National Highways

What National Highways does

National Highways is the UK government-owned company, operating as an executive agency of the Department for Transport, with statutory responsibility for operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road network of approximately 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads. Founded in 2015 as Highways England and rebranded in 2021, the organisation is funded through multi-year Road Investment Strategy cycles, with RIS3 committing £27bn over 2026-2031. It directly serves all road users in England via a centralised National Traffic Operations Centre in Birmingham, seven regional control centres, over 1,000 Traffic Officers on-road, almost 4,000 CCTV cameras and a 24/7 Customer Contact Centre handling around 34,000 enquiries per month.

The core product is management of the strategic network, augmented by the Digital Roads programme - an umbrella for smart motorway technology, AI-enabled monitoring, IoT sensors, digital twins, low-altitude drone surveillance (planned early 2027) and computer vision for pothole detection on maintenance vehicles. Major project work centres on the Lower Thames Crossing (£11bn) targeting first major carbon-neutral UK infrastructure project, currently in early works. Commercial revenue is non-existent; the operating model is direct-to-public-service delivery (government-provided, tax-funded) with an ecosystem of contractors, consultancies and technology partners (CGI, GeoPura, GRIDSERVE, Jacobs/AtkinsRéalis, Buro Happold/TRL, Costain) executing delivery.

The business model is single-funder (Department for Transport) with 100% of inflows set through 5-year Treasury cycles. Customer segments in the operational sense are general road users (commuters, leisure, freight) and, indirectly, the haulage industry which generates ~70% of HGV movements on the network. Channels span Traffic England, mobile apps, social media (X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), GovDelivery email and supplier events. Sustainability, EV charging roll-out (500+ ultra-rapid points planned for 2026) and net-zero targets (corporate 2030, construction 2040, users 2050) are increasingly central to the mandate.

Name

National Highways

Legal name

National Highways

Website

https://nationalhighways.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

National Highways is the UK government-owned company responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's 4,500-mile strategic road network of motorways and major A-roads, funded via the Department for Transport and serving all road users and freight operators across England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Road Network Operations

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Road & Highway Authorities (Planning, Construction, Maintenance) (BPAIALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Roadside Vegetation & Right-of-Way (ROW) Management (TLAJAAAG), Roadside Drainage, Stormwater & Erosion Control Maintenance (TLAJAAAE), Roadway Lighting, Power & Electrical Systems Maintenance (TLAJAAAH), Road Safety Audits, Engineering & Data Analytics Services (RSA, Blackspot Analysis, Vision Zero Programs) (TLAJAGAM), Traffic Systems & Road Safety Infrastructure (Signals, ITS, Barriers, Signage, Markings) (IMAFAEAI), Roadside Assistance & Motorist Aid Patrols (Service Patrols) (TLAJAJAB), State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

Keywords

• Strategic road network operations
• Highway maintenance services
• Traffic management systems
• Smart motorway operations
• Transport infrastructure delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government funding: National Highways is a UK government-owned agency responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road network. Funded through the Department for Transport via Road Investment Strategy funding cycles.
2. Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): £27 billion investment plan over five years (2026-2031) to repair and upgrade England's strategic road network, prioritizing renewal of existing infrastructure over new construction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National Highways is the UK government-owned company responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving England's strategic road network of approximately 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads. It delivers 24/7 traffic management through the National Traffic Operations Centre in Birmingham, on-road Traffic Officer patrols, real-time travel information via Traffic England, and major infrastructure projects including the Lower Thames Crossing and smart motorway upgrades, all funded through the Department for Transport's Road Investment Strategy.

Product overview

National Highways operates as the UK government-owned road operator responsible for managing England's motorways and major A-roads—the strategic road network. The organisation functions as a unified platform delivering multiple interconnected services: the core Strategic Road Network Management encompasses operating, maintaining, and improving approximately 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads, supported by the National Traffic Operations Centre providing 24/7 real-time traffic management for over 4 million daily road users. Key infrastructure projects include the Lower Thames Crossing (Britain's first major carbon-neutral infrastructure project targeting completion in 2034) and ongoing management of critical crossings like the Dartford Crossing and Severn Bridges. The Digital Roads initiative represents the technology transformation programme, incorporating the Digital Lab innovation hub (Data Lab, Insights Lab, Immersion Lab), Smart Motorways technology, and AI-enabled monitoring systems. Supporting services include Traffic England for public journey information, Traffic Camera/CCTV Services (4,000 cameras), EV Charging Infrastructure partnerships, Operation Brock contraflow management, and environmental initiatives including Net Zero Highways and Hydrogen Construction. The organisation also publishes the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges as the authoritative technical standard for UK highway construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Road Network Management Core statutory service operating, maintaining, and improving England's motorways and major A-roads — approximately 4,500 miles — that form the backbone of road transport for all vehicle types.
• National Traffic Operations Centre Centralised 24/7 operations hub in Birmingham coordinating real-time traffic management, incident response, and customer information across the motorway network serving over 4 million road users daily.
• Lower Thames Crossing Major infrastructure project building a new road and tunnel connecting Kent and Essex across the Thames, targeting carbon-neutral construction as Britain's first major carbon-neutral infrastructure project, scheduled for completion in 2034.
• Digital Roads Digital transformation initiative incorporating data, sensors, AI, digital twins, drones, and robotics to shift from reactive to proactive highway maintenance and management.
• Smart Motorways Technology-enhanced motorway sections featuring stopped vehicle detection, dynamic hard shoulder running, and variable speed limit systems to manage traffic flow and improve safety.
• Traffic England Public-facing travel information service providing real-time traffic updates, road closure reports, journey planning, and live traffic camera images through the Traffic England website.
• Dartford Crossing Operation and maintenance of the Dartford Crossing (QEII Bridge and tunnels) connecting Kent and Essex across the Thames, including tolling via Dart Charge and traffic management.
• Severn Bridges Management of the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge and M48 Severn Bridge crossing the River Severn between England and Wales, including maintenance and weight restrictions.
• Operation Brock Contraflow traffic management system on the M20 designed to keep traffic moving during Channel crossing disruptions, separating port-bound HGVs from other traffic.
• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Comprehensive design standards and specifications for UK highway construction, including updated world-class DMRB enabling innovation while delivering efficiencies across the industry.
• Motorway Service Area EV Charging Infrastructure Electric vehicle ultra-rapid charging facilities at motorway service areas delivered through partnerships with GRIDSERVE and Roadchef, including the 12 ultra-rapid charging bays installed at Knutsford Services on M6 and over 500 ultra-rapid chargers planned across the strategic road network in 2026.
• Customer Contact Centre 24/7 customer service operations handling approximately 34,000 enquiries each month across phone, email, and post, supporting road users with real-time incident and travel information.

