Council Vacancies

Number of Vacancies: Multiple
Type: Both Private and Public Sector (see below for details)
Remuneration: Voluntary
Time Requirements: The council meets 4 times a year.  Because of circumstances arising from COVID-19 and work to get the council focus areas established. We have been meeting more frequently. Even when this has normalised there will still be frequent progress calls involving council members and voluntary work that will need to be undertaken as part of the Highways Sector Council programme of work (HSC)

Applications are now closed

The Highways Sector Council (HSC) is looking to fill a number of vacancies on its newly formed council. The Council is a partnership of both the private and public sector organisations covering both strategic and local roads.

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.

What we are looking for:

  • Senior and respected industry leaders and/or high performers
  • Individuals who can commit their time to attend council meetings and lead (through appropriate resources) key pieces of work on behalf of the Highways Sector Council.
  • Be able to communicate with and represent the views of the wider industry.
  • Be able to demonstrate an ability to collaborate with the wider industry.
  • Open and collaborative behaviours
  • Bring a unique skill set/capability to the council
  • Demonstrate a strategic vision
  • Ability to think creatively

When applying, candidates should demonstrate evidence of skills/expertise/experience which they could bring to the role which may include:

  • Previous experience of being part of a board or part of sector wide groups.
  • An understanding of the key challenges and opportunities faced in the highways sector.
  • Ability to contribute and bring together a broad range of key stakeholders and the supply chain to deliver change.
  • The ability to inspire and develop others

The Roles

We are looking to fill a number of vacancies from both the private and public sector. Public sector nominations will be drawn from local highways authorities (county, unitary, metropolitan borough and London borough – one of which will have a DLO) and a representative from the sub-national transport bodies.

From the private sector, we are looking for SME and contractor/consultant senior nominations.

Any individuals applying will need to be a current senior employee of a local authority, DLO or equivalent. Any private sector individuals applying will need to be an employee of their said company.

The HSC is committed to promote, attract and support a diverse and inclusive sector to reflect the diverse communities that we serve. We wish to encourage diversity of thought and leadership on the Council through attracting candidates from all parts of the highways sector.

 


Applications are now closed


Highways Sector Council news

Protecting Your Workforce Guidance Document - Download

This guidance is based upon the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Site operating procedures Version 4 published on 18th May 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.

Where workers enter people’s homes, they should follow the Government guidance on Working in Other People’s Homes.

The HSE is the relevant enforcing authority for occupational health and safety legislation and guidance to control public health risks in the construction sector. If a site is not consistently implementing the measures set out by the Government, it may be subject to enforcement action.


Download the full guidance document here

COVID19 - Safe Operating Procedures

Protecting our local highways workforce – Highways Sector Council issues new guidance for Local Roads

The recently formed Highways Sector Council (HSC) has published practical guidance for the local highways today.

The ‘COVID-19 Highways Safe Operating Procedures document’, developed by the HSC’s COVID-19 focus working group, is designed to address the specific issues faced by local highways maintenance workers against the backdrop of the coronavirus.

Although based upon the construction industry guidance created by the Construction Leadership Council, the HSC guidance goes further, and addresses specific challenges related to the local highways sector. In particular, it specifically considers operational highways activity at maintenance and improvements sites, as well as at highway depots.

It provides guidance on social distancing and avoiding close working, handwashing, cleaning, travel, site access, eating arrangements and procedures to follow if someone falls ill.

James Haluch, Managing Director for Amey, said: “Local highways maintenance and planned improvement work is providing a vital service keeping the country moving. We have to ensure that NHS staff and other key workers are able to continue delivering essential public services and that means ensuring hospitals and supermarkets are equipped with essential supplies.

“It is vital that sites are able to operate safely, to protect the workforce, the public and minimise the risk of the spread of infection. We have been working closely with the DfT to produce this guidance to provide consistency and ensure that health and safety isn’t compromised on site and in the depots that workforces operate from. If an activity cannot be done in line with current guidelines, it shouldn’t take place.”

