Hounslow Highways

18/06/2024

04/06/2024

We had the privilege of mentoring a remarkable group of Year 10 students at the Harris Academy in Southwark during a recent hackathon event aimed at addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time: Air pollution in the transport and fashion industry.

Virtue, a young and empowering graduate civil engineer at Hounslow Highways, worked with the young students, talking about how civil engineering is used to form our future and infrastructure.

The International Hackathon lasted for two action-packed days. The students worked as partners to research how transport and fashion contribute to environmental degradation. Having understood the brief, they set off to create an app or software aimed at addressing the issue of air pollution in these key areas.

The showstopper of the event was seeing these budding engineers present their creative ideas to a well-respected panel of judges.

With each presentation, the students not only demonstrated their technical skills but also conveyed their desire to see a better, cleaner world. It was truly inspiring to witness their creativity and dedication in action.

For these young participants, the hackathon became much more than simply coding: it gave them the opportunity to solve problems, work in teams, and develop confidence in their skills.

These events are crucial for developing the future generation of STEM leaders and innovators. It was a privilege to be part of this, and we hope to see these brilliant minds advance into the future of engineering and beyond!

31/05/2024

Green to save, Green to grow 🪴🌱

Hounslow Highways Greenhouse Initiative

Once upon a time, back in 2013, we were venturing into an innovative PFI contract to deliver a multimillion highways maintenance investment on behalf of the This Is London Borough of Hounslow.

Today, having worked on so many improvements over the last 11 years, we’re a partner delivering sustainable solutions to improve and green the borough, investing in electric fleet and plant to reduce our emissions, and identifying forward-thinking ideas on how to reduce our carbon footprint to create a lasting legacy well beyond the contract term.

One of these ideas was to grow our own plants.

We recently completed the construction of a greenhouse within our depot so we could cultivate our own plants from seed to re-plant on the network. This is not only good for our business but also symbolises economic sustainability.

Sustainability is at the heart of Hounslow Highways.
• We are minimising our environmental footprint by reusing pots to plant the next batch of seeds reducing our waste production.
• Choosing long-lived plants for 2-3 seasons reduces replacement orders.
• We aim to reuse the seeds of the plants we have planted to save purchasing for the next batch.

Gaining Control of Our Stocks.
• The dependence on external suppliers for their plant materials is reduced.
• Our greenhouse has helped us reclaim control over our stock, empowering us to grow the varieties that we want to plant.
• Controlling our own stock, makes us more agile and less reliant on external factors.
• Owning our stock allows us to quickly respond to changing needs.

From Seed to Success.
• Cultivation from seed is the essence of our greenhouse activity.
• We can reduce costs if the plants are grown from seeds instead of buying mature plants.
• Growing from seed helps us understand the growth cycle of plants, improving our expertise.
• We plant varieties of Marigolds, Cosmos, Gladioli, Geraniums, Miscanthus, Sunflowers, Sedum, Pansy and Verbena.
• These are used across the network including at our depot, rain garden schemes and in wildflower sites.
• Growing our own plants, reduces our costs, saving money that can be put into improvement schemes across the borough.

Planting for a Permanent Legacy
Our greenhouse is not just for the moment but also about planting the seeds of sustainability for the future.

Whether it’s our depot, the rain gardens we’ve installed, or any other landscape, these plants will have a long-term influence, changing areas into breathing ecosystems.

Our greenhouse is not just a greenhouse…it embodies sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and visionary thinking.

Sustainable practices such as these not only align with ours and global environmental goals but also offer practical, cost-effective solutions for the challenges of greening an urban environment.

23/05/2024

Hounslow Highways are proud to lead the way in sustainability with the UK's first 26-tonne Volvo FE Electric 6x2 rigid featuring a tipper grab body and low entry cab.

This ground-breaking vehicle is fully compliant with London’s five-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS), ensuring maximum safety and visibility for our drivers.

By replacing a diesel vehicle in our fleet, we're immediately reducing our carbon footprint, operating within London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, and contributing to cleaner air in the Borough of Hounslow.

Tim Hurley, Service Director of Hounslow Highways emphasises the importance of such a vehicle in our fleet: “We are proud to have the new 26 tonne Volvo FE Electric as the latest addition to our fleet at Hounslow Highways. As well as helping us achieve our 2030 net zero target, it has demonstrated that through working with key suppliers we can move towards a sustainable operation with 40% of our fleet moving to electric by the end of 2025. This will include a range of vehicle sizes up to and including HGVs which will contribute towards cleaner air quality with safer, quieter driving. The Volvo FE Electric has proved capable of doing everything its non-electric predecessor could do whilst having zero emissions, improved visibility and safety features with minimal noise pollution making it an ideal asset to work in an urban setting.”

We continue to innovate and support Hounslow’s green agenda, improving air quality, encouraging biodiversity, and reducing carbon impact.

20/05/2024

We love sharing news about our people, and we’re delighted to tell you about Rebecca who works in the seasonal cleansing team. In just one year of working with us, Rebecca has added another skill to her many talents, and now also operates both caged vehicles and the 101 sweeper 🚚 This is a remarkable achievement.

Through sheer dedication and a continuous desire to improve, Rebecca has not only grown as an employee but also become Hounslow Highways' first female sweeper and caged vehicle driver👷‍♀️ Go Becky!

We're so incredibly proud of her commitment and delighted to support her ongoing career journey.

17/05/2024

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Hounslow Highways is proud to promote the importance of getting moving for mental well-being! As we all know, mental health issues can affect people in different ways so we want to promote awareness, encourage people to talk, and ‘Ask Twice’. ‘I’m ok’, doesn’t always mean someone is, so if you feel there’s more to it, then ask again.

