Highway Maintenance

Highway maintenance offers service leavers a practical route into civilian employment, particularly for those with experience in engineering, construction, logistics, plant operation or working safely in demanding environments. Highways operatives help keep the UK’s road network safe and usable by repairing and resurfacing roads, maintaining drainage and roadside infrastructure, responding to defects and carrying out planned and emergency works. The sector offers opportunities to progress from hands-on operational roles into supervision, plant operation, specialist maintenance and management.

What's Involved?

Highway maintenance is essential to keeping the UK’s roads safe, reliable and usable. Work can take place on local roads, dual carriageways and motorways and includes both planned maintenance and urgent repairs.

Typical duties can include:

• Repairing potholes and damaged road surfaces.
• Resurfacing roads and renewing road markings and studs.
• Maintaining drains, pathways, verges and central reservations.
• Installing or repairing signs, barriers and other roadside infrastructure.
• Operating power tools, plant and specialist machinery.
• Gritting roads and clearing snow during winter.
• Supporting traffic management and working safely around live road networks.

Some roles also involve responding to defects, severe weather or emergency maintenance. The work is usually outdoors, can be physically demanding and may involve noise, dirt and difficult weather conditions.

Because roadworks often need to minimise disruption to traffic, shifts can include nights, weekends and bank holidays. Strong health and safety awareness, teamwork, communication and the ability to follow procedures accurately are therefore essential.

The Day Job...

A typical day in highway maintenance depends on your role, location and the work scheduled, but common duties can include:

• Inspecting roads and roadside assets: Checking for potholes, surface damage, blocked drains, damaged signs, barriers or other defects that may affect safety.
• Carrying out repairs: Repairing damaged surfaces, resurfacing sections of road, maintaining drainage and replacing damaged roadside equipment.
• Setting up traffic management: Positioning cones, signs, barriers or temporary signals to create a safe working area for crews and road users.
• Operating tools and machinery: Using power tools, compactors and other plant safely to complete maintenance tasks.
• Responding to urgent problems: Dealing with debris, weather damage, flooding or other defects that require rapid attention.
• Recording completed work: Using paperwork or handheld digital systems to document inspections, defects, repairs and safety checks.

Highway maintenance teams may work alongside inspectors, traffic-management crews, contractors, local authorities and emergency services. On major routes, much of the work is planned for evenings or overnight to reduce disruption, so shift work is common.

Skill Up While Serving

Your time in the Armed Forces may already have developed many of the skills valued in highway maintenance. Depending on your trade and responsibilities, transferable strengths can include:

• Health, safety and risk awareness: Experience of identifying hazards, following safe systems of work and working within strict procedures is directly relevant to highways, where operatives work around vehicles, machinery and live traffic.
• Teamwork and leadership: Highway maintenance relies on small teams working closely together, often with limited supervision and to tight schedules.
• Discipline and reliability: Employers value people who can follow instructions, work safely and complete tasks consistently, including during night shifts or difficult weather.
• Technical and practical skills: Experience with vehicles, plant, tools, construction, engineering or field equipment can provide a useful starting point for maintenance roles.
• Communication: Clear communication is essential when working with colleagues, contractors and traffic-management teams, particularly when safety is involved.
• Adaptability and problem-solving: Highway work can change quickly because of weather, defects, traffic conditions or emergency repairs, so being able to respond calmly and practically is valuable.

When applying, translate your Service experience into civilian terms and highlight specific examples of safe working, equipment operation, teamwork and responsibility.

Finding a Job within Highway Maintenance

Highway maintenance offers roles ranging from hands-on maintenance operative and traffic-management positions to highways inspector, technician, supervisor, civil engineer and project manager.

Good places to start your search include:

• Local authorities: Councils are responsible for most local roads and regularly recruit highways operatives, inspectors, technicians and supervisors.
• National Highways and its contractors: National Highways manages England’s motorways and major A-roads, with maintenance and improvement work also delivered through a large contractor and supply-chain network.
• Private highways contractors: Major infrastructure and civil-engineering companies recruit for maintenance, resurfacing, drainage, traffic management and supervisory roles.
• Career Transition Partnership (CTP): The CTP provides a searchable jobs portal, employment fairs, career advice and training support specifically for service leavers.
• CIHT Jobs: The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation advertises roles across highways and transport, from apprenticeships and technician posts to engineering and project-management positions.

Networking can also help. Industry events, LinkedIn and CIHT regional activities provide opportunities to meet employers and learn more about different career paths. When applying, highlight transferable Service experience such as plant operation, construction, engineering, logistics, health and safety, leadership and working in demanding environments.

Get Qualified!

While your military experience provides a strong foundation, obtaining relevant qualifications can significantly enhance your job prospects in highway maintenance. Here are some key qualifications to consider:

• NVQ in Highways Maintenance: This vocational qualification is specifically designed for those working or aspiring to work in highway maintenance. It covers areas such as safety, roadworks, and construction practices.
• CSCS Card: The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card is often required for construction-related roles, including highway maintenance. It demonstrates that you have the necessary training and qualifications to work safely on-site.
• HGV License: If your role involves operating heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) for transporting materials or equipment, obtaining an HGV license is essential.
• Health and Safety Certifications: Courses like the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety can provide you with a solid understanding of the health and safety practices that are critical in highway maintenance.

Use Your ELC

As a service leaver, you may be eligible for Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) to help fund your training and qualifications. ELCAS-approved courses are available in many of the areas relevant to highway maintenance, including health and safety, construction skills, and specific technical training.

To make the most of your ELC:

• Identify Approved Courses: Check the ELCAS website for a list of approved providers and courses that align with your career goals in highway maintenance.
• Plan Early: Start researching and applying for courses while you’re still in service to ensure a smooth transition into civilian life.
• Speak with a Learning Advisor: If you’re unsure which qualifications will best support your career transition, consult with a learning advisor who can guide you based on your skills and interests.