What Transport Associates' Network does

Transport Associates' Network (TAN) is a UK-based coordination network of approximately 13 senior independent transport consultants, founded in 2017 and registered as a private entity based in Luton, United Kingdom. The network provides policy advisory, research, social research, accessibility, behavioural-change, and intelligent transport systems (ITS) expertise across all transport modes — including roads, rail, public transport, freight, maritime, and emerging areas such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) and CCAM. Its members are senior professionals with prior senior positions in government (UK Department for Transport, European Commission), industry, research, and consultancy, and include OBE holders (Kris Beuret, Ann Frye) and a 2011 Rees-Hill Prize winner (Ian Catling). Customer segments are primarily UK government bodies (Department for Transport, Transport for London, Transport for the North, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Transport Focus), UK transport operators (Stagecoach, Virgin Trains, National Express), research and grant-making bodies (Rees Jeffreys Road Fund), and international organisations (European Commission, UN agencies).

TAN's business model is that of a mutually-supporting consortium rather than a single contracting entity. The network does not bid for work in its own right; projects are bid through a leading member who then brings in additional members or external experts as needed. Each member operates their own consulting company (e.g., Phil Carey Consulting Ltd, Ian Catling Consultancy, Ann Frye Limited, Oxford Rail Strategies Ltd, Beyond Logic Consulting), sets their own fee structures, and contracts directly with the end client. Pricing is therefore not publicly disclosed and is bilaterally negotiated. Marketing is light-touch: a contact form on the network's website, a LinkedIn company page, and conference presentations of case-study research. Revenue mechanics are professional-services billing by individual member practices.

The underlying technology is non-existent in a traditional product sense — there is no SaaS platform, no proprietary software, no API, and no patents or trademarks disclosed. The network's intellectual output consists of advisory reports, research publications (e.g., 'Roads as a Service', 'Transport Related Social Exclusion', 'Women and Drink Driving'), and expert testimony. Distribution of services occurs through direct consultant engagement (clients contact individual members via email or phone) and through network referrals for larger projects requiring multi-disciplinary teams. The network's competitive advantage rests on the senior credentials, deep stakeholder relationships, and unwritten policy of expertise non-overlap among members, rather than on any technological differentiation.

Name

Transport Associates' Network

Legal name

Transport Associates

Website

https://transport-associates.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Transport Associates' Network (TAN) is a UK-based coordination network of 13 senior independent transport consultants providing policy advisory, research, accessibility and ITS expertise to UK government bodies, transport operators, and international organisations across all transport modes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transport Consultancy Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation & Traffic Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAC)

Keywords

• Transport policy advisory
• Transport consultancy services
• Intelligent transport systems
• Transport research services
• Mobility accessibility consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Luton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Individual TAN members provide consultancy services directly to clients. Each member operates their own consultancy practice and bids for work through their own company, with TAN facilitating collaboration on larger projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Transport Associates' Network is a UK-based association of independent transport consultants providing advisory, research, and policy expertise across all major transport modes including highways, public transport, rail, freight, maritime, intelligent transport systems (ITS), connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), and accessibility. Members operate their own consultancy practices and are coordinated by TAN to deliver project-based work for government bodies, transport authorities, and transport operators in the UK, Europe, and worldwide. The network does not bid for work in its own right; engagements are led by an individual member who assembles additional specialists from within TAN or externally as needed.

Product overview

Transport Associates Network (TAN) is a UK-based network of international independent transport consultants offering advisory services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides consultancy across multiple transport domains including roads and highways, public and passenger transport, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), rail, maritime, freight, and accessibility services. TAN members operate individual consulting practices and collaborate on projects, offering expertise in policy development, research, social research, and technology deployment. TAN's individual members (Phil Carey, Ian Catling, Kristine Beuret, Ann Frye, Nigel Fulford, Keith Keen, Tony Duckenfield, Finella McKenzie, and Jennie Martin) provide specialized services including road user policy advice, ITS specifications, behavioural change consulting, accessibility advisory, and rail operations expertise. The network does not offer a SaaS platform, API products, or technology products; its outputs are primarily advisory reports, research publications, and expert consultancy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transport Associates Network Consultancy Services A network offering of independent consultancy across multiple transport sectors including roads, rail, public transport, freight, maritime, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Clients engage individual members or assemble multidisciplinary teams via TAN.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research highlighting transport deprivation affecting a third of the population in the North of England
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oxford Rail Strategies LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigel Fulford, a TAN member, is a Director of Oxford Rail Strategies Ltd and collaborates on rail capacity, commercial, operations and rolling stock projects both independently and jointly with major UK consultancies.
• Temple GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKris Beuret previously directed Social Research Associates which she sold to the Temple Group, and now operates independently. Historical business relationship.
• Greenguauge21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Duckenfield collaborated with Greenguauge21 on the Fare Britannia project for Greenpeace.
• QA ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Duckenfield worked with QA Research on bus behaviour change projects for West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Safer Roads Campaign Testing Research.
• Beyond Logic ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Duckenfield is MD of Beyond Logic Consulting which provides expertise in applying Behavioural Science. He operates this alongside his TAN membership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global design, engineering and advisory firm with significant UK transport planning and policy capability, frequently engaged on DfT, TfL and combined-authority advisory work overlapping with TAN.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with established UK transport advisory and policy teams; competes for the same central- and local-government transport mandates and frequently acts as prime on multi-year framework agreements.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with a sizeable UK transport planning, policy and advisory business; a key framework holder competing for the same public-sector policy and strategy commissions as TAN.
• AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins / SNC-Lavalin): Global engineering and project-management consultancy with a major UK transport advisory practice covering roads, rail, policy and behavioural change — competes for the same DfT and local-authority advisory mandates as TAN, but at much larger scale.
• Mott MacDonald: International engineering, management and development consultancy with a major UK transport practice covering policy, planning, rail and highways — competes head-to-head on UK public-sector transport commissions.
• KPMG UK Infrastructure Advisory: Big-Four advisory practice with a UK transport and infrastructure team that bids for the same DfT, Treasury and combined-authority policy and economics commissions as TAN.

Direct peers

• Integrated Transport Planning (ITP): Mid-sized UK specialist transport planning consultancy focused on policy, strategy, modelling and behaviour change — directly comparable niche size, specialism mix (including behaviour change) and public-sector client base.
• Steer Group (formerly Steer Davies Gleave): UK-headquartered specialist transport consultancy providing policy, planning and economics advice to governments, transport authorities and operators globally. Closest direct competitor in transport policy advisory, social research and modal strategy.
• SYSTRA: International transport engineering and consulting group with deep UK rail and public-transport policy expertise — directly comparable specialism in rail operations, capacity and modal strategy where TAN members such as Nigel Fulford operate.
• Greenguauge21: UK specialist rail and high-speed rail research consultancy that has partnered with TAN members (e.g., Tony Duckenfield on Fare Britannia for Greenpeace) — comparable niche research-and-advocacy model focused on UK transport policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transport-associates%27-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transport Associates' Network