Highways England Assessment Centre Preparation – 2024

What Is Highways England?

Highways England is a government-owned company in the UK that handles the building, operating, and maintaining of the 4,300 miles of major roads and motorways. The company has a diverse workforce and strives to attract top talent from various backgrounds.

They have several types of job opportunities, including apprenticeship and graduate programmes. They have roles in various sectors, including technical roles such as engineering and patrolling, as well as business roles such as accounting and project management. Employees at Highways England also enjoy several benefits, including:

• Pension
• Life assurance
• Childcare vouchers
• Flexible work arrangements
• Paid volunteering days
• Access to mental health first aiders
• Sports and social clubs

In addition to creating a safe and healthy workspace for their employees, Highways England has four core social values that they embody:

• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The company increases opportunities for underrepresented groups and provides an accessible road network.
• Improving the Environment: Highways England makes sustainable decisions to enhance ecosystems and conserve natural resources.
• Community Wellbeing: The company strives to improve connectivity, education, amenities, and heritage programmes for communities and address health-related issues.
• Economic Prosperity: Highways England invests in new jobs, skills, supply chains, and delivering improvements across England.

What Is the Recruitment Process at Highways England?

Online Application

Like many companies, the first step in the pre-employment process at Highways England is to complete an online application. However, unlike many companies, Highways England doesn’t ask for a typical CV and cover letter. Instead, job seekers will need to complete a short application form and complete a psychometric exam before they can be considered for the role.

You can find open roles for the company on their website. Each position will have a detailed description so you can decide if you are qualified before applying. If you are seeking an internship, apprenticeship, or graduate programme opportunity, there may be an application window that you’ll need to abide by. Be sure to check their website for the most recent information.

Highways England Situational Judgment Test

As part of your application process, applicants will take a situational judgment test (SJT). The SJT is a unique type of aptitude test that allows the hiring team to gain insight into what kind of employee you would be and how you would behave in the workplace.

The test presents several simulated situations similar to what you would encounter in the role and asks you to respond to some conflict or issue. There will be response options for each question, and you’ll need to choose the one that makes the most sense.

These tests can be tricky because the correct answer may not be obvious. To help in these situations, it is essential to remember that Highways England is looking for applicants who fit in with their current workforce. Research the company, their values, the type of employees that work for them, and what competencies they are looking for in that position. Knowing this information about the company may help you lean towards the answer they are looking for.

Video Interview

Once you submit your application, both the form and your SJT results will go through a screening process with a recruiter. If they think you could be a good candidate for the position, they will reach out and schedule a video interview with a member of the hiring team.

This interview will be to confirm that you have the qualifications and skills necessary to do well in the job. They will likely ask about past experience, strengths, and why you would be the best person for the position. Though they didn’t ask for a CV, it may be a good idea to have one nearby during the interview so you can reference it and pull critical skills and information from it when asked.

This is also an excellent time for you to ask questions you may have about the role or the company. Asking the interviewer questions at the end of your interview is a great way to show them you are interested in the position and have come to the discussion prepared. Just make sure your question isn’t easily answerable on the website!

Highways England Assessment Centre

The last stage of the Highways England recruitment process is the assessment centre. This is an event where several candidates come together to complete exercises while the hiring team observes and assesses their behaviour.

Some activities you should expect in your assessment centre include:

• Group Exercise: The group exercise will be a task that you and several other applicants need to work together to complete. The hiring team will be assessing your leadership and collaboration skills during this assignment.
• Presentation: If you are asked to present, you will receive the topic beforehand to prepare. This will likely be a short presentation about a relevant topic to a few of the hiring managers. This will demonstrate your communication and presentation skills, as well as your ability to perform under pressure. Be prepared to answer questions about the topic at the end of your presentation!
• Interview(s): You will also partake in at least one more interview during the assessment centre. This will likely be more behaviour-based and focused on your skills and competencies for the position. Be sure to format your responses using the STAR method to answer their questions in a concise and organised manner.

How to Prepare for the Highways England Assessment?

Highways England is looking for candidates who are intelligent and would do well in the company. Because the organisation requires an SJT during the application process, you must do well on that first exam.

One way to ensure a good score is to prepare using online practice tests. These tests will show sample questions so you can see how the questions will be presented on the exam. They will also give explanations so you can understand how to come to the correct answer on the test.

You should also research interviewing tips and common questions. This will help you prepare for the other aspects of the hiring process and increase your chances of success.