Equality and diversity
Highways England’s equality and diversity policies and how these are monitored.
Highways England equality objectives
We’re committed to:
- improving our performance in the area of equality and diversity as a service provider, contractor and employer
- meeting our statutory duty under the Equality Act 2010
The latest highlights some of the work that has been undertaken to advance our three PSED objectives covering customers and communities, the supply chain and employment.
The duty applies to private sector companies when carrying out functions or services on behalf of Highways England.
Previous reports
Road to inclusion – report detailing Highways England PSED 2016-2020 objectives and progress during the Period April 2017 - March 2018.
Road to inclusion – report detailing Highways England PSED 2016-2020 objectives and progress during the Period April 2016 - March 2017
Highways England public sector equality duty objectives 2016 - 2020 and annual progress report for 2015-2016 shows the objectives from 2016 to 2020 and how they will be achieved.
shows the objectives from April 2012 to March 2016.
summarises progress made during the first year of delivery and demonstrates how we are giving due regard to our equality duties.
provides a summary of our progress to date against our public sector equality duty objectives.
provides an account of our progress over the last 12 months in relation to our public sector equality duty objectives.
Highways England as a service provider
Our road network provides links to communities and businesses and contributes to the UK’s national wellbeing and economic growth. We aim to ensure our services are fair and accessible to people.
We get information to help check our progress from:
- equality screening from the onset of policy formation
- National Road User Satisfaction Surveys
- monitored telephone and email correspondence
Highways England as an employer
To monitor how successful we are at ensuring equality of opportunity in the workplace, we monitor:
- who we’re attracting to apply
- if we advertise in the right places
- who is successful at the application, interview and offer stages
- if particular groups are disadvantaged by the way we do things
- if everyone has an equal opportunity to apply for and go on relevant training
- if people are getting paid equally for work of equal value
- if performance bonuses are allocated fairly
We hold this information on a database with restricted access for monitoring purposes only.
Based on this information we publish our findings each year in
Highways England suppliers
We have duties under equality legislation to develop action plans on race, disability and gender. Highways England wants to work with and through suppliers that:
- are good employers
- understand and are responsive to the needs of diverse customers and communities impacted by our work
- are able to manage the supply chain to best effect
We encourage our supply chain to improve equality outcomes by:
- providing clear criteria on inclusion in our pre-qualification, tender and performance monitoring processes
- providing guidance on equality frameworks that are aligned to Highways England’s requirements
- offering webinars and 1:1 sessions with our suppliers
- supporting and developing a supplier diversity forum
We get information to gauge progress across our first tier suppliers from:
- Strategic Alignment Review Toolkit (StART) assessments
- framework assessments
- performance monitoring during contracts
- engagement at the supplier diversity forum
Equality frameworks
An equality framework is a tool designed to support systematic, structured improvement in equality outcomes. Some frameworks focus on specific aspects of organisational practice eg employment. Others take a broader approach covering all functions, policies and practices within an organisation.
Highways England:
- commissioned independent research
- gathered performance information through their Strategic Alignment Review Toolkit (StART) and via contracts
- listened to a range of industry bodies as well as their own supplier diversity forum
We concluded that frameworks help organisations and their supply chains to systematically gather intelligence and take action to improve equality.
We do not mandate use of equality frameworks, but we do encourage our suppliers to consider their use. The following organisations have been identified as most closely aligned to our requirements, as set out in the :
- Construction Industry Training Board - provides a construction specific framework and support in improving construction site and sub-contractor performance
- The Clear Company - focuses on inclusion in relation to disabled people
- National Centre for Diversity - provides access to best equality and diversity practice from other sectors
Supplier diversity forum
This is a voluntary group of representatives from first tier suppliers. The forum meets quarterly to discuss common issues and share good practice. Suppliers who don’t already have a representative on the group can nominate new members to represent them.
Email: EDImailbox@highwaysengland.co.uk
Equality impact assessments
You can view previous impact assessments covering:
- smart motorways (formerly managed motorways) and all lane running
- accessibility of the strategic road network
- holiday play scheme
- roadside facilities policy
- guidance for traffic officers
- national vehicle recovery