Female Roofing Apprentice Scoops Up National Trades Award

GABBI DAY, a roofing apprentice at Dalton Roofing, Chesterfield, was named one of the three winners of a national trades apprentice award.

Organised by tradespeople insurer Markel Direct, The Nation’s A* Trades Apprentice Award showcases the efforts of trade apprentices across the UK, highlighting how crucial they are to the continued success of the construction industry.

As one of three winners selected from across the country, Gabbi won a development package comprising a Festool toolkit worth £4,000, free 24-hour tools cover for a year from Markel Direct, and a £750 workwear voucher.

On receiving the news, Gabbi Day commented, “This development package is going to help me with work a lot, with tools which I am very grateful for. As an apprentice it is quite difficult to know what tools you need, and to go out and buy them yourself.”

Gabbi’s employer, Philip Dalton, Managing Director of NFRC Member Dalton Roofing, said: “We nominated Gabbi for this award simply because of her enthusiasm. She deserves it, she’s a breath of fresh air, and whoever she works with just says she’s incredible, she’s great.

“We’ve had excellent reports of her; the college have contacted us numerous times and said she’s ahead of others in her class. Gabs has really brought something special, something different.”

National Trades Award

Following the judging process, Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, said, “The quality of this year’s nominations was outstanding and, on behalf of the judges, I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate an apprentice.

“Choosing the three winners was incredibly difficult, as so many nominations illustrated the invaluable contribution that apprentices make to the trades and construction industry. Winning this award is a great achievement for Gabbi, Chris and Ben, and I’d like to congratulate them all on the fantastic achievements in their careers so far.”

The other two winners of the award were Chris Wilson, a carpentry and joinery apprentice from Birmingham, and Ben Mills, a plumbing apprentice from Warwick.

The NFRC highlighted Gabbi as a “next generation” roofing apprentice during National Apprenticeship Week 2025. Watch more about her roofing journey in the video below.

>> Read more about roofing apprenticeships in the news