Highways Agency

The Highways Agency is bound by the principles for recruitment set out in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code, 4th Edition, April 1999. The main points of this are:

1. Individuals will be selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition;
2. Prospective applicants will be given equal and reasonable access to adequate information about the job and its requirements, and about the selection process; and
3. Applicants will be considered equally on merit at each stage of the selection process. That process will be based on consistent criteria relevant to the job and applied consistently to all candidates. Selection methods will be reliable, objective and guard against bias.

Equal Opportunities

As an Equal Opportunities employer, all applications to the Highways Agency are encouraged regardless of age, gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or working patterns.

Recruitment continues throughout the year as and when vacancies arise with posts being offered on a permanent or a fixed term basis.

Disabled Applicants and Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Highways Agency was awarded the Employment Services ‘ Two Ticks symbol’ in 1999. This symbol which is displayed on all the HA official stationary is awarded to employers who meet the Employment Services standards in relation to disabled employees.

To receive this accreditation the Agency commits itself to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). This means that it guarantees to interview all disabled candidates (as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) who satisfy the minimum essential criteria for the advertised post. The Employment Services regularly review the accreditation.

The following information gives guidance on how the Guaranteed Interview Scheme is applied.

Essential minimum criteria

These are the essential minimum criteria that have been agreed for the post - which may include qualifications, experience, nationality and the minimum standard in the core competencies required for the post. In setting the minimum standard in any of the core competencies, the minimum standard will not discriminate against a person with a disability unless the reason can be justified.

In order to be successful at the short-listing stage, applicants must achieve at least the minimum required standard in all competencies / achievement record in the application form. For scoring purposes, the Highways Agency uses a 5-point scale.  A score of 3 is used to show that the applicant has provided acceptable evidence (more positive indicators than negative) of the relevant competency. In some exercises an aggregate score of 60% of the total possible marks may be the acceptable minimum standard.

Inquiries about candidate’s disability

The Agency will accept at face value a candidate’s statement that they are disabled within the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and therefore entitled to an interview under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.  However, there may be occasions when further enquiries about a candidate’s disability will be necessary. For example:

• To determine whether a reasonable adjustment is required at interview or selection test.
• When interviewing, to ask job related questions to ascertain whether a reasonable adjustment would be required to enable candidate to do the job.
• When being considered for interview under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, where there are reasonable grounds to dispute that there is a disability and the candidate would be at an advantage compared to other non- disabled candidates.

If a candidate wishes to apply for consideration under this scheme, they will be required to complete the appropriate section on the application form.  In addition, if they require any special arrangements at the interview/assessment centre, they will need to give details to enable us to make the appropriate arrangements.

Entry Requirements

Most of our recruitment is for various specialist positions. The essential requirements for these positions will be shown in the advertisements. The selection process normally consists of a (paper) sift and if successful, applicants are invited to interview. Some specialist positions may require attendance at an assessment centre. If this is the case, details will be included in the Information to Applicants literature that accompanies the application form.

All vacancies are advertised in the National and/or Local Press and/or specialist media. It is important that you first read the following summary of the Nationality Rules - which cover the whole of the Civil Service - to ensure that you are eligible for employment in the Highways Agency.

Nationality Rules

To be eligible for employment in the Highways Agency you must be an EC national, other Commonwealth citizen, British Protected person, a national of states in the European Economic Area (including Switzerland) or a member of their families. Commonwealth citizens must be free from any restriction to reside and take up employment in the UK.

Please check the advertisements for details on how to request an application pack and the closing date for applications.

For further information, please see the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Contacts

Contact details for published vacancies are included in the advertisements and the Information to Applicants literature. For any general recruitment enquiries please contact the recruitment team by e-mail at RECRUITMENT.LEEDS@highways.gsi.gov.uk

For information about Traffic Officer vacancies, please email us at trafficrecruitment@highways.gsi.gov.uk.

For information on other Civil Service recruitment visit CAPITA RAS