TMO Highways is delighted to announce that Robbie Green has been recognised as a Highways Champions Awards 2026 Rising Star Champion, selected nationally by an independent judging panel for exceptional contribution to the UK Traffic Management Sector.

The Rising Star category celebrates the next generation of leaders and innovators within highways and traffic management. While many nominees are at the beginning of their careers, Robbie’s story stood out for a very different reason.

At the age of 74, following retirement from a successful career as an owner-driver in the haulage industry, Robbie joined TMO Highways in a supporting role within the company’s signlab operation.

What followed demonstrates the power of resilience, learning and determination…

Rather than settling into retirement, Robbie sought a new challenge. He expressed an interest in live operational traffic management and voluntarily returned to the classroom to complete his LANTRA TTMBC and Gateman qualifications before progressing further through additional industry training. His willingness to embrace an entirely new profession later in life immediately captured the attention of colleagues and managers. Since making the transition to operational traffic management, Robbie has worked across a range of high-profile projects, including the A140 Long Stratton Bypass, Murphy’s offshire windfarm scheme as well of Sizewell C, one of the most significant highways schemes in East Anglia.

On projects where public scrutiny can be intense and communication is critical, Robbie quickly became recognised for his calm manner, professionalism and ability to build positive relationships with road users and local communities.

Senior Operations Manager Terry Simpson commented:

“Robbie is without doubt our most dependable operative. He is my go-to person to get us out of a difficult situation or on a high-profile job where tensions can run high. His ability to talk with the public using his life experience and local knowledge defuses any situation.”

As his confidence and capability have grown, Robbie has been trusted to support increasingly complex schemes, including major utility works requiring manual traffic signal control and extensive customer interaction. However, it is not simply his operational performance that earned national recognition. Throughout his time at TMO Highways, Robbie has become a highly respected figure amongst colleagues. Staff regularly seek him out for support, advice and guidance, knowing they will receive a listening ear, practical wisdom and genuine care. His impact on wellbeing, morale and workplace culture extends far beyond his day-to-day role. Earlier this year, Robbie demonstrated remarkable courage when he volunteered to speak openly about his own prostate cancer diagnosis during a company awareness event held in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK. Through his honesty and willingness to discuss such a personal subject, he helped encourage others to recognise symptoms, understand testing procedures and have important conversations about their health. The response from colleagues was overwhelming. In doing so, Robbie once again demonstrated the values that have become synonymous with his character: courage, selflessness and a genuine desire to help others.

His contribution to the business also extends into sustainability and continuous improvement. Robbie regularly identifies opportunities to repair, repurpose and reuse traffic management equipment that would otherwise be discarded. Whether restoring cone lamps, creating new directional signage from damaged stock or extending the service life of operational assets, he continually finds practical solutions that reduce waste and deliver environmental benefits.

Senior Operations Manager Matt Cheeseman said:

“Robbie has taken to traffic management like a duck to water. If you look at the jobs Robbie has worked on, you would expect it to be someone who has been doing this for a decade. We have trusted him with some of our biggest workstreams and he has never let us down, always going above and beyond. He is a firm favourite with both clients and staff.”

Robbie’s influence now extends beyond operations.

As part of TMO Highways’ Fairness, Inclusion and Respect programme, his story is regularly used to demonstrate the importance of creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds and age groups. His journey challenges outdated assumptions about age and employment while proving that new careers, new skills and new opportunities can be pursued successfully at any stage of life. For TMO Highways, Robbie’s recognition is also a powerful reminder of the value that experienced individuals bring to the workplace. His decades of driving experience, deep knowledge of the East Anglian road network and ability to connect with people have become invaluable assets to both the business and its clients.

Being named a Highways Champions Rising Star is a tremendous achievement.

More importantly, it is recognition of the lasting impact one individual can have on colleagues, customers, communities and the wider industry.

Robbie’s story is not simply one of career change.

• It is a story of being brave, to retrain well into retirement age,
• It’s a story of sharing, through his ongoing cancer diagnosis,
• A story of top-class service,
• And a story that proves it is never too late to make a difference.

From everyone at TMO Highways, congratulations Robbie. You are a credit to yourself, your colleagues, our business and the wider industry.

This national recognition is richly deserved, and we look forward to celebrating your achievement at the Highways Champions Awards in November.

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