As part of the campaign, we've encouraged our employees to take part in Georgina's lunchtime walk today. It's a great opportunity to get some exercise, socialise with colleagues, and boost your mood! 👣

We're also wearing green to show our support for the Mental Health Foundation. 💚

Remember, even small amounts of physical activity can make a big difference in your mental health. 🧠

16/05/2024

We’re excited to share that Georgina and Dom from our team recently delivered a 'Traffic Management' workshop at West Thames College Skills & Logistics Centre!

This wasn't your average lecture.

Six interactive sessions: We engaged students from various courses, giving them a real-world glimpse into Hounslow Highways' daily operations.

Immersive learning: Thanks to a mock TM site complete with a stunning 3D-printed set of traffic management signs, students got a hands-on feel for a real-life TM scenario. A huge thanks to Ringway Surrey for their support, especially Carolyn Jay, Ryan Sheppard, and Bradley Tate.

Practical application: We covered the fundamentals of TM, the importance of proper PPE, and presented a practical exercise: managing traffic for a pothole repair. Students learned about signage, site setup considerations, and showcased their problem-solving skills!

This workshop wasn't just about information, it was about equipping future industry professionals with valuable skills. The students actively participated and clearly grasped the importance of safety and planning on worksites.

We're thrilled to be partnering with West Thames College and look forward to collaborating with Terrie Carter and Beverley McGuire on more initiatives!

This is a fantastic opportunity to empower young talent and contribute to the future of our industry.

03/05/2024

Georgina and Tehmina from our team visited the West Thames College Skills & Logistics Centre yesterday morning as part of the Employers Advisory Group and met with Beverley McGuire and Terrie Carter who manage the centre with such passion and ambition for the students they so obviously care about. We had an in-depth discussion about how we can contribute to and support the college’s Construction Trades and Skills Curriculum for the academic years 2024/25.

We were delighted to be a part of the discussions to see how we can support the programme, apprentices and T-Level students whilst they study to gain their qualifications through theoretical and practical studies. The programme will help students develop much needed skills for our industry through full time and part time learning and accommodates students from ages 16-18 and 19+.

We discussed providing classes on interview skills, masterclasses on specialist subjects and contributed towards what additional content should be included within the curriculum that would complement the practical side of the skills, like relationship management, digital skills and design principles.

We’re really excited to be a part of this and learn from the experience and help shape the qualifications into something that will help form our future workforce.

02/05/2024

Our wonderful Hounslow Highways Graduate Engineer, Alfie Brown, is Gearing Up for a Challenge: Dash to Dubrovnik for Alzheimer's Research UK!

This June, Alfie is hitting the road for an epic adventure – the Dash to Dubrovnik, a Top Gear-inspired charity road trip with a twist: raising awareness for Alzheimer's Research UK!

Think 14 days, 12 countries, and 4,000 miles conquered in a trusty (and hopefully reliable) 1998 Mazda 626 GSI Estate, picked up for a steal at £650.

This isn't just about the thrill of the open road. It's about supporting a cause close to Alfie’s heart and pushing to the limit, all while having a blast (and maybe a few breakdowns) along the way.

Stay tuned for updates along the fundraising journey: https://www.justgiving.com/team/the-el-dubrovers

22/04/2024

Our 2 graduates

Hounslow Highways wants to inspire the next generation to follow a dream to work in highways and construction. Our graduates, Alfie & Virtue, attended the London Academy of Excellence in Stratford to present the importance of Civil Engineering and how it impacts the environment and infrastructure globally. The presentation was delivered to STEM school students in years 12 & 13 who wanted more understanding of civil engineering.

The students were given information on the university degrees they both graduated from and what the courses entailed, the exposure to projects and with research what they learnt about new theories, principles, and ideas that inform the development of new technologies and solutions. Both Alfie and Virtue were also able to talk about their current roles at Hounslow Highways, their responsibilities and how their passion is a driving force for the job they love.

Hounslow Highway has a pathway for graduates, which includes the graduates becoming chartered though the ICE programme (Institution of Civil Engineers) which is a qualification recognised internationally. At Hounslow Highways, we strive to develop the infrastructure for the future generations and support students in STEM studies.

17/04/2024

The Great British Spring Clean

The Great British Spring Clean 2024 was a huge success and here at Hounslow Highways we continue to encourage and promote environmental awareness. Hounslow Highways would like to thank everyone who participated in this annual event which was held between 16th-31st March this year. During the campaign Hounslow Highways supported a range of businesses, Trusts and community groups to remove unwanted rubbish from private and neglected areas and have areas looking fresh and clean.

Hounslow Highway provided bags, litter picks, gloves and bin hoops to residents, and removed all the unwanted rubbish which was collected by all the inspirational residents who participated in this event.

In addition to the GBSC, Hounslow Highways also contributes to other local events organised by residents and businesses throughout the year. If any residents, businesses or members of the public would like to arrange a litter picking event and need equipment, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].

We would like to thank everyone involved in keeping the Borough of Hounslow clean and tidy including Brentford FC and Hare & Hound pub who provided refreshments to the Osterley Litter Busters, one of whom is one of our very own Lay Assessor.

12/04/2024

Introducing Satbir Gill, our Network Manager at Hounslow Highways! Satbir brings a wealth of experience to the team, having been with Hounslow since 2013 and previously working at the London Borough of Hounslow.

Satbir's in-depth knowledge of the borough and highways management makes him a valuable asset to our Senior Management Team. He plays a crucial role in ensuring our roads and footpaths are consistently monitored and maintained to the highest standards.