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Highways and the Skills to Succeed

The modern highways network demands more from contractors than simply the ability to deliver a project. Any works are disruptive to the travelling public and the economy. So any initiative that reduces overall disruption, now or in the future, can have a significant impact.

The need for new road space and improvements to existing highways is increasing, while financial and human resources are likely to become scarcer.

There is also the opportunity offered by new technology to transform efficiency and productivity levels – so that more value can be delivered for less investment.

The skills that contractors need to bring to these challenges are not only different from the past, they also continue to evolve rapidly. The availability of relevant skills and the measures contractors take to maintain and update those skills is fast becoming the most significant question in awarding highways contracts.

The Farmer Report rightly highlighted the bleak future that lies ahead for construction firms that fail to invest in new skills. Increasingly they will find themselves excluded from ITTs or struggling over the scraps of low value contracts.

Customer Experience

When it comes to selecting a partner (rather than a contractor), the approach and attitude of its people will matter just as much as hard technical skills.

Contractors need to show that their teams have the communication skills and adaptability needed to ensure all project needs are met, to resolve issues quickly and, ideally, prevent them occurring in the first place. They will need to show how they are developing digital capabilities that will bring significant gains in productivity, flexibility and quality.

Highways operators are in no position to take risks with costs or timings of projects. They need better value solutions that deliver more for less. These objectives all rely on the hard and soft skills of the contractor’s teams.

Osborne has identified skills development as a key strategic priority. Our aim is to be respected and admired for the quality of our people, the learning solutions we provide internally and externally, and our ability to quickly form effective teams.

We believe that this is the best way to offer our highways customers the reassurance they need over timing, cost and value.

Find out more about our Highways projects here.

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