Cornwall College Launches Roofing Apprenticeship at Expanding Academy

CORNWALL COLLEGE St Austell has officially launched the Roofing Apprenticeship at its expanding Roofing Academy.

Cornwall College is the only facility in the area offering roofing apprenticeship training. It has a large catchment area driving demand, meaning uptake for the new program has opened with a really strong start to preparing future roofing professionals.

The Roofing Academy started taking apprentices from September 2024 and the college says demand and uptake has been so positive it has just started a second cohort already.

Planning to grow further this next academic year in September 2025, the St Austell facility, is still undergoing expansion with new roofing rigs planned to enhance the learner experience.

Cornwall College Roofing Apprenticeship

The roofing apprenticeship, offered to level 2, is following a block week format which sees the learners spending three weeks onsite and then one week in college.

During this college week, apprentices undergo in-depth training on the workshop’s roofing rigs alongside tuition in the theory elements of the course. Students are also receiving guidance on completing the digital portfolio required to pass the apprenticeship course.

Roofing training is led by Jack Newton who has worked in industry for a number of years and continues as a part time self-employed roofer, slater and tiler.  This allows Jack to continue to carry out CPD with industry partners to ensure his skill set remains at the forefront of the roofing industry.

Solar Installation

There is a strong environmental ethos running through the roofing apprenticeship course at Cornwall College in relation to materials used, reusing materials, and recycling. The emphasis is to try and reduce the amount of waste created by the sector and instil this essential mindset in Cornwall College students.

Collaborating with the Green Construction Skills Academy (launched on the same day) which teaches energy-efficient building skills, the college is also covering the installation of solar panels in the roofing workshop to upskill all apprentices in this area, meeting demand for training in the growing renewables sector.

Cornwall College aims to ensure students gain practical experience that aligns with industry needs. Working alongside top employers in the region, employer engagement has been “fantastic” the college says. Feedback received from local employers so far has been overwhelmingly positive and employers like are planning to be sending even more apprentices to the Roofing Academy.

Head of Cornwall College St Austell, David Atkinson-Beaumont, said: “As a community-focused college, we’re dedicated to meeting the needs of our local area while advancing a sustainable economy.”

“Through strong partnerships with leading employers and our investment in modern facilities, we are preparing individuals to take the lead in the sustainable construction sector.”

The Roofing Apprenticeship Academy is part of the Construction Skills Hub project which has received £3.3 million through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Find out more about courses available at Cornwall College.

>> Read more of the latest roofing training news