Our approach
We will stimulate innovation across the highways sector. Successful innovation requires implementation across our business from fundamental research to the effective implementation of standards.
Discovering new knowledge
Developing new applications
Continuous improvement
Standardising applications
Research
We initiate research to unlock new knowledge to transform the strategic road network.
We will actively engage with research institutions and universities in discovering new knowledge. Through working with wider stakeholders and enabling test trials of new applications, we will use this knowledge to innovate. By successfully integrating our continuous improvement processes, we will realise efficiency and productivity opportunities, and embed this into new standards.
Our research fits into three timelines:
- 2020-2025 short term activities – for successful delivery of the next Road Investment Strategy
- 2025-2035 medium term activities – for informing and supporting future Road Investment Strategies
- 2035-2050 long term activities – for pursuing our future aspirations leading up to 2050 and beyond.
What we are doing:
- Leading as an active participant in research
- Finding new ways to solve our current and future challenges
- Strengthening our relationships with research institutions, academia, infrastructure operators and industry
- Collaborating with academic experts and specialists to align research with our strategic goals
- Attracting and developing new talent to the sector
Innovation
We run our Innovation Programmes to develop, test and implement new products, services and processes to improve the way we operate and maintain our strategic road network.
What we are doing:
- Setting direction and our approach to drive our innovation culture
- Managing and delivering our Innovation Programme of targeted portfolios and projects
- Developing partnerships with our operational directorates, our supply chain, Innovate UK, industry, Catapults, i3P and overseas roads administrations
- Managing and publishing the results of our projects
Contact us regarding innovation
Lean
We have an established Lean capability that supports our staff and delivery partners in the use of Lean techniques, enabling the delivery of continuous improvement.
What we are doing:
- Realising and delivering significant efficiencies
- Developing the capability of staff and delivery partners in the use of Lean continuous improvement techniques to support the delivery of the company’s Key Performance Indicators
- Supporting staff and delivery partners continuously improving performance in safety, customer satisfaction and efficiency
- Supporting delivery teams to drive improvement demonstrated by increased productivity
Further information
- Lean Support to Highways England 2015–2020
- For examples of Lean improvements, view our Highways England Lean Tracker
- View our latest Lean news and information
Standards
We are building our ‘technical standards enterprise system’ to digitalise our design standards development, enabling more timely updates to help implement innovation as business as usual.
What we are doing:
- Supporting and enabling faster publication of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the updating of the Manual Contracts Highways Work specifications
- Enhancing quality, timeliness and processing of standards departures
- Developing National Highway Sector Schemes that set out the competency levels for operatives working on the UK road network
