Future-Proofing Roofing: NFRC Supports Skyline Skills Hub

THE NATIONAL Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) is supporting the launch of the Skyline Skills Hub. The online platform is dedicated to addressing the green skills gap in London’s commercial built environment.

With roofing and cladding businesses playing a crucial part in retrofitting and creating sustainable buildings, NFRC is representing the roofing industry’s needs in shaping London’s sustainable future.

The Skyline Skills Hub platform offers information on sustainable green skills to workers, employers and policy makers. It aims to showcase best practice and offer the essential information needed to tackle the green skills crisis affecting roofing, cladding, and construction at large.

Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce Playbook

NFRC’s Head of Careers, Ruth Scarrott, helped to develop the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce playbook. She said, “This initiative addresses critical skill requirements for achieving sustainable urban development, aligning workforce competencies with the evolving needs of the construction and building sectors”.

Ruth ensured that NFRC perspectives on the roofing industry and SME obstacles were considered and incorporated during the Hub’s formation. “The success of our member businesses will be critical if London is to achieve its decarbonisation goals, so we must all work together on this,” Ruth said.

Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 76% of emissions in London alone. Retrofitting older buildings has become critical to the decarbonisation agenda. Over the next 30 years, 95% of emissions from the built environment are expected to come from existing buildings.

New Talent

“The roofing and cladding businesses that NFRC represents have a critical role to play on the journey to net zero, but they will need new talent, and that’s where the Skyline Skills Hub comes in,” said Ruth.

The Hub will offer free access to up-to-date resources from across the built environment sector. These will include careers guides, case studies and research, such as the Skyline Skills Recommendations Report. It will also facilitate collaboration between businesses, training providers, and government to realise their objectives.

It’s estimated that those entering construction will have a 29% higher hiring rate when they’re equipped with new green skills. Central London urgently needs a larger skilled workforce to decarbonise its commercial buildings, achieve the City Corporation’s Net Zero targets by 2040, and retain its world-leading financial and professional services sector. To achieve these sustainability goals, an estimated 26,000 additional built environment workers will be needed in Greater London by 2026.

Keith Bottomley, Chairperson of the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce, said, “Central London’s skyline is constantly growing, and we must ensure our workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and qualifications to build sustainable structures.

“The Skyline Skills Hub aims to highlight the best career and training opportunities that the built environment sector has to offer. Looking ahead, we want to expand this crucial work beyond London, and to support the upgrading of skilled workforces across the UK’s cities, and support skills for the residential built environment. We want the UK to have the best workforce to deliver sustainable commercial buildings for tomorrow. Together, we can make it happen.”

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