About us
Welcome to the National Highways.
National Highways, is a government-owned company that operates, maintains and improves England’s motorways and major A roads.
From first gigs to first dates, dream jobs to fairy tale weddings, there’s a story behind every journey. When you join National Highways, you’ll make these important personal journeys possible for millions of people up and down the country, every single day.
Along the way, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to get to where you want to be in your career. We’re an organisation that’s always moving forward, you won’t look back.
Our remit is broad. We do all the things you might expect – we operate, maintain and improve motorways and A roads to make sure they’re dependable, durable and safe to use. But there’s also a whole lot more that goes on here.
The work we do is about creating and connecting communities, opening new opportunities that will help our nation thrive. It’s about building new infrastructure and embracing new technologies. We have a major stake in innovations such as Digital Roads that are critical if we're to meet the challenges of climate change, carbon reduction and biodiversity
Tech like AI and autonomous vehicles will change the face of travel for all of us, which is why we’re developing digital roads for what’s already one of the most advanced road networks in the world.
All sorts of people rely on our roads, and all sorts of people work on them as part of our diverse teams – our opportunities span everything from accountancy to engineering, project management to digital services.
Life at National Highways
What we do is important, and how we do it is just as important. Our culture empowers all of us. We want you to feel engaged and connected to the work you do, the people you do it with, and our ambitious business goals. Crucially, we want to support you to be your best.
Living our values
We are proud of our values (Safety, Teamwork, Ownership, Integrity, Passion). They are the standards that guide everything we do, both as individuals and together. By living them every day, we will do the best we can for everyone who relies on England’s motorways and major A roads.
Supporting our people
We value the wellbeing of our people. Looking after their mental health, as much as their physical health, plays a big part in making sure National Highways is a safe and supportive place to work. We have an Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential 24/7 support and counselling.
We’re not just about the 9 to 5
At National Highways, we are committed to creating a flexible working environment, where everybody has the freedom to achieve a work-life balance. We have adopted an informal blended working approach for many of our roles and offer multiple ways to work flexibly where possible.
We want colleagues to make real choices about when and how they work, promoting work-life balance, reducing stress, and improving performance and productivity.
To support this, our people have the right to request a flexible working pattern from the start. We welcome discussions during the application stage and know that things change over time so will be happy to discuss flexible working patterns throughout your career with us.
Giving something back
We know our work has an impact on local communities, and we want to do whatever we can to help them. Our people can take up to three volunteering days per year, enabling them to learn skills and give back to the local community. Last year our people gave 1,885 hours to local communities, working with over 50 organisations and benefitting over 3,500 people.
Diversity & Inclusion
Building an inclusive culture
A huge part of what we do is about bringing different people and different communities together. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that our work affects how everyone in England lives their lives in one way or another.
That’s one of the reasons why having a team that’s truly representative of our whole country matters to us. Our roads are there for people from all walks of life, so it makes sense that they should be looked after by people from all walks of life.
As well as that, we recognise that we’re more creative and effective as an organisation when diverse voices are encouraged, heard and celebrated – when everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.
Diversity & inclusion initiatives:
To support our inclusive culture, we have a number of employee networks and support initiatives in place:
Access For All - our network for all disabled colleagues and supporters.
Embrace - celebrating diversity and welcomes all from every culture, ethnicity and faith.
Rainbow Roads - welcomes anyone who identifies as part of our LGBT+ community, friends and allies.
Our Leading Women National Network
Armed Forces & Veterans Network
Carers Network
Fertility Support Network
Menopause and Hormone Conditions Network
Part Time Working
Disability Confident
We’re signed up to the Disability Confident scheme which supports employers in making the most of the talents people with disabilities bring to the workplace. This means we’ll support you during the recruitment process and in your role with any reasonable adjustments you might need due to a disability.
Returners Programme
This programme is for people who’ve taken a career break for two years or more, and who are looking to restart their career. Permanent opportunities are offered to those who successfully complete the programme. We welcomed seven returners in 2023. The programme has received the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI) Returnships Award.
Armed Forces Programme
This programme provides a supportive route into a civilian career for those who have protected our country.
Develop roads. Make moments.
The work we do matters to all sorts of different people. They might be undertaking a trip across the country to get to a long-awaited reunion. Delivering vital supplies to a hospital or care home. Embarking on a quick 20-minute drive to that all-important job interview. The destinations change, but the importance of each journey never does.
Which is why it’s so crucial that we make sure England’s motorways and A roads are fit for purpose today, and ready to handle whatever demands might be placed on them tomorrow.
Benefits
We’re not just about the 9 to 5. Our benefits package is designed to help us build the best team, ensuring our people feel valued and rewarded for their contribution.
We offer a flexible package which meets individual needs both in and outside of work.
A pension scheme with generous employer contributions
Life assurance
Leave entitlement up to 31 days
Access to performance related pay
Great deals, discounts and cash back offers from well-loved retailers
Access to an ABTA bonded travel agency
Access to cycle to work scheme
Childcare vouchers
An employee assistance programme
An occupational health service
Health and wellbeing coaching and support
Access to mental health first aiders
Annual flu jabs
Paid volunteering days
Access to a range of employee networks
Sports and social clubs (in selected regions)
Season ticket loans and Oyster Card credit loans which can be repaid through salary
A cycle to work scheme which includes provisions for cyclists with disabilities
Discounts on roadside assistance, car parking charges, car hire and more.
Employee networks – we’ve established a number of these to help us champion equality, diversity and inclusion across the business.
Flexibility – we’re not just about the 9 to 5, so we have a range of flexible working practices designed to help you find your perfect working patterns and location. After all, happy people are productive people.
Wellbeing and support – we really do value the wellbeing of our people, so looking after their mental health plays a big part in making sure this a safe and supportive place to work.
Volunteering days – we know our work has an impact on local communities, so it’s important for us to do what we can to help them. Our people can take up to three volunteering days per year to give back to the local community (they often pick up some useful new skills along the way).
Wherever you join us, your work will matter. Because behind every journey, there’s a #HumanStory.