Heidelberg Materials UK is supporting a new training facility which has been developed by civil engineering contractor Kenson Highways, in partnership with New City College in East London, to equip the next generation of road workers with the skills needed to build and maintain the network.
The collaboration is one of the first of its kind in the UK, with Kenson Highways investing in college facilities to deliver a bespoke highways apprenticeship programme.
The Recruitment and Onboarding for Apprentices in Development (ROAD) programme is an employer-led, industry recognised training course designed specifically for highways maintenance. It is a free-to-attend course that combines classroom learning with hands-on experience to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Heidelberg Materials has donated more than 200 tonnes of asphalt from its Dagenham plant to build a realistic road as part of the new street works training facility at New City College’s Rainham Construction and Engineering Campus in the London Borough of Havering.
On completion of the six-week course, learners will gain the City & Guilds Street Works Operative qualification and have a guaranteed interview with a local employer.
“This is a fantastic initiative that opens up a clear pathway into employment in the highways sector for a range of candidates, including those facing barriers to work,” said Paul O’Neill, asphalt regional director at Heidelberg Materials UK.
“It will help build the reliable pipeline of skilled workers our industry so desperately needs and supports our aim of encouraging more young people to consider a career in the construction industry as well as our commitment to delivering social value.”
The facilities at the centre include footways, carriageways, streetlighting and utilities, where apprentices will be taught practical skills such as the excavation and reinstatement of highways.
Jonathan Yabsley, director at Kenson Highways, said: “We’re proud to be investing directly in college training facilities for the highways sector. This employer-led collaboration will help shape the next generation of skilled operatives, creating genuine employment pathways and raising standards across our industry.”
Colleen Marshall, principal at New City College Rainham, added: “This partnership is a powerful example of how education and industry can work together to solve real workforce challenges. Kenson Highways’ investment represents more than new equipment, it’s a shared commitment to creating opportunities, supporting local people into sustainable jobs, and ensuring London has the skilled workforce it needs.”
