In This Section

MHA+ Skills Community Objectives

The objectives of the Skills Community are to:

  • improve the capability of learning, training and workforce development provision
  • develop a safe and competent workforce
  • promote upskilling, reskilling and conversion, so the workforce is agile, with transferable skills
  • target in-demand existing and future roles with bespoke skills and learning support
  • deliver efficiencies in learning, training and development
  • identify and address gaps in skills, knowledge and confidence
  • work with industry professional bodies and sector skills bodies
  • promote the civil engineering and construction professions to young people and graduates
  • integrate effective Employment and Skills Plans into MHA+ projects and schemes that meet the agreed benchmarks
  • agree effective plans that build social value
  • build skills to support carbon management
  • encourage digital adoption across construction

How we’ll achieve these objectives

We’re developing effective systems across the alliance to identify skills gaps, meet learning and development needs, and provide access to training events and workshops. Each MHA+ workstream is identifying workforce learning and development needs across the alliance, to help them operate more efficiently. Our MHA+ learning and development policy (PDF, 199KB) ensures equity and efficiency in how this is delivered.

Using the MHA+ Learning Management System (LMS)

The LMS lets MHA+ address universal training needs cost-effectively, while making the most of the specialist resources and facilities available from our members. It gives universal access to learning opportunities that meet generalist, specialist and targeted workforce development needs. We’re developing a series of indicators to make sure the LMS is used effectively. Any member authority can access the LMS.

MHA+ learning and development funding

Some funding is used to address universal training needs, providing learning and development that supports skills and knowledge development, and helps build capacity and capability. This training is free to member authorities.

This includes learning events covering:

  • NEC4 contracts that support the use of MHA+ frameworks
  • the 2015 CDM Regulations
  • collaboration to BS 11000
  • the NEC4 Term Service Contract
  • the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract

We use the MHA+ learning, training and development protocol (DOC, 321KB) to make sure commissioning focuses on meeting identified needs.

Using a competencies matrix

We’ve developed an MHA+ Skills and Competencies Matrix. The MHA+ Skills Framework (MHAF) has helped us develop common highways roles across all members, to identify skills gaps and commission workforce development initiatives that meet the needs of MHA+ members. Find out more about the MHAF.

This includes member learning events, as well as subject-specific task and finish groups, webinars, pilot projects and Service Improvement Groups (SIGs).

We want MHA+ to provide a focused approach that supports career development, succession planning and career pathways within highways and transportation.

CITB Employment and Skills Plans (ESPs)

To ensure a consistent approach, we focus on early contractor involvement (ECI). An ECI agenda, along with useful contacts and guidance, is available to help implement effective Employment and Skills Plans and deliver social value.

We’ll work with our partners on future learning and development initiatives, such as apprenticeships and work experience placements that form part of our framework schemes.

ICE and TPS graduate schemes

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Graduate and Trainee Technician scheme, and the Transport Planning Society (TPS) graduate scheme, are both running well within Leicestershire County Council. The alliance works to involve colleagues on these schemes in our learning organisation, sharing information, ideas and challenges, and working on them together.

Promoting the industry and expanding the skills network

We do this by:

  • attending and speaking at relevant conferences
  • publicising events and initiatives
  • engaging with communities as part of our framework schemes
  • working with professional bodies to promote the industry and develop regional initiatives
  • promoting our work with professional bodies and educational institutions
  • developing working relationships with other industry bodies, including the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).