VolkerHighways
VolkerHighways is a UK highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor serving local authorities with integrated services including road maintenance, LED and solar street lighting, traffic management, and EV charging infrastructure through its VolkerSmart Technologies subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersHoddesdon, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VolkerHighways does
VolkerHighways is a UK highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor that delivers integrated infrastructure services to local authorities and public sector clients. Founded as part of the UK highways industry over 50 years ago and now operating as a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK (itself part of the Netherlands-based VolkerWessels group), the company is headquartered in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire with regional depots and operations across at least nine UK regions including West Sussex, Oxfordshire, Luton, Medway, West Berkshire, Windsor & Maidenhead, Bath & North East Somerset, and Wokingham.
The company's core offerings span highways term maintenance, street lighting (including LED conversion and 360-degree solar lighting), specialist traffic management compliant with NHSS 12 A/B and D standards, and EV charging infrastructure delivered through its wholly-owned subsidiary VolkerSmart Technologies. Technical differentiators include proprietary installation methods for flat and flush kerbside EV chargers, thermal sensor networks deployed on street lighting columns for winter gritting optimization, and the Asphalt-IQ digital carbon tracking pilot for surfacing works. The company maintains 1,292km of highway, 328 bridges, 32,184 gullies, and 34,000+ LED-converted street lanterns across its contract portfolio.
VolkerHighways operates on a B2B managed services model, securing long-term contracts (typically 7+ years with extension options) through direct procurement engagement with UK local authorities and county councils. Notable contract values include £16.5m per annum for West Sussex from April 2025, £10m per annum for West Berkshire, and £17m over two years for Slough public realm schemes. Revenue is generated through scheduled maintenance, reactive repairs, emergency response, and capital project delivery, with additional commercial revenue from private sector EV charging partnerships with operators including Trojan Energy and Ubitricity.
VolkerHighways firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VolkerHighways
- Legal name
- VolkerHighways Limited
- Website
- https://volkerhighways.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- VolkerHighways is a UK highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor serving local authorities with integrated services including road maintenance, LED and solar street lighting, traffic management, and EV charging infrastructure through its VolkerSmart Technologies subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VolkerHighways industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Highways and Street Lighting Infrastructure Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Street Lighting & Area Lighting EPC / Maintenance (EUAEACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)
Keywords
Where VolkerHighways is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hoddesdon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
VolkerHighways business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Highways Term Maintenance Contracts: Long-term maintenance contracts with local authorities for highway services, typically 7-year terms with potential extensions. Revenue generated through scheduled maintenance, reactive repairs, and emergency response services for road networks.
- Street Lighting Contracts: Term maintenance contracts for street lighting with local authorities, including LED conversion projects, solar lighting installation, and ongoing maintenance of lighting assets.
- Traffic Management Services: Specialist traffic management services including temporary traffic solutions, TM designs, installation of CCTV, road/lane closures, and 24-hour emergency callouts. Works to NHSS 12 A/B and D standards.
- EV Charging Infrastructure (VolkerSmart Technologies): Commercial EV charging point installation and maintenance for public and private sector clients through the VolkerSmart Technologies subsidiary business.
- Public Realm Infrastructure Projects: Construction and improvement projects for public spaces including cycleways, pedestrian crossings, street furniture, and public realm enhancements for local authorities.
- Independent Connection Provider (ICP): ICP electrical connections on highway assets through VolkerSmart Technologies, providing power network connections for various electrical highway infrastructure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
VolkerHighways product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VolkerHighways is a UK highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor delivering long-term managed service contracts to local authorities and county councils. Through its subsidiary VolkerSmart Technologies, the company installs and maintains on-street EV charging infrastructure and provides Independent Connection Provider (ICP) electrical connections for highway assets. The business is supported by an in-house traffic management division operating to NHSS 12 A/B and D standards.
Product overview
VolkerHighways is a highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor offering a portfolio of infrastructure services. The core offerings include highways term maintenance, street lighting, and traffic management services delivered to local authorities. Through its subsidiary VolkerSmart Technologies, the company provides electric vehicle charging solutions and smart infrastructure. The company also offers independent electrical connection services (ICP) for highway assets. Services are delivered across multiple UK local authority contracts including West Sussex, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Luton, Medway, Bath & North East Somerset, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham, and Barnet.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Highways Term Maintenance
- Street Lighting
- Traffic Management
- VolkerSmart Technologies EV Charging Solutions
- Independent Connection Provider (ICP)
- Public Realm Infrastructure Projects
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% reduction in energy consumption through LED street lighting conversions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use VolkerHighways
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VolkerHighways technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
VolkerHighways partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UbitricitycoreVolkerSmart Technologies completed delivery of 1,050 EV chargers in Richmond and Wandsworth for Ubitricity. The partnership has seen over 4,000 chargers installed across central London, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. Includes ongoing maintenance with six-monthly testing and emergency response commitments.
- Greener HighwaysminorVolkerHighways partnered with Greener Highways to deliver environmental sustainability education programs in schools across the South. Activities include planting wildflowers, building insect hotels, and teaching children about plants and bees in the ecosystem. Uses Greener Highways First Shoots educational packs.
- Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise PartnershipminorPartnership through the Smart City Cluster project, a £2.1m IoT initiative funded through Local Growth Fund capital grant. Involves £225k investment in thermal sensors across Berkshire for winter maintenance optimization. Collaboration between six Berkshire authorities.
- GreenTheUKcoreVolkerHighways partnered with GreenTheUK as the first VolkerWessels UK business to support the organization. The partnership supports the B-Lines Insect Pathways Project and involves planting 40,000m2 of wildflower meadows in Medway, biodiversity sessions with schools, and volunteer activities. The collaboration firmly supports the People-Planet-Purpose sustainability framework.
