Highways Sector Council commits to Net Zero Highways
For a sustainable future - it is vital we decarbonise our highways network.
As the world meets at COP 27 to discuss global climate change the Highways Sector Council (HSC) is today releasing its Net Zero Highways plan, highlighting the progress made by the sector and the ongoing work by various bodies to reduce carbon emissions.
HSC commits to working collaboratively to enable the achievement of:
- The Climate Change Committee’s balanced pathway to Net Zero
- The Government’s Net Zero Strategy
- DfT’s Decarbonising Transport plan
Given the urgency of the Net Zero challenge HSC will initially focus on reducing those Greenhouse Gas-producing activities that contribute the most to the whole life emissions of the highway asset – Road User and Capital Carbon emissions.
Road user emissions - tailpipe emissions from all vehicles
- Leveraging its members and partners HSC will help share best practice and expertise - for example in EV infrastructure and modal optimisation and will lead industry engagement with DfT.
Capital carbon - embedded emissions from the construction and maintenance of the highway asset, in particular from cement and steel production, and from diesel emissions from plant, equipment and materials transport
- PAS 2080: Carbon Management in Infrastructure offers a systematic way for managing whole life carbon that HSC believes can be the cornerstone from which the industry can build and accelerate improvement. HSC will leverage its sector wide membership to accelerate the scalable adoption of PAS 2080 as a fundamental enabler to minimising the whole life carbon footprint of highways.
Key next step
A brief has been prepared for a HSC working group to develop practical guidance and resources to help all sector organisations (no matter their size) align their operations and projects to PAS 2080.
Ann Carruthers, Leicestershire County Council’s Director of Environment and Transport said:
“The sooner we see an industry wide shift towards whole life carbon reduction, the sooner we can meet our net zero targets, and ensure better business performance, reduced costs, increased competitiveness and innovation. We need to build on what we’ve achieved so far, and make sure our highways are fit for a truly sustainable world.
John Dixon, HSC Member and Jacobs’ Head of Highways said:
“PAS 2080 is increasingly being adopted and promoted in the Highways Sector. It is a flexible standard that can be applied to different project types, sizes and stages. If we use it as a means to facilitate consistency and collaboration at pace we stand a better chance of making a difference on time.”
Leon Daniels, Chair of the HSC said:
“The Highways Sector Council’s purpose is “to bring together industry and government to transform the highways sector”. This document outlines how we are doing just that and how the sector is coming together to deliver action at unprecedented scale and at pace to meet the challenge of Net Zero.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said:
“It is encouraging to see the Highways Sector Council working to bring together industry and government bodies, aligning with the Government’s commitment to decarbonise the highway network as part of the UK’s net zero target by 2050. We are keen to see how HSC progresses this work for the benefit of the sector throughout the country.”
Anna Delvecchio, Founding Member of the HSC and Mott MacDonald’s Transportation Development Director said:
“We are committed to working in the best interests of the whole Highways Sector and in collaboration with Government to transform the sector.”
PRESS RELEASE: HSC calls for better collaboration across the sector to make ‘Highways a career of choice’
Earlier this year, a survey was launched by the Highways Sector Council (HSC) Future Leaders Group to help understand how to make highways a career of choice. The survey aim was to better understand how the sector can continue to attract skilled candidates from all backgrounds, understand future skills required and retain its existing talent.
Over 1,000 individuals responded from the public and private sector across the UK in both the strategic and local road networks, covering over 200 roles at every level.
Today the HSC has released the report and its findings.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE
HSC calls for better collaboration across the sector to make ‘Highways a career of choice’
Earlier this year, a survey was launched by the Highways Sector Council (HSC) Future Leaders Group to help understand how to make highways a career of choice. The survey aim was to better understand how the sector can continue to attract skilled candidates from all backgrounds, understand future skills required and retain its existing talent. Over 1,000 individuals responded from the public and private sector across the UK in both the strategic and local road networks, covering over 200 roles at every level.
Today the HSC has released the report and its findings:
Over two thirds of the respondents would recommend highways as a career of choice listing career opportunity, making a difference, problem solving and satisfaction of seeing your work as the top reasons for working in the sector.
