Around 80 to 90 recruits are expected to join the Department for Infrastructure after a major recruitment campaign, with more than 20 already in post and further intakes planned in the coming months.

In total, approximately 80 to 90 new road workers will take up roles. Over 20 have already started, around 30 are due to begin shortly, and the remainder are progressing through pre-employment checks. Minister Kimmins said: “This is our most successful road worker recruitment campaign in over a decade. The new road workers are joining our industrial teams across depots that serve every local council area in the north. They will undertake a wide range of road maintenance duties, including road defect repairs, gully cleansing, grass cutting and winter service operations.

"The new recruits will receive the training, equipment and ongoing support required to develop their skills and strengthen our in-house workforce capacity reducing reliance on contractors, both this year and in the years ahead. Their addition will enhance our resilience in responding to emergencies and delivering winter service operations, while also giving us greater control over the quality, consistency, and value of road maintenance work.”