{"id":75015,"date":"2020-04-20T08:21:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T07:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=75015"},"modified":"2020-04-20T08:21:27","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T07:21:27","slug":"support-for-highways-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/hr-skills-news\/support-for-highways-sector\/75015\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint partnership to support highways sector amid pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recently formed Highways Sector Council (HSC) has been working with Government to support the highways sector during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/h2>\n

The HSC, a partnership of private and public sector organisations, first came together in September 2019 and has been recently recognised by the secretary of state for transport<\/a>, Grant Shapps.<\/p>\n

Partners include the UK\u2019s leading highways contractors<\/a>, local authority organisations and national agencies.<\/p>\n

The HSC has been created to help transform delivery in the highways sector, using a unified voice and approach, so the industry can work in greater partnership with central and local government.<\/p>\n

HSC intentions<\/h3>\n

It aims to drive innovation across the sector to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for business, communities and all road users.<\/p>\n

Its work has been focused on developing a collaborative approach to transform and improve how the sector works across a number of key areas: people and skills, innovation, safety, environment, value, investment and delivery models.<\/p>\n

While this work continues, the HSC has also responded swiftly to the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak<\/a>, particularly in the local highways sector, creating a COVID-19 focus working group.<\/p>\n

The group has been working closely with the Department for Transport<\/a> (DfT), collating information and providing guidance on impacts with a focus on working towards building a stronger programme for recovery to support the sector and the wider economy.<\/p>\n

Given that some local roads programmes have been reduced or paused, the outputs of this work will support the sector in bringing forward maintenance and highways projects<\/a>, where it is safe and practical, to ensure that our roads can be maintained and remain fit for purpose during this crisis and beyond.<\/p>\n

To address immediate impacts, the COVID-19 group has focused on two key areas, these are:<\/h3>\n