- 56% were male
- 39% were female*
- 47% joined mid-career
In addition, the report highlights:
- There is a lack of awareness of careers available across the sector irrespective of which part of the sector people join or work in
- There is a need to improve the collective brand image for highways
- Cross transferability of skills across the sector and transport
- A need to attract and retain diversity in all respects for skills today and for the future
- A lack of awareness of what sector wide training is available to support our carbon and digital agenda
The survey brought the industry together as one and highlights that across local, central government or the private sector there is:
- High satisfaction of working in highways - because it matters to people’s lives every day.
- There is so much more to a career in highways than many have thought on entry
- The sector– early career, mid-career, or career change – needs to unite to achieve our goals – societal, environmental, and economic.
Therefore, the HSC in partnership with others industry stakeholders is hosting several workshops across the UK for the wider industry to input into our plans and priorities. The workshops will range from CEO through to apprentice to make sure we canvas the views at every level across the sector. The workshops will commence in January 2023 and will span the country as we seek to engage our workforce in shaping highways as a career of choice.
To register to attend one of workshops, please click here
For more information about the Highways Sector Council (HSC) and to download the report click here
Anna Delvecchio, Founding Member of the HSC said: “I would like to thank everybody who participated in the survey and the future leader’s group for their continued contribution over the last 12 months. We now have a credible baseline to work with. We can absolutely deliver a campaign making highways a career of choice, but we need to work in greater collaboration as a sector with a stronger partnership between the public and private sector, our clients, and the Department for Transport to ensure our sector flourishes in growth and jobs.”
Elliot Shaw, National Highways Chief Customer and Strategy Officer said: “These survey results underline the importance of showcasing the opportunities that exist across our sector. Our people take huge satisfaction from knowing that the work they do matters to people’s lives day in day out, but we need to continue to grow and diversify our sector if we are to achieve our societal, environmental and economic goals. Greater collaboration will be integral to our success and the Highways Sector Council’s role will be crucial.”
Matthew Eglinton, Department for Transport Head of Highways Policy added: “The Department is supportive of HSC's 'Making Highways a Career of Choice' - drawing out the strengths and weaknesses of working in the highway sector is critical to establishing what needs to be done to encourage a younger, more diverse workforce. “The campaign to address the skills gap in the highways sector and raise the profile of highways to make it a ‘career of choice’ is well aligned with overall Government objectives in increasing skills across the country.”
Sue Percy, CIHT’s CEO and member of the HSC said: “I welcome this survey which highlights keys opportunities, as well as the challenges, for the sector to attract and retain a diverse and skilled workforce now and in the future. The findings build on work CIHT is also doing on skills, EDI and careers and I look forward to collaborating with the HSC and key partners to deliver highways as a career of choice”.
Landmark Survey Sets to Make Highways A Career of Choice | PRESS RELEASE
A survey designed to make highways a career of choice has been launched by the Highways Sector Council (HSC) Future Leaders Group to ensure the highways sector attracts skilled candidates from all backgrounds and retains its existing talent.
The aim of the survey is to generate a credible and independent baseline of data and evidence to:
- Explore the reasons why individuals enjoy working for the highways sector in a consolidated and coordinated way.
- Explore any barriers and how they could be addressed to fix any promotion, attraction and retention challenges at all job levels
- Identify where training is needed for digital and decarbonisation skills (e.g., by geography or another demographic).
- Better understand the needs of our current early career professionals, emerging leaders and future leaders, and how we can capitalise on this to help them further.
- Use the findings to develop a campaign that promotes highways as a career of choice.
This survey, which will build on existing data and information, forms a key part of HSC’s research to develop the overall campaign to make highways a career of choice. We are seeking views from those in the highways sector, at every level, about what they believe makes it great and some of the opportunities and barriers it faces. The survey’s findings will provide the foundation elements that will take the sector forward, shaping it to attract a diverse range of people and, more importantly, position it as an attractive career option full of potential, opportunity and reward.
The survey is open to all individuals working within the highways sector, including both operational and non-operational employees, from CEOs through to apprentices and job roles ranging from ecologists to site managers, administrators and project directors.
