How Do You Become a Highways Maintenance Operative? A Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a highways maintenance operative typically requires a combination of formal education, such as a Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations, hands-on apprenticeship training, and obtaining a mandatory Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. This career path offers a stable, hands-on role critical to public safety and infrastructure integrity.

What Does a Highways Maintenance Operative Do?

Highways maintenance operatives are the frontline professionals responsible for keeping road networks safe and functional. Their duties are vast and vital, often involving collaboration with utility companies and local authorities. A typical day might include:

• Inspecting Infrastructure: Proactively monitoring highways for damage, and inspecting drainage systems, tunnels, and road shoulders.
• Repair and Maintenance: Removing debris, mowing vegetation, installing road lighting and guardrails, and performing winter maintenance like gritting.
• Safety Management: Installing traffic signs to warn drivers of works, drafting risk assessments (a formal document identifying potential hazards), and reporting unsafe conditions.
• Technical Tasks: Operating heavy machinery like mowers and forklifts, producing technical drawings, and calculating project costs.

This role is primarily outdoors, requiring adaptability to all weather conditions and a commitment to safety protocols.

What Are the Steps to Become a Highways Maintenance Operative?

The path to this career is structured, focusing on practical skills and safety compliance. Based on industry standards from bodies like the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), here are the key steps.

1. Earn a Relevant Certification While formal degrees are not always required, most entrants begin with a vocational qualification. A Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills or a Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations provides foundational knowledge. Having GCSEs in Maths, English, and a science subject can strengthen your application for these courses.

2. Complete an Apprenticeship An intermediate apprenticeship is a common route, combining paid on-the-job training with coursework. As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside experienced technicians, gaining practical experience in traffic management, road marking, and civil engineering principles. This pathway allows you to earn while you learn, building the essential skills employers value.

3. Gain a Mandatory Safety Licence Safety is paramount. Before working on site, you must obtain a CSCS card, which proves you have passed the required health and safety awareness test. This licence is a non-negotiable industry standard and demonstrates your commitment to safe working practices.

4. Develop Essential Skills for Success Technical knowledge alone isn't enough. The most effective operatives possess a blend of soft and hard skills:

What Is the Typical Work Environment Like?

Highways maintenance operatives should expect a non-traditional work setting. Shifts can include nights and weekends to minimize traffic disruption. The work is predominantly outdoors, meaning you’ll need to be prepared for all weather conditions. Travel between different sites is common, and you will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like hard hats and high-visibility clothing at all times on site.

Building a career as a highways maintenance operative is a structured process centered on safety and practical skill development. The key takeaways are: pursue a vocational qualification, secure an apprenticeship for hands-on experience, and always prioritize obtaining your CSCS safety card. This role is ideal for those who enjoy practical, outdoor work and take pride in maintaining essential public infrastructure.