- Trojan EnergycoreVolkerSmart Technologies (VolkerHighways subsidiary) has completed over 1,000 on-street EV charging points across Barnet for Trojan Energy. The partnership includes phases one and two of the rollout, with bespoke jig development and design modifications for successful delivery. The collaboration enables residents without driveways to access EV charging.
- ALMA BeaconcoreVolkerHighways supports ALMA Beacon charity providing essential services to vulnerable people in Windsor including Windsor Street Angels, Windsor Homeless Project, and Windsor FoodShare. Support includes donations, materials, resurfacing work, and helping homeless people back into employment through interview opportunities.
- Align JV (HS2)coreVolkerHighways provides traffic management expertise for the C1 section of HS2 through the Align joint venture. The 21.6km rural section includes a 3.37km viaduct, 16.04km twin-bored tunnel, and five vent shafts. Services include temporary traffic solutions, TM designs, CCTV installation, and 24-hour emergency callouts.
- VolkerWessels UKcoreVolkerHighways is part of VolkerWessels UK, a leading multidisciplinary contractor delivering innovative engineering solutions across civil engineering and construction sectors. Parent company coordinates specialized businesses including VolkerFitzpatrick, VolkerRail, VolkerStevin, and VolkerLaser.
- F1 LiningminorSupply chain partner that volunteered time and services to install a cycleway at Connection Day Centre in Writhlington for adults with learning disabilities. Demonstrates community-focused partnership approach.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VolkerHighways competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kier Group (Kier Highways): Kier Highways is the leading UK provider of highways term maintenance contracts to local authorities. Directly comparable in core service lines, customer base (UK councils), and contract structure (multi-year term maintenance). Kier's highways division is the most direct head-to-head competitor for VolkerHighways' core term maintenance tenders.
- Amey plc: Amey operates large-scale highways maintenance and street lighting contracts (e.g., Birmingham, Sheffield) under the same council term-maintenance model as VolkerHighways. Overlapping services include highways maintenance, street lighting, traffic management, and EV infrastructure deployment across UK local authorities.
- Ringway (Eurovia UK / Jacobs JV): Ringway, now operating under Eurovia/Jacobs, is one of the largest UK highways term maintenance contractors serving councils including Barnet, Hounslow, and Hampshire. Direct competitor on the same term-maintenance tender pipeline that VolkerHighways targets.
- Costain Group: Costain delivers highways term maintenance, smart infrastructure, and energy transition services (including EV infrastructure) to UK local authorities. Highly comparable service overlap and customer base, particularly on contracts blending traditional highways work with net-zero and digital elements.
- Colas UK: Colas UK provides highways term maintenance, surfacing, street lighting, and traffic management services to UK councils. Direct peer on term-maintenance tenders; subsidiary of France's Colas Group brings deeper international backing versus VolkerHighways' Dutch VolkerWessels parent.
Broad incumbents
- Balfour Beatty: Balfour Beatty is a major UK infrastructure group with significant highways maintenance, lighting, and public realm exposure alongside larger rail, utilities, and construction businesses. Competes with VolkerHighways on major council tenders but operates across a much broader portfolio.
- Tarmac (CRH): Tarmac, owned by CRH, operates a UK highways services arm focused on surfacing and term maintenance alongside its core aggregates and asphalt products business. Overlaps with VolkerHighways on surfacing-led highway contracts but operates at much larger scale with vertical materials integration.
- Skanska UK: Skanska's UK infrastructure division delivers highways, street lighting, and public realm projects through both term maintenance and one-off capital schemes. Comparable to VolkerHighways on tenders but with a much wider global infrastructure portfolio and capability set.
- Mott MacDonald: Mott MacDonald advises on UK highways term maintenance contracts from the client/consultancy side and increasingly partners with delivery contractors. Adjacent rather than direct competition, but its advisory role makes it a meaningful comparand on contract structures and procurement strategy.
- Aggregate Industries: Aggregate Industries, part of LafargeHolcim, operates a UK highways services business alongside construction materials. Competes with VolkerHighways on surfacing and highways maintenance tenders while also supplying materials — wider scope but meaningful overlap on council contract tenders.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VolkerHighways social profiles
Digital presenceVolkerHighways financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VolkerHighways leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
VolkerHighways subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
VolkerHighways funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VolkerHighways M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VolkerHighways
What does VolkerHighways do?
VolkerHighways is a UK highways and street lighting term maintenance contractor delivering long-term managed service contracts to local authorities and county councils. Through its subsidiary VolkerSmart Technologies, the company installs and maintains on-street EV charging infrastructure and provides Independent Connection Provider (ICP) electrical connections for highway assets. The business is supported by an in-house traffic management division operating to NHSS 12 A/B and D standards.
Is VolkerHighways a public or private company?
VolkerHighways is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was VolkerHighways founded?
VolkerHighways was founded in 1959. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is VolkerHighways based?
VolkerHighways is headquartered in Hoddesdon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does VolkerHighways make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Highways Term Maintenance Contracts are the primary driver. The others are street Lighting Contracts, traffic Management Services, EV Charging Infrastructure (VolkerSmart Technologies), public Realm Infrastructure Projects and independent Connection Provider (ICP).
Who are VolkerHighways's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kier Group (Kier Highways), Amey plc, Ringway (Eurovia UK / Jacobs JV), Costain Group and Colas UK. Broad incumbents are Balfour Beatty, Tarmac (CRH), Skanska UK, Mott MacDonald and Aggregate Industries.
Does VolkerHighways have an API?
No public API is recorded for VolkerHighways.
What industry is VolkerHighways in?
VolkerHighways's product category is Highways and Street Lighting Infrastructure Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEACAH, Street Lighting & Area Lighting EPC / Maintenance, with a secondary code of EUAEAFAA, High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 4911.