
| IHIE sat on the CISC Board, and developed higher level occupational standards and NVQs/SVQs for construction with transportation qualifications among the first to be designed. |
| 1990-2002 |
| The IHIE was one of ten institutions to create the Joint Accreditation Panel for IEng and technician courses. |
| 1995-2001 |
| IHIE President Peter Dipper served on the Senate of the Engineering Council. |
| 2000 |
| IHIE joined the BTEC/Edexcel working party to revise Higher National and National Awards. |
| 2001-2008 |
| IHIE‘s Peter Dipper continued as the only IEng among the institution appointed members of Engineering Council Board. |
| 2002 |
| IHIE produced its first publication - IHE Home Zones Design Guidelines. You can find a copy of this under IHE Publications. |
| 2003 |
| IHIE joined the Joint Board of Moderators. IHE’s Peter Dipper chaired the UK SPEC Engineering Technician committee setting down registration standards for EngTech. |
| 2004 |
| IHIE Professional Route to CSCS Card opened. |
| 2005 |
| IHIE Guidelines for Motorcycling were launched and won the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. The IHIE celebrated forty years of service to highways professionals. |
| 2008 |
| IHIE Employer of the Year Award was initiated. Simon Bennett was elected to the Engineering Council by the nine 'Group B' medium sized institutions. |
| 2009 |
| The Institute was renamed the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) with a launch at Westminster Abbey and it retains this name today. The IHE established and opened the Register of Road Safety Auditors. |
| 2015 |
| The IHE celebrated 50 years of serving professionals working in the highways sector in 2015. As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, it awarded IHE Honorary Fellowships, recognised key members with Awards of Merit, and supported nominated charities. The year’s highlight was a celebratory event held at the Houses of Parliament. |
| 2018 |
| The IHE launched the National Highway Engineering Academy to train a dedicated workforce with the specialist skills and expertise the industry needs to build the UK’s road network. The Institute also partnered up with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, to offer Registered IT Technician (RITTech) and Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status for highway engineers with an IT specialty. |
| 2019 |
| The IHE is licenced by the Engineering Council to award ICT Technician (ICTTech), a grade of Professional Registration for highway engineering technicians working in traffic signals, ITS, CAD design and data modelling. |