Join to apply for the Highways Maintenance Operative role at Colas Ltd
Colas Ltd is a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, operating in over 50 countries worldwide. With more than 55,000 employees globally and over 1,500 in the UK, we specialise in highways construction and maintenance, manufacturing innovative surfacing products, and delivering large‑scale projects in the highways, airfields, marine, and maintenance sectors. We hold a Gold Investor in People award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.
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Purpose of the role
Colas manages an eight‑year Maintenance & Response contract for National Highways Area 9, covering around 2,300 miles of the Strategic Road Network across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. The contract includes cyclical maintenance, reactive maintenance, incident response, severe weather response and minor works in a region with five strategically critical motorway interchange junctions and a major HS2 hub. We are looking for a Highways Maintenance Operative (HMO) to join the team based at our Bescot depot (WS1 4NL). As an HMO you will work as part of a team to carry out highway maintenance duties such as winter maintenance and emergency response.
Main Responsibilities
You will undertake a range of highway maintenance activities including gully emptying, winter maintenance, sweeping & cleaning, soft estate clearance, traffic management and others as required. You will promote effective health & safety, ensure risk assessments are adhered to, participate in incident management and winter service, and use Colas plant and fleet responsibly. You will manage administrative tasks such as timesheet collation, plant, labour and material usage, and maintain a professional approach that reflects the company’s image. Night work and out‑of‑hours rotas for winter maintenance and emergency response, including standby, are expected, with overtime available. All activities must respect the environment, prevent pollution, comply with legal and corporate requirements, and minimise environmental impact.
Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate must hold a full clean UK driving licence and have experience in highways maintenance, such as VRS, traffic management, gully emptying, soft estate etc. A Highways Passport and winter maintenance experience are essential. A can‑do attitude, willingness to work outdoors in all weather, good communication skills and the ability to work in high‑pressure environments are required. Class C HGV with CPC is preferable. Knowledge of Confirm and associated software is desirable.
Package Description
* A salary between £12.21 and £14.60 (dependent on experience and licences) – monthly paid
* Colas Pension Scheme with combined contributions up to 10%
* Life Assurance Scheme worth four times basic salary
* 21 days annual leave per year + public holidays
* Holiday purchase & selling scheme
* Hybrid working scheme (dependent on the role)
* Opportunities to study toward a fully funded professional qualification
* Ongoing personal / professional development
* Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and more through our online employee benefits portal
At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values – Respect, Commitment, Pioneering and Sharing – which shape how we work, collaborate and grow together.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Note to recruitment agencies: In line with our company policy, Colas prefers direct hiring. We will reach out to PSL agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
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