Costain has come top in the Highways Agency's new supplier assessment process, which scores the services of its key highway suppliers, and was commended for how well it matched the Agency's strategic direction in its role as network operator on England's motorways and major trunk roads.

Costain came top with a score of 139.7 out of a theoretical maximum of 180, beating 20 other companies to the top spot.

"Costain can be very pleased with its performance, as evidenced through its recent StART Assessment," said David O’Neil, the Highways Agency's head of supply chain management.

"The performance is a positive indication on how well engaged and aligned the Company is around the key drivers identified in the HA Strategic Plan and Procurement Strategy. The Agency looks forward to seeing Costain continuing to demonstrate, and indeed develop further, this level of performance through delivery of its current contracts and in responding to future challenges as a Key Supplier to the Highways Agency," O'Neil said.

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The Strategic Alignment Review Toolkit, or StART, was developed in partnership with representatives of the construction and maintenance industry and will be used alongside past performance in short listing applicants for Asset Support Contracts and Major Projects schemes, said O'Neil.

O'Neil said the examination of suppliers was moved from a broader assessment of supplier capability, as the previous Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) had done, to a focused assessment in a few critical areas.

The assessments reviewed how well the Agency's suppliers, which included the biggest names in highways maintenance in the UK, were aligned in each of five key areas – Leadership, Supply Chain, Cost, Inclusion and Sustainability.

The Highways Agency said Costain demonstrated an ability to engage effectively with the Highways Agency, Department of Transport, Infrastructure UK and its peers, in order to support and influence the development of the industry.

(CD/GK)