National Highway Sector Schemes and what they mean for contractors

UK Construction Online takes a look at the certification required to work on the road infrastructure in the UK.

Contractors and sub-contractors are required to hold National Highway Sector Scheme certification if they are to undertake any work on the UK road network.

National Highway Sector Schemes (NHSS) are bespoke quality management systems that have been developed in partnership with key players within the highways industry and are based on the ISO9001:2015 standards.

The scheme ensures that Highways England and local authorities with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the road infrastructure in the UK with peace of mind that that potential companies have the necessary skills to carry out the work required, with a strong emphasis on health and safety.

Any business that supplies services covered by the NHSS to Highways England under the Specification for Highways Works (SWH) must be registered under all the relevant schemes for the work being undertaken.

Businesses that subcontract work do not need to register but all subcontractors used are required to do so. The SHW does not permit subcontractors to deliver services under the umbrella of another registered supplier.

The NHSS is relevant to businesses that comprise of main contractors and subcontractors who work on the motorway or trunk road network; contractors or subcontractors that work on or beside roads, including those involved in landscaping work; manufacturers, installers and repairers of products covered by a scheme; and highway designers and consultants.

NHSS encompasses more than 20 individual schemes. Each scheme is developed and managed by technical advisory committees. The membership of each committee is made up of industry representatives and other interested parties, such as local authorities, trade associations and certification bodies who meet two or three times a year.

There are four main categories that contain more than 20 individual NHSS schemes. These are road surfacing and marking; fencing, landscaping and vehicle safety restraints; traffic management; and lighting, electronics and corrosion protection.

Each scheme has a set of Sector Scheme Documents (SSDs) that outline the minimum standards required before certification can be given under the scheme including detailed training and competency requirements and quality plan requirements.

The first step to gaining certification is undergoing an assessment carried out by a certification body, all of which are accredited by UKAS.

Following this, SSDs should be downloaded for each scheme that a company would like to be registered for.

An audit should then be arranged with the approved certification body, which will be followed by an assessment visit. A list of certifying bodies is available on the Lantra Awards website.

Lantra Awards are the body responsible for approving and providing quality assurance on training providers, instructors, assessors and verifiers for the training and assessment associated with each Sector Scheme that Lantra Awards facilitates on behalf of the Sector Scheme committees.

The audits will typically consist of ensuring that a company’s quality control conforms to ISO9001:2015 and the relevant sector scheme. They will also make sure registration is being sought for the most relevant sector to the work a company provides.

The audit will also identify areas of non-compliance and come up with a plan to rectify these issues.

The assessment can vary depending on the scheme that certification is being sought for but would typically include undertaking sample audits of a company’s processes and activities; documenting how systems for quality management comply with the requirements set out in the SSDs; and noting on any areas of non-compliance, or where there could potentially be non-compliance.

Once a company has been certified, they can add their details to the online Schedule of Suppliers, which is the national database of approved contractors for the highways industry.

The Schedule of Suppliers is used by highway authorities to check a company is certified and many contracting organisations utilise it to find potential suppliers to invite to tender for projects.

Gaining certification to NHSS can provide new opportunities for businesses that currently are only able to work on non-national road networks by allowing them to tender for contracts on the national road network.

Companies could potentially benefit from reduced operating costs through the continual improvement of work processes leading to greater operational efficiencies.

The scheme also helps companies to gain a greater understanding of risk and how to manage it, with the NHSS assessment process able to help identify potential risks within a business.

Perhaps the biggest asset the NHSS can provide a company is the proof of its credibility through independent verification against recognised standards.

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