Highways inspector

A highways inspector walks and drives a council’s roads, pavements and cycle paths on a planned schedule, looking for defects such as potholes, trip hazards, damaged ironwork, failed signs and blocked drains. You measure each defect, decide how urgent it is under the council’s inspection policy, record it with photos on a handheld device and raise a repair order. Your records are also the council’s main defence when someone makes an insurance claim after a fall or damage to their car. Most inspectors work for county, unitary or metropolitan councils, which are the local highway authorities, and are paid on local grades built on the NJC pay spine.

Safety inspections and defect reporting

Councils follow a risk-based approach set out in the national code of practice for highway maintenance, Well-managed Highway Infrastructure. Each council publishes its own inspection policy. That policy sets how often different roads and footways are inspected (busy town centre pavements more often than quiet rural lanes) and the intervention levels: how deep a pothole or how high a trip hazard has to be before it is a defect, and how quickly each category must be made safe or repaired.

On a driven inspection you travel slowly in a liveried vehicle, often with a driver, and stop to measure anything that looks over the threshold. Footway inspections are done on foot. Between scheduled inspections you also respond to reports from the public, councillors and the police.

The work needs good judgement. Two defects of the same depth may be treated differently because of where they are, such as outside a school or on a bend.

Insurance claims and the law

Under the Highways Act 1980, the highway authority has a duty to maintain the highway. When someone claims for an injury or vehicle damage, the council can defend the claim under section 58 if it shows it took reasonable care, which in practice means a sensible inspection regime that was followed. Inspectors’ records, photos and timings are central evidence. You may be asked for witness statements, and occasionally to attend court.

Accurate, timely records matter more than anything else in the job. A missed inspection or vague note can cost the council money.

Street works inspection

Some inspectors specialise in street works. They check that utility companies digging up the road under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (and, in England, permit schemes) are signing and guarding the site safely and reinstating the surface properly. Street works inspectors carry out sample inspections, issue fixed penalty notices and charge for defective reinstatements. This side of the job brings regular contact with contractors on site.

Qualifications

There is no single entry qualification. Councils commonly ask for:

• a recognised highway inspector qualification, such as the Lantra highway inspector training and certification scheme, or a willingness to gain it
• street works qualifications under the national accreditation scheme, for street works roles
• a full driving licence
• experience in highways construction, maintenance, civil engineering or a related trade

Many inspectors come from highways maintenance crews, road surfacing or utility contractors, or from technician roles in a council’s highways team. A civil engineering HNC or degree helps for progression into engineer roles. Councils often fund qualifications for staff who show aptitude.

You need to be comfortable with handheld devices, mapping systems and asset management software, and with explaining decisions to members of the public who want their road fixed now.

Pay

Council highways inspectors are paid on local grades using the NJC pay spine, which runs from £25,614 (SCP 3) to £56,293 (SCP 43) for 2026/27 after the 3.3 per cent award from 1 April 2026. Councils set the points for each grade. As a hypothetical example, an inspector grade on SCP 14 to SCP 19 would pay £30,515 to £33,119, and a senior or street works inspector on SCP 20 to SCP 25 would pay £33,673 to £37,563. The NJC pay spine guide shows every value.

Some councils pay a standby allowance for winter maintenance or emergency call-out rotas, when inspectors respond to flooding, fallen trees or ice. Council staff join the Local Government Pension Scheme, paying 6.5 per cent on pay between £29,001 and £47,300.

Winter service and emergencies

Highways teams run the council’s winter service: deciding when to grit, based on road weather forecasts, and sending out gritters on priority routes. Inspectors often take a turn on the winter duty rota, checking conditions overnight or early in the morning and calling out crews. They also respond to emergencies such as flooding, collapsed drains, fallen trees, oil spills and damage after road traffic collisions, making the site safe and arranging repairs. These rotas can mean being on call for a week at a time, so check the frequency at interview.

Working conditions

Much of the day is outdoors, often alone, beside live traffic. Councils should provide protective clothing, vehicle beacons and a lone working system; see the lone working guide. Winter can mean early call-outs. Progression is to senior inspector, highways officer, area engineer or asset management roles. Vacancies are on council websites and in regional public sector job boards, and how to get a council job explains how council recruitment works.