Quantifiable outcome

• £27bn investment supporting 60,000+ jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Galliford TryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Lead constructor delivering green hydrogen pilot at Bootle construction compound, replacing diesel generators with hydrogen fuel cell generator for cleaner and quieter temporary power.
• Port of TilburyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Host location for hydrogen production hub adjacent to Lower Thames Crossing's northern portal in Essex. GeoPura's production facility operating at port to supply hydrogen to LTC construction site.
• RoadchefcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 202675-year lease extension on five motorway service sites enabling £300 million investment over five years including expanding EV charging points, upgrading HGV facilities, and enhancing retail services.
• GeoPuracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026British hydrogen innovator GeoPura supplying 2,500 tonnes of green hydrogen to Lower Thames Crossing project - the largest volume ever contracted for a UK construction project. Hydrogen replaces over 12 million litres of diesel and saves estimated 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Six hydrogen-powered generators already operating on site in Essex.
• CostainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Partnership with Police Federation of England and Wales, National Police Chiefs' Council, and National Highways to raise awareness of risks associated with emergency vehicles entering restricted roadworks areas. Collaboration produced awareness video for police drivers.
• GRIDSERVEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Multi-million-pound infrastructure upgrade at Knutsford Services on M6 delivering 12 ultra-rapid charging bays on both carriageways. Project involved collaboration with UK Government, National Highways, Scottish Power Energy Networks, and Moto.
• CGIcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2025IT services contract extended for five years to enhance data assets and digital infrastructure on England's motorway network. Project aims to modernize data management, improve real-time information sharing, and support journey optimization.
• Framework contractors (£495M)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 July 2025£495 million National Highways framework for highway projects and infrastructure development in the UK.
• Jacobs and AtkinsRéaliscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025Joint venture appointed as environmental and sustainability technical partner for three-year contract delivering services to reduce carbon emissions and support net zero target by 2050. Partnership involves designing lower carbon roads, developing nature-based solutions, and mitigating pollution.
• Buro Happold and TRLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025Strategic partnership formed to transform UK transport infrastructure delivery through systems-led approach. Alliance combines Buro Happold's engineering expertise with TRL's 90-year transport research heritage to address climate impacts and improve sustainability.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Transport for Wales: Welsh Government-owned transport authority overseeing transport infrastructure and services in Wales, including highway responsibilities — operating the same statutory model of arms-length government ownership of strategic transport networks.
• Transport Scotland: Scottish Government agency responsible for the Scottish trunk road network and rail services — the closest jurisdictional counterpart to National Highways in the UK, with equivalent planning, maintenance and capital investment responsibilities north of the border.
• Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland): Northern Ireland's transport and infrastructure department responsible for the strategic road network in NI; the direct counterpart to National Highways in the remaining devolved UK jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• Network Rail: UK public-sector owner/operator of rail infrastructure — adjacent mode-share peer sharing the government-owned/arms-length-body model, capital pipeline logic (Control Period funding), and Digital Railway transformation agenda.
• Caltrans: California Department of Transportation, a US state DOT responsible for one of the largest state highway systems with similar capital programming, asset management and innovation pilot programmes.
• Rijkswaterstaat: Dutch national agency under the Ministry of Infrastructure responsible for main roads, waterways and water systems — Europe's closest functional peer in scale, mandate and statutory delivery model.
• Autobahn GmbH: German federal-state owned company planning, operating and maintaining Germany's autobahn network since 2021 — most direct structural peer as a recently created government-owned company taking over a strategic motorway network.

Regional players

• Transport for NSW: Australian state transport authority covering roads, rail and active travel in NSW — comparable in running a state-level strategic road network, integrating smart motorway / incident management and major project delivery (e.g., WestConnex).

Others

• Office of Rail and Road (ORR): UK statutory regulator that monitors National Highways' performance, efficiency and delivery of the RIS — included as a key counterparty / oversight peer shaping the agency's operating environment.
• Transport Focus: UK statutory transport user watchdog that publishes National Highways' satisfaction scores and runs the Strategic Road Network user survey — comparable passenger-/road-user advocacy body acting as the agency's public-facing scorecard.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NationalHways
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC68PZJdKAzOWv0yDHqrmZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalHways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-highways
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalhways

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Highways