Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Free Traffic Information Seminars
Helping your business get its customers, drivers and goods where they should be, on time and stress-free.
Capability Assessment Toolkit 3
Introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Efficiency Gains from Collaborative Roads Procurement
Delivering efficiency and best value is central
Workforce Registration/Skill Card Requirements for Suppliers
Introduction
The purpose of this web page is to set out our registration/skill card requirements and to assist in the identification of recognised cards. It describes and illustrates the registration/skill cards accepted by the Highways Agency as evidence that the cardholder has the competence to carry out the assigned role.
We are committed to a policy for all of our suppliers to have fully qualified and registered operatives working on our network. Since 1986, we have had mandatory requirements for training and registration of certain operatives through the quality management systems for contractors included in the Specification for Highway Works. This was followed in 1996 by requirements for competency based on National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) where available and relevant.
Our experience of these measures led to support for the Confederation of Construction Client’s aim of achieving a safe, stable and skilled industry that is competitive and competent. Registration/skill card schemes that are evidence of the competency of an operative working on the Highways Agency’s network support this aim. The schemes require registered operatives to carry registration/skill cards indicating the status and categories of work that the holder is competent to carry out.
The National Highway Sector Schemes (NHSS) contain the requirements for a recognised skilled workforce for individual occupations within the highway construction industry and apart from including the latest information on the skill cards, they provide details of the minimum qualifications and training of the operatives that are acceptable to the Agency and other Overseeing Organisations. NHSS are normally mandatory for all contractors and sub-contractors on Highways Agency contracts.
Where CSCS cards are included in a NHSS, then these are acceptable to the Agency. However NHSS often include additional minimum requirements over and above CSCS registration such as refresher training. Operatives also need to comply with these requirements. NHSS documents, which include training requirements, can be viewed on the United Kingdom Accreditation Service web site.
The Major Contractors Group (MCG) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) together with the CITB have published manuals of approved cards. The cards listed in the manuals are recognised by the MCG, and can be viewed at the Construction Skills web site and by downloading the CECA Manual of Approved Cards PDF. Subject to the requirements of the NHSS, we will also accept these cards as evidence that the cardholder has the competence to carry out the assigned role. Cards accepted by the Highways Agency are shown in Appendix B, and those that are not included are illustrated in the MCG Manual of Approved Cards. Visit the Major Contractors Group web site for a comprehensive list of MCG Accepted Record Schemes.
