M Group Highways in the driving seat thanks to reliable project scheduling and structured planning in Asta Powerproject

For infrastructure services, effective planning and project management are crucial to delivering results on time and within budget. M Group Highways, a leading provider of highway maintenance across England, has embraced Elecosoft’s Asta Powerproject to tackle the complex requirements of highways maintenance and broader infrastructure projects and have been using it for more than 10 years.

With 2000 staff working across highways in eight local authorities, M Group Highways stands as a pillar in the industry, known for its scale, capabilities, and expertise. From major highways contracts to essential infrastructure projects, the group prides itself on collaborating closely with clients to keep the country running.

Key benefits for M Group Highways:

• Scalability and the ability to handle short and long-term contracts
• Structure that supports both high-level and granular project view
• Supporting the flexibility needed when working on unpredictable projects
• Integration with reporting tools to provide rich insights and actionable data

The challenge – a demanding environment

Operating in the highways sector, M Group Highways grapples with a demanding and complex set of challenges in delivering infrastructure maintenance. Unlike new build projects, their work happens almost exclusively on live, operational networks, where access is never guaranteed and every scheme brings a host of unpredictable variables. Maintenance projects span hundreds of individual schemes each with its own timeline, resource needs, and compliance hurdles, against a backdrop of relentless change driven by regulatory requirements, unforeseen delays and the constant pressure to minimise disruption for the public.

The day-to-day reality involves balancing minor urgent repairs with major planned works, all while navigating the “vast amount of nuances that come with road works”, from environmental restrictions and complex and changing requirements that can halt progress. As Danny Bradford, Efficiency and Performance Manager at M Group Highways, explained, “There are occasions where unforeseen factors arise that understandably slow progress. In some areas, these measures are necessary and appropriate; however, at times, the process can feel heavily procedural, which may contribute to avoidable delays.”

This highly dynamic, compliance-driven landscape makes predictable, adaptable planning more than a luxury; it’s a strategic necessity. For M Group Highways, it means that a specialist project management tool must be capable not only of supporting detailed scheduling and resource planning across contracts that last years, but also of helping teams swiftly replan, communicate, and collaborate as circumstances evolve. “The sheer fact that it is highway maintenance…access to the network [connectivity] is never guaranteed,” said Danny.

The solution: Asta Powerproject

Previously, planning relied heavily on Excel and other generalist software, but the arrival of a key contract in 2017 marked a shift in mindset: to succeed, they needed dedicated planning tools. Asta Powerproject became the standard, enabling teams to break down complex maintenance contracts into manageable workstreams, improving visibility and control over project timelines and resources. “[With a new contract], it was very much a case of we won’t succeed if we don’t plan. The software at the time was exactly what was needed to get us to that point,” said Danny.

“Effective repairs require significantly more planning and resources, with greater operational requirements to manage. By implementing dedicated planning software, we can optimise resource allocation, streamline workflows, and achieve greater efficiency throughout the process.”

Danny Bradford, Efficiency and Performance Manager, M Group Highways

Powering maintenance projects

The highways maintenance contracts handled by M Group Highways are notable not only for their scope, but for their structure. Each contract spans several years, comprising hundreds of smaller maintenance schemes. Asta Powerproject allows the team to plan, track, and report on these initiatives with a sophisticated folder-based approach, neatly rolling up individual schemes into the overarching contract view. “Asta has a nice folder structure for us to be able to use in that way,” said Danny.

Planned maintenance and major repairs – where resource, cost, and time planning are critical – fall squarely within the domain of Asta Powerproject. “Effective repairs require significantly more planning and resources, with greater operational requirements to manage. By implementing dedicated planning software, we can optimise resource allocation, streamline workflows, and achieve greater efficiency throughout the process,” noted Danny.

Team adoption and technical ownership

With years of in-depth planning experience, Danny was appointed Business Service Owner for Planning and Programming Management Tool-set within M Group Highways. Acting as the first point of contact for internal teams and liaising closely with Elecosoft’s support, Danny’s role underscores the importance of internal champions in successful software adoption and troubleshooting.

“If anything happens or someone in the company has got a bit of a question, they tend to come to me. The IT team have got me down as first line support for anything technical,” he said. Elecosoft’s responsive support team and in-house training capabilities enable teams like Danny’s to have internal product specialists who can oversee the implementation of the solution.

“If it’s not in [Asta] Powerproject, then it doesn’t exist.”

Reporting and integration opportunities with Powerproject

While Asta Powerproject excels at project planning, M Group Highways also discovered that its powerful export capabilities pair well with advanced reporting platforms like Power BI, automating flows for bespoke metrics and dashboards. This integration simplifies the reporting process, ensuring clients and stakeholders receive tailored insights, and the business benefits from robust data-driven decision-making. “Asta Powerproject is a comprehensive project management system that enables the creation of detailed project plans. The data added to the system is then easily exportable into reporting tools such as Power BI,” Danny said of its reporting capabilities.

Driving outcomes: Efficiency, performance and collaboration

Ultimately, the move to Asta Powerproject supported M Group Highways’ drive for performance and efficiency. The ability to structure complex contracts, anticipate challenges, and integrate planning data with reporting tools has made a measurable difference in delivery. Danny noted that having a single source of truth has meant that M Group Highways has a clear and demonstrable workflow that ensures everyone is on the same page.

“If it’s not in [Asta] Powerproject, then it doesn’t exist,” he said. Being able to reliably cite project progress enables the team to accurately quote to clients, and helps manage their budgets more accurately.

Future proofing and continuous improvement

M Group Highways has recently reaffirmed its partnership with Asta Powerproject having assessed its needs against other market options, extending a relationship that spans more than 10 years. M Group Highways’ experience reinforces the need for flexible, scalable solutions that grow with the business.

“Asta Powerproject is a comprehensive project management system that enables the creation of detailed project plans. The data added to the system is then easily exportable into reporting tools such as Power BI.”

Asta Powerproject has become a backbone for highways operations, enabling the business to plan and execute at scale amid uncertainty and change. Across Hampshire and beyond, the ability to adapt, report, and collaborate effectively underpins their reputation as a trusted partner in delivering essential infrastructure.