Baroness Vere, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said:
‘I am pleased to be supporting this first of its kind survey to help understand how we can make the highways sector a career of choice for young people across the country. Our people within highways carry out an essential job in keeping our strategic and local road networks running, and it is critical that we can attract new, emerging talent, while retaining the invaluable skills and experience of our existing workforce.’
Anna Delvecchio, Chair of the Future Leaders Group, and a founding member of the HSC said:
‘The Highways Sector Council promotes cross industry collaboration to transform highways and at the centre of this are our people. We need to attract a new diverse workforce and retain the fantastic people we already have across the sector.
This survey will help us understand what attracts people to the sector and identify any barriers that we can work together to break down.
I look forward to seeing the results and further promoting the sector for the rewarding career that it is.”
Dipesh J Shah OBE, National Highways Chair said:
“I welcome this new survey. For our industry to meet the current and future challenges we face, we need to attract and retain the right people with the right skills. The survey will help us to understand what we need to do to make the highways sector a career of choice for young people and one where our people with a wealth of experience can thrive.”
The survey, which can be accessed here takes only five minutes to complete and all responses are completely anonymous, so please be completely open in your responses.
Highways Sector Council Presentation: Watch and download
Watch the presentation from Highways Sector Council members:
- Ann Carruthers: Leicestershire County Council
- Joe Incutti: Kier Group PLC
Listen as they provide an update on the HSC scope, history, priorities and structure.
Download and watch the presentation here
Sharing best practice in the UK | AIA Partners | Resource Links
The opening address was given by AIA Chair Rick Green, who explained that the programme had been split into two sessions - Build Back Better and The route to net zero asphalt – to provide an appropriate focus upon these two important issues.
Highways Sector Council proposal to transform industry | Press Release
Highways Sector Council proposal to transform industry
The Highways Sector Council (HSC) has developed a proposal to transform the industry, support delivery of the government’s priorities and strengthen the UK economy as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal sets out four areas for development and focus in the highways sector which have been agreed with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Highways England (HE). These include:
- Environment: Supporting the transition to Net Zero, by developing a sector wide plan, assessing asset classes, launching trials of zero carbon products/approaches, and testing innovative techniques for carbon lock up.
- Models: Identifying ways in which the sector can support the Government’s Project Speed, delivering more quickly and more productively; developing a business case which defines benefits to UK plc of having a five and ten year local Government funding programme.
- Innovation: Supporting highways’ transition to digital particularly across the local and strategic network boundary.
- Skills: Undertaking a Highways Sector Skills Assessment to better inform future work in this area.
The HSC will work with DfT and HE to develop key deliverables for the highways sector that demonstrate real value to the Government, road users and the wider economy.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said:
“The Highways Sector Council has made good progress in developing a set of proposals which are well-aligned to key national and Departmental objectives.
“We are keen to see how HSC progresses in developing these proposals for the benefit of the highways sector throughout the UK.”
Elliot Shaw, Highways England's Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said: “We’re pleased to support the ambition set out by the Highways Sector Council. We look forward to continuing to work on these proposals with HSC in the coming weeks to develop the proposal further."
Anna Delvecchio, Founding Member of the HSC and Mott MacDonald’s Transportation Development Director said:
“We have been developing a series of proposals to establish better cross industry collaboration with Government to transform the sector. Developing the partnership has been a great example of public and private sector collaboration during the pandemic.”
Anna added: “None of this would have been possible without the expertise and determination of Steve Berry who sadly passed away last month. Through his and the industry’s collective efforts, we’re now much better placed to partner with government and support the country’s economic recovery.”
Leon Daniels, Chair of the HSC said: “It has been a privilege to Chair the Council during its formative period and we’ve made great progress towards establishing a partnership between Government agencies and the private sector. This will be critical to delivering innovation, excellence and value for money.”
Established in 2019, the HSC seeks to transform delivery in the sector, using a unified industry voice and approach to work more collaboratively with central and local government to transform and improve how the sector works across a number of key areas: people and skills, innovation, safety, environment, value, investment and delivery models. It has responded swiftly to the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, particularly in the local highways sector, and has been working closely with DfT and HE, providing guidance on impacts with a focus on working towards building a stronger programme for recovery to support the sector and the wider economy.
