Heidelberg Materials UK is supporting a new initiative that aims to equip future road workers with the technical skills required to build and maintain the UK’s road network. The partnership brings together Heidelberg Materials UK, Kenson Highways and New City College in East London to develop a training facility focused on industry standards, digital construction methods and practical highways maintenance.
Kenson Highways has invested in facilities at New City College’s Construction and Engineering Campus in Rainham to deliver a tailored highways apprenticeship. The programme forms part of the new Recruitment and Onboarding for Apprentices in Development (ROAD) scheme, an employer-led and industry-recognised course designed specifically for highways maintenance and digital construction workflows. The curriculum is free to attend and combines classroom learning with operational experience to help bridge the transition from education into employment.
A key feature of the collaboration is Heidelberg Materials UK’s donation of more than 200 tonnes of asphalt from its Dagenham plant. The material has been used to construct a realistic road layout at the Rainham campus, enabling learners to work on authentic street works scenarios and practise the techniques used in excavation, reinstatement, utilities installation and streetlighting. The facilities include footways and carriageways designed to replicate live site conditions, supporting structured learning in digital surveying, asset recording and modern maintenance approaches.
On completion of the six-week training programme, participants will achieve the City & Guilds Street Works Operative qualification. Each learner is also guaranteed an interview with a local employer, strengthening employment pathways in the highways and construction sectors. This approach reflects wider industry demand for a consistent pipeline of skilled operatives with both practical and digital competencies relevant to highways maintenance, street works compliance and infrastructure delivery.
Develop a skilled workforce
Paul O’Neill, Asphalt Regional Director at Heidelberg Materials UK, said the collaboration builds a route into work for individuals who may otherwise face barriers to employment. He noted that the initiative will help develop the skilled workforce the sector requires and aligns with the company’s commitment to supporting young people and delivering social value in the communities where it operates.
Kenson Highways Director Jonathan Yabsley highlighted the importance of investing directly in college-based training. He said the employer-led model creates structured pathways into the sector while helping to raise standards in highways maintenance and digital construction. By integrating site-based practice with industry-specific training, the ROAD programme supports consistent competency development across the workforce.
Colleen Marshall, Principal at New City College Rainham, said the partnership demonstrates how education providers and industry can collaborate to address skills shortages. She emphasised that the investment goes beyond physical infrastructure, representing a joint commitment to local employment, long-term skills development and the future resilience of London’s road network.
The initiative reflects a sector-wide shift towards structured, industry-focused training that integrates digital construction skills with hands-on experience. As the demand for sustainable infrastructure delivery grows, programmes such as ROAD are becoming central to workforce development strategies across the UK.
Heidelberg Materials UK’s support for the training facility highlights the role of industry collaboration in developing a skilled, future-ready highways workforce. The partnership between the materials supplier, contractor and education provider demonstrates how coordinated investment can strengthen training capacity and create direct routes into employment for new entrants to the highways sector.
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