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FHRG - current research and themes

FHRG research themes are regularly updated and refreshed in line with the sector’s most pressing issues – find out about current themes below or click here to find out more about our past themes.

1. Current research

The FHRG’s pioneering local authority members have successfully hosted and conducted numerous research initiatives, concepts, trials and sector surveys. The FHRG’s current research activities include work to:

Develop guidance to support the consistent interpretation and measurement of SCOPE 1, 2 and 3.

  • Critical to enabling highways authorities to achieve their goals around carbon reduction and air quality.
  • The SCOPE 1 and 2 guidance was published in February 2022 and the SCOPE 3 guidance will be published shortly, having engaged DfT and all the primary private and public sector stakeholders in the highways industry. Pilot assessments are now underway with seven FHRG members.
  • Several Live Labs 2 bidders are also engaging support from Proving Services to help measure and evidence outcomes across the three- year life cycle of their projects.

• Develop shared solutions to the current challenges around human capital management.

  • An aging workforce and skills shortage is endemic across both public and private sector highways partners and presents a threat to medium term service sustainability.
  • The study completed a number of surveys, data gathering exercises and round tables and has collated current best practice and strategies to address the challenge in both the immediate and longer term. Proving Services published a report with key recommendations for the sector and will continue to monitor the sector and report on interesting initiatives aimed at addressing the issues.

Members’ interests have converged around three key themes: carbon measurement & reduction, human capital management (HCM) and future procurements and service delivery model.

These issues are already having a profound impact on FHRG, and other ADEPT council members across the country. The outcomes will be of significant interest to local highways authorities and the wider highways sector.

Theme 1. Climate change impact analysis, carbon measurement & reduction

Guidance to support the consistent interpretation and measurement of SCOPE 1, 2 and 3.

  • Critical to enabling highways authorities to achieve their goals around carbon reduction and air quality.
  • The SCOPE 1 and 2 guidance was published in February 2022 and the SCOPE 3 guidance will be published shortly, having engaged DfT and all the primary private and public sector stakeholders in the highways industry. Pilot assessments are now underway with seven FHRG members.
  • Several Live Labs 2 bidders are also engaging support from Proving Services to help measure and evidence outcomes across the three- year life cycle of their projects.

Theme 2 - Human Capital Management (HCM): highways sector challenges & options

Shared solutions to the current challenges around human capital management.

  • An aging workforce and skills shortage is endemic across both public and private sector highways partners and presents a threat to medium term service sustainability.
  • The study completed a number of surveys, data gathering exercises and round tables and has collated current best practice and strategies to address the challenge in both the immediate and longer term. Proving Services published a report with key recommendations for the sector and will continue to monitor the sector and report on interesting initiatives aimed at addressing the issues.

Theme 3 - Future Procurements & Services Delivery Models

Thirteen authorities have now used the toolset developed to help determine the future service delivery model that would best deliver their strategic objectives, optimise value for money and be achievable to attain.

Many more authorities will be seeking new contracts and / or operating models during the next five years, therefore the FHRG is continuing to evolve and refine the tools that underpin Future Services Delivery Options Assessments and has also developed tools and methodologies to support the latter stages of procurement.

This research theme offers:

  • Future Services Delivery Options Assessments Enabling the analysis of 18 different services delivery options relative to the current services delivery approach.
  • Mixed Economy Operating Model Toolset A Best Practice Function-Level Commissioning Framework
  • Template Business Cases for Mixed Economy Operations
  • Template Operating Model for Mixed Economy Operations
  • Provider Relationship & Mutuality Assessment
  • Assessing the challenges and amelioration opportunities for current client / provider relationships

Value for Money Benchmarking Club

This is a mature research theme, with toolsets and instruments refreshed annually. A biennial assessment is offered as part of membership of the FHRG and is also accessible to other ADEPT members for a small fee.

  • Annual VfM Assessment Assesses 160 weighted factors across six dimensions: economy, efficiency, effectiveness, strategic value, stakeholder value and sustainability.
  • Aggregated assessments provide a snapshot of the LA sector as-a-whole
  • Services Improvement Plans
  • These follow each VfM assessment and enable services to plan and implement improvements. Progress is reassessed each year.

2. Research & Innovation Framework (RIF)

To create and sustain this programme, the FHRG has introduced the Research & Innovation Framework (RIF). This framework enables private sector organisations to sponsor specific research activities, where these align with member interests. To date, the FHRG has received research funding from:

  1. Ringway
  2. Atkins
  3. Breedon
  4. Colas
  5. Department for Transport (DfT)
  6. National Highways

Upcoming discussions with DfT will aim to increase funding for the carbon measurement and reduction research.

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