Darryl Eyers, President of ADEPT, said: “It is critical that roads, footways and bridges continue to be repaired, that road gullies are emptied to avoid unnecessary flooding and that roadside grass is cut to maintain visibility so that those legitimately still using our local road networks can do so safely. That’s why those working in the highways sector are not just key workers – they are critical to the country as a whole.

During lockdown, local highways authorities across the country have been taking different approaches, with some reducing services to emergency and essential, whilst others have maintained business as usual whilst it has remained possible to do so. However, the sooner that reduced levels of service can return closer to business as usual, the quicker that the highways sector can recover as the threat of Covid-19 subsides.”

The Highways Sector Council has been created to help transform the highways sector, using a unified voice and approach to work in greater partnership with central and local government. It aims to drive innovation and investment across England to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for business, communities and all road users.


Highways Sector Council officially launched in UK amid Covid-19 crisis

The recently formed Highways Sector Council (HSC) has been officially launched in the UK amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The council, which first came together in September last year, will work to facilitate collaboration between the highway sector and the central and state governments.

In addition, the council is expected to support innovation in the sector and drive economic and social benefits for the partners.

HSC members include highways contractors, local authority organisations and national agencies, including CIHT.

Highways Sector Council chair Leon Daniels said: “The Council was established to transform how the highways sector delivers.“ In creating this powerful alliance, we want to drive through change by addressing the challenges we face as a sector including decarbonisation, new technologies, skills, investment and delivery models.

The council has also formed a Covid-19 focus working group that will work to address the challenges, primarily in the highway sector, posed by the outbreak.

The Covid-19 focus group is currently working to develop guidance for the sector that will help stakeholders to ensure the delivery of maintenance and capital schemes.

It will also deliver a set of advice that will help highway operators carry out necessary tasks complying with government-mandated restrictions.

CIHT chief executive Sue Percy said: “CIHT is pleased to be a founding member of the Highways Sector Council. “We are committed to working as part of the Council to support the transformation of the highways sector through coming together in partnership to help address some key challenges.”

 


Senior leaders launch Highways Sector Council amid COVID-19

The recently formed Highways Sector Council (HSC), which has been working with Government to support the highways sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been now formally launched.

The Council, a partnership of private and public sector organisations, first came together in September 2019, and has been recently recognised by the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps. Partners include the UK’s leading highways contractors, local authority organisations 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.

"The Council was established to transform how the highways sector delivers. In creating this powerful alliance, we want to drive through change by addressing the challenges we face as a sector including decarbonisation, new technologies, skills, investment and delivery models" - Leon Daniels OBE

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. While this work continues, the HSC has also responded swiftly to the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, particularly in the local highways sector,creating a COVID-19 focus working group.The group has been working closely with the Department for Transport, collating information and providing guidance on impacts with a focus on working towards building a stronger programme for recovery to support the sector and the wider economy.

To address immediate impacts, the COVID-19 group has focused on two key areas:

  1. Developing guidance that could be used by local highway authorities and the wider supply chain to enable greater delivery of maintenance and capital schemes.
  2. Practical guidance designed to enable the highways sector to operate safely within the current restrictions when working on local highways.

Given that some local roads programmes have been reduced or paused, the outputs of this work will support the sector in bringing forward maintenance and highways projects, where it is safe and practical,to ensure that our roads can be maintained and remain fit for purpose during this crisis and beyond.

Leon Daniels OBE, Chair of the Highways Sector Council said: “The Council was established to transform how the highways sector delivers. In creating this powerful alliance, we want to drive through change by addressing the challenges we face as a sector including decarbonisation, new technologies, skills, investment and delivery models.

“COVID-19 hasn’t changed this commitment, but it has given a new urgency to our work, enabling us to work swiftly and collectively during this time of national crisis.

“As a partnership, our work in providing the Government with critical data and advice in this rapidly changing time is vital, both to keep our workforce safe and to support the development of rapidly changing policy-making.”