National Highways Sector Schemes (NHSS)
The National Highways Sector Schemes (NHSS) are bespoke quality management systems based on the ISO 9001 standard and are for organisations working on the UK road network.
National Highways Sector Schemes (NHSS) are based on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for highways activities. Developed in conjunction with all parts of the highways industry and the United Kingdom Accredited Service, they were designed to provide an industry benchmark and to give assurance to clients that standards were being consistently applied.
NHSS – everything you need to know
NHSSs are comprehensive quality management programmes that are tailored to each unique roadways specialisation. NHSSs are primarily intended for use by organisations involved with the UK’s road system as an addition to ISO 9001. They are based on the current ISO 9001:2015 framework.
Through the use of appropriately qualified and trained personnel, they hope to ensure that work is completed to the greatest standards of professionalism.
A technical advisory council composed of representatives from the industry and other interested parties, including highway authorities, trade associations, and certifying agencies, develops and oversees each. The committees may add more specialists as necessary.
NHSS schemes come under eight main categories:
- Highway assets including design
- Fencing including vehicle safety restraints
- Electrical and land drilling
- Road surfaces, surface marking and paving
- Manufacturing, structures, fasteners and coatings including stockholding
- Temporary traffic management
- Landscaping and natural environment (including ecology)
- Tunnel management, incident management including vehicle recovery
Previously we assisted On The Go Traffic Management successfully retained their ISO 9001 & NHSS certification with Compliant. Discover more about their journey here.
To get started you must first be evaluated by a certification body authorised by UKAS such as the British Assessment Bureau.
It is possible to add NHSS certification as an extension to your existing ISO 9001 certification if it was obtained through a registered national accrediting authority, an authorised UKAS certification body, or both. This is where we come in. We support a range of clients in gaining their ISO certification through the development of audit proof management systems and support on audit days. For more information get in touch with our friendly team today.
Get a Free Quote Now
A Step-by-Step Guide
The Gap Analysis
Identify gaps in your current system compared to the desired standards.
Implementation Support
Provide guidance to amend and implement necessary changes to meet standards
Stage One Assessment
Conduct a preliminary assessment to ensure readiness for certification.
Internal Audit
Perform an internal audit to verify compliance and prepare for final assessment.
Stage Two Assessment
Carry out the main certification audit to ensure all standards are met.
Ongoing Support and Improvement
Offer continuous support to maintain compliance and drive improvements.
Other Services
ISO and Business Training Courses
Health and Safety Consulting
Our dedicated process and post certification
Research & Analysis
We tailor standards to fit your business needs, helping you implement a documented management system. Our goal is to ensure compliance with your selected standard(s).
Assessment
We start with a document review to verify your system’s existence. Next, we conduct onsite assessments to ensure your operations align with your documented system.
Certification
If any issues are found, we’ll provide a detailed report and give you the chance to address them. Once everything is resolved, we issue your certificates and complete your registration with the applicable schemes.
