Somerset Chamber is proud to support a diverse range of organisations in the Somerset business community who are as passionate about our region as we are.
In a new series of interviews, we will be shining a spotlight on some of our Business Partners, recognising their commitment to Somerset, its business community and beyond.
Somerset Voices is also a chance to find out more about the people behind the brands!
Our next Somerset Voices spotlight is Chris Regan, South West Regional Director, National Highways:
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role. What does a typical day look like for you?
My name is Chris Regan, and I am the National Highways Regional Director for the South West region. I have the pleasure of leading 450 engineers, project managers and operations professionals that work tirelessly to operate, maintain and renew the motorways and major A roads.
I spend a large proportion of my time leading work to ensure we can make the case for future investment in the region. I also have a keen focus on the maintenance of our existing assets; the infrastructure was primarily built in the 1970s and 80s and needs careful attention to ensure it can safely deliver what we need it to. Finally, I try and spend as much time as possible out on site with my teams.
Can you tell us about your business/organisation, what you do, where you’re based and how your work has a positive impact on those you work with?
We’re responsible for the country’s Strategic Road Network, which for Somerset includes the M5 and A303, but our South West region covers 620 miles of motorway and some A-roads running from Tewkesbury and Swindon in the north to Penzance in the south.
Our workforce includes engineers and project managers, who develop and deliver schemes, and our Traffic Officers, who are on the ground 24/7, 365 days a year responding to incidents. With bases at Edithmead and Chelston, Somerset is our only county in the South West with two outstations.
Most people in the county know us for the new dual carriageway we recently delivered between Sparkford and Ilchester, but most of our work is in the background keeping you and your businesses safe and moving.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in Somerset?
We aren’t a business in the conventional sense; we are government owned and publicly funded. We are responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads – all 4,300 miles.
Everything we do, from designing our roads to clearing incidents, helps keep traffic moving and our work is crucial in supporting economic growth and connectivity across the country, and this includes Somerset. We are proud to be playing our part in supporting Somerset businesses.
Outside of work, what’s your ‘Somerset favourite’, as in a place to visit or activity you like to do in our county?
Somerset is my home county and there is no place I would rather be. There are so many fantastic places to enjoy across the county that it wouldn’t be fair to pick just one. I very much enjoy spending time in the countryside and I may be a little biased here, but there are few places that can beat Somerset for the variety of walks and scenery to enjoy.
How long have you been members of Somerset Chamber of Commerce and what prompted you to join?
We’ve been a member since 2022 when we were developing schemes to improve the A303 corridor. The chamber provided us with an opportunity to connect with the businesses who would both be impacted by the works but also benefit from the investment and more reliable journeys once they’d been delivered.
What has been the most valuable aspect for you/your organisation, of being part of Somerset Chamber?
Being part of the Somerset Chamber provides us a forum to meet with and talk to some of our most important stakeholders in the county.
The Chamber gives us insight into how businesses across varying sectors use and rely on our roads and this helps us understand their needs and the impact our works can have. This type of information is vital for when we are making decisions around maintenance and improvements work and traffic management.
We value being able to have two-way conversations with the Chamber and its members, building awareness and understanding of what we’re doing and why.
What advice would you give to a business thinking of joining Somerset Chamber?
Get involved! But make sure you establish what you’re joining for – this will allow you to focus on the activities that will benefit your organisation the most.
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
