Contents
Welcome to the team! Please see below a list of training resources to help you in your role as an author of MCHW documents.
Back to topMCHW authoring training slides
A training session on the MCHW authoring rules is available to download here:
We would also recommend reviewing this pre-reading training material as a background refresher:
If you prefer to review the training as a live recording with audio, please view the links below which are the recordings from a session in February 2022:
- Part 1 – https://youtu.be/6hR99f-KSu8
- Part 2 – https://youtu.be/pcrdDm0TQr8
- Part 3 – https://youtu.be/HrnSVuxQeig
- Part 4 – https://youtu.be/ePeZzk9BgrI
Some of the common terminology used in the training session is as follows:
| Current MCHW | Future MCHW |
| ‘Specification for Highways Works’ (SHW) series | Specification for Highways Works’ (SHW) documents |
| Requirements for constructors (in SHW) | Constructor requirements (in SHW) |
| ‘Notes for Guidance’ (NfG) documents | ‘Instructions for Specifier’ (IfS) documents |
| Guidance for contract compiler (in NfG) | As relevant: Design requirements / advice (in DMRB) Specifier instructions (in IfS) Constructor requirements (in SHW) |
| Contract specific appendixes (in NfG) | Works specific inputs (WSI) |
MCHW training webinar for Devolved Administrations
Training session held for the Devolved Administrations on 29th April 2022 covering:
- Future MCHW
- Key drafting rules
- National variations
- Standard governance
- Programme overview
Training on figures
Please view this separate training session to understand how to handle figures in the MCHW. It is also available as a PDF output to look back on the slides.
Manual for Development of Documents
The Manual for Development of Documents (MDD) is published by National Highways to give procedures, processes, instruction and advice for the development of documents relating to the planning, preparation, design, construction, management and demolition of highway works on the UK Overseeing Organisations’ motorway and all-purpose trunk roads.
It is split into three parts covering governance, document layout and style, and drafting rules. Please click here to view the manual.
Training on the Collaborative Authoring and Review Software (CARS)
If you are working for a project sponsor at National Highways, please ask them to set up a new CARS log-in for you and assign you access to the document you have been tasked to work on.
If you are a National Highways employee and assuming responsibility for the document as the Technical Author, please email TSG and we will ensure access and that our records are updated.
There is a specific training video for authoring MCHW documents in CARS available here:
In addition to the specific video, the help tutorials section contains a range of CARS guidance videos specifically for authors at this link and covers various functions such as how to draft a document, adding comments, tables. figures etc.
Please also see the ‘Using CARS‘ menu for a range of help articles tailored by topic. If you want to search for a particular keyword you can do so in the search box on the main help page.
Back to topTops tips to draft clear and concise MCHW standards
Things to do to develop clear requirements and advice documents
Things to avoid when developing requirements and advice documents
Guidance on referencing with requirements and advice documents
https://help.futuredmrb.co.uk/guidance-on-referencing-with-requirements-and-advice-documents-rads/
Things to do to develop clear requirements using performance characteristics from standards
Back to topTop tips for creating Specifier Instructions in CARS
Taken from an MCHW drop in session query in April 2022.
Specifier Tool demonstration
Demonstrated at an MCHW drop in session 30th August 2022.
Demonstrated at an MCHW drop in session 16th August 2022.
MCHW approach to Publication, Specifier Tool and Works Specific Requirements
Recording of training session held 29th November 2022.
Recording of training session held 6th December 2022.
MCHW Frequently Asked Questions
Please click here to see some of the frequently asked questions we have received in training sessions and drop in sessions about MCHW documents.
Back to topTraining on the governance deliverables
Please note this training session will only be relevant for those tasked with completing the governance deliverables to support the creation or update of a document and is usually completed by National Highways staff. It is also available as a PDF output to look back on the slides.
If you need access to the governance deliverable templates and the SharePoint folders where the records are stored, please send a request to standards_enquiries@nationalhighways.co.uk
Document development plan
Standards governance process
Training on Jira (used by National Highways staff only)
Jira is the programme management software where we record details of previous publications, forecast dates for updates to documents, governance deliverable records, records of governance approvals, and feedback received about documents. It is only used by National Highways staff and in particular those who have the role Technical Author or Technical Standards Committee chair or secretary.