M Group | Dedicated Highways Training Academy to support veterans launched in Oxfordshire

A new Highways Training Academy is set to launch in Oxfordshire in February 2026, following a partnership between Building Heroes and M Group Highways, aimed at supporting military veterans into skilled employment while helping to address the highways sector’s growing skills gap.

Building Heroes, a charity that provides training and employment pathways for Armed Forces leavers, has teamed up with M Group Highways to deliver one of the first highways-focused academies of its kind. The initiative forms part of a wider commitment to supporting veterans and strengthening the future workforce across the highways industry.

Based at the Drayton highways maintenance depot in Oxfordshire, the academy will deliver intensive four-week training programmes. Participants will gain New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA/Streetworks) certification and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) accreditation, alongside practical, hands-on training in traffic management and emergency first aid. Training will be delivered by industry specialists C&G Services.

On completion of the programme, learners will be offered a guaranteed interview for roles within M Group across the UK, providing a clear pathway into sustainable employment.

Now in its eleventh year, Building Heroes has supported more than 4,000 Armed Forces community learners and holds the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Promoting Opportunity) for its work in social mobility. The new academy represents its first dedicated highways-focused programme and demonstrates how employer-led initiatives can deliver meaningful social value while meeting operational workforce needs.

Richard Lovewell, Business Director at M Group Highways, said:"M Group is very proud to be sponsoring the Building Heroes Highways Academy. We recognise the enormous potential of armed forces leavers and want to support them as they build meaningful civilian careers. Through this partnership and investment, we hope participants see the value and opportunities that M Group can offer as we develop the vital skills required to maintain our highways."

Chris Charles, Chief Executive of the Building Heroes Education Foundation, added:"Supporting members of the Armed Forces community into meaningful civilian employment is central to our charitable purpose. This academy will equip learners with recognised skills and qualifications while helping to develop a skilled and resilient highways workforce that benefits the wider community."

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and its Overall Military Champion, said:"We are delighted to support this excellent initiative. The academy creates opportunities for people who have served our country, while also helping to develop the skilled workforce Oxfordshire needs."

More information about the programme, including how to apply, is available at:www.buildingheroes.org.uk/courses/groundworks-and-civils