As a valued member of the Sector
The HSC is seeking input from the industry to support development of these initial areas of focus. Please register your interest by completing the form on the HSC website here – https://highwayssectorcouncil.com/contact-us. . We will be launching the task and finish groups shortly.
Ends
Download the Press Release here
Notes to Editors:
For press or general enquiries for the HSC Council please contact Anna.Delvecchio@mottmac.com
About the Highways Sector Council
The Highways Sector Council (HSC) is a partnership of private and public sector organisations. Partners include the UK’s leading highways contractors, local authority bodies and national agencies. The Council has been created to help transform delivery in the highways sector, using a unified voice and approach so the industry can work in greater partnership with central and local government. It aims to drive innovation across the sector to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits for business, communities, and all road users. Its work has been focused on developing a collaborative approach to transform and improve how the sector works across a number of key areas: people and skills, innovation, safety, environment, value, investment, and delivery models.
Members
AECOM, Atkins, Asphalt Group, Balfour Beatty, Breedon Group, Costain, Eurovia Ringway, FM Conway, Chevron Group, Fortel Group, Gaist Solutions Ltd, Highways England, Jacobs, Kier, Leon Daniels and Associates Ltd, Mott MacDonald, Tarmac. Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), England’s Economic Heartland, Leicester shire County Council, Highways UK, Local Government Association, The RAC Foundation and, Innovate UK.
HSC announces new council members and launches Future Leaders Group
The Highways Sector Council has announced nine new appointments to broaden its representation of the industry and to transform delivery in the highways sector, using a unified voice and approach so the industry can work in greater partnership with central and local government.
The new appointments are:
- Nick Jones, Sky Blue
- Tim Cockayne, Chevron Traffic Management Group
- Ann Carruthers, Leicestershire County Council
- Steve Gooding, RAC Foundation and the new President of CILT
- John Lamb, Braintree District Council
- Steve Birdsall, Gaist Solutions Limited
- Steve Hill, McLaren Applied
- Howard Cooke, Asphalt Group Ltd and
- Karla Jakeman, Innovate UK
HSC Chair Leon Daniels OBE said: “The Council has already made a big difference in helping the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as discussing with Department of Transport how huge strides the sector can make together. Following a long process, I am delighted that we can appoint these talented and amazing people as full members of the Highways Sector Council.”
The HSC has also announced a newly formed Future Leaders Group which will be chaired by existing Council member Anna Delvecchio of Mott MacDonald. The HSC is committed to promoting, attracting and supporting a diverse and inclusive sector. The new Group will play a key role in ensuring the highways sector attracts skilled candidates from all backgrounds and retains its existing talent.
“We have established a Future Leaders Group who will take a lead role in delivering ‘making highways a career of choice’. This is an incredibly important piece of work that will shape the future of the sector and we believe is best delivered by our future leaders,” Leon added. “It is vital that we invest in our future and by bringing talented young people into close contact with industry leaders and Government we can establish a strong talent pool.”
The HSC will be soon announcing further appointments of a number of other important highways sector leaders to new roles to further support the work of the Council.
DOWNLOAD THE PRESS RELEASE HERE
Highways UK- HSC one year on : VIDEO
Highways Sector Council looks at its progress and the unexpected challenges of the last year.
People on webinar from HSC are:
Leon Daniels, Adam Green, James Haluch, Elliot Shaw and Anna Delvecchio
WATCH NOW
Local Highways Safe Operating Procedures | Resources
Download the latest guides - Local Highways Safe Operating Procedures – Protecting Your Workforce Guidance Document
This guidance is based upon the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Site operating procedures Version 5 published on 4th July 2020 and has been adapted for the local highways sector where appropriate.
These are exceptional circumstances and the industry must always comply with the latest Government advice on Coronavirus (Covid-19).
These Local Highways Safe Operating Procedures (SOP) are based on Government guidance on Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) - Construction and other outdoor work; other restrictions and advice may apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
COVID19 - HSC Safe Operating Procedures Version 4
COVID19 - Safe Operating Procedures Version 3