Nicola Small has been working for Local Government in the transport sector since 2003, starting out in the field of Sustainable Transport and moving to infrastructure delivery in later years. Nicola has a track record of delivering soft measures as well as large infrastructure schemes.
In October 2017 Nicola moved to Coventry City Council to focus her attention on the rail sector, where she was a Senior Rail Programme Manager. Nicola was heavily involved in the development of Coventry Station Masterplan which opened to the public in March 2022. Since 2019 Nicola focused on working with partners to develop an urban Very Light Rail (VLR) integrated system to deliver the UK’s first urban VLR Demonstration line in Coventry City Centre.
Nicola was seconded part time to Transport for West Midlands to become the VLR Regional Programme Director in September 2023, working in close partnership with Dudley, Coventry and TfWM to release funding and oversee the delivery of the VLR Regional Programme (VLRRP). The VLRRP comprises development of Coventry VLR (CVLR)[1], the VLR National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC)[2] in Dudley and TfWM’s Mass Transit Optioneering Studies. Nicola also continues to work part time for Coventry City Council as the CVLR Programme Director, leading the CVLR team and promoting the benefits of CVLR regionally, nationally and internationally.
Nicola was elected as Non – Executive Board Director for UK Tram in December 2024, enabling Nicola to campaign for Light Rail, share knowledge and learn from Industry Experts.
[1] Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) is a research & development project which is using the latest automotive expertise developed in the West Midlands to deliver an innovative and affordable vehicle and shallow track solution, which can be installed for a fraction of the cost of traditional light rail. CVLR is an affordable rail based mode of transport which is being promoted as a first of a kind system to enhance urban connectivity. It will fill a gap in the public transport market that will integrate with buses and other modes of transport to create a complete transport system capable of achieving modal shift.
[2] The VLRNIC, managed by the Black Country Innovation Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) is focused on delivering the following outcomes:
- Equipment and assets to enable a world-class, unique, test, research and development facility, focussed on advanced cost reduction technologies and innovations in Light and in particular, Very Light Rail
- A growing network of UK-based engineering companies investing in collaborative research and development projects in support of innovative rail technologies
- Transfer of technology from automotive, defense, aerospace to Rail, Light Rail and Very Light Rail, including automation, communications and other digital systems.
- A unique rail proving ground to test interactions between passenger, passenger infrastructure and non-rail vehicles – e.g. crossings and intersections.
- A safe, controlled and repeatable test environment to advance the technologies deployed on the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle before operations begin on the Coventry City route.
- A ‘demonstration site’ where local authorities, government and industrial partners can see the unique, low-cost track installation, the operation of the vehicles and visualise the technology operating in other locations.