Juniper Training Celebrates Roofing Apprenticeship Success

JUNIPER TRAINING recently celebrated the success of its roofing provision and its apprentices at its Celebrating Success and Inspiring Change event on Friday 11 November.

The event marks almost four years since the Roofing Training Centre opened at SPV, with courses delivered by Juniper Training. Over this time the centre has shown spectacular success and is recognised as an excellent model for apprentice studies, and the model has been replicated in other areas.

The provision is very widely supported by the industry, with manufacturers supporting with training and resources. Both the training centre and the apprentices have won multiple awards from external organisations, recognising collaboration, training excellence and apprentice achievement.

Parties involved in commissioning, designing, delivering, and supporting this provision came together to celebrate student achievements by showcasing the facilities and the awards to encourage more young people into the industry and to demonstrate to employers the advantages of employing apprentices.

Business Development Manager at Juniper, Sam Broomhall, said: “Our Celebrating Success event provided an opportunity to come together and celebrate the achievements of our roofer apprentices. They’re all such a credit to both us and their employers. Seeing the first roofer apprentices in the UK to go through end point assessment; winning BMI Apprentice of the Year for two consecutive years; apprentices visiting the Houses of Parliament as a Youth Build UK finalists; and winning NFRC Apprentice of the Year are just some of the amazing awards and accolades our apprentices have achieved.

“Hearing from our apprentices and employers about the impact the roofing provision has had on them personally and on the industry was absolutely incredible. It’s everything and more than we set out to achieve from the outset.”

Apprenticeship Success

• 60 starts (pre-apprenticeship) with 88% retention
• 66% progressed onto construction apprenticeships of which 49% progressed onto a roofing apprenticeship
• 9% went on to become self employed
• Supported over 30 employers to recruit roofer apprentices
• Overall 75% positive progression, compared to the national average of 58.5%

Juniper have also supported 36 roofer apprentice upskills with a total of 54 roofing apprentices to date into the sector.

Apprentice Comments

Tim Morris was awarded ‘Most Improved Apprentice’ at the event. He said, “I am proud to get this award as it shows me that my efforts to learn and get better have paid off and have been recognised by others which motivates me to continue.”

Apprentice Kyle Moseley added, “I am very grateful for my nomination and awards as an advance slater and tiler. I think it’s great recognition and highlights all the hard work and effort that’s been put into this role and it spurs me on to go further in the industry.”

Employee Forum

In an employer Q&A session, Eddie Docherty of Hawkins Group stressed that apprentices can bring fresh ideas, embrace new technology, and bring new ways of thinking. He gave an example of apprentices joining existing teams and supporting them in the use of new technologies making sure relevant information reached its destination in good time.

Hawkins Group held an employee forum for the apprentices to get an understanding on how they can internally support them better and see how the apprentice journey can be improved for future apprentices.

Jack O’Brien, Contracts Supervisor at Rio Asphalt & Paving Co. Ltd, gave his support and stressed the importance of there being a talent pipeline for roofing companies and bringing new people into the industry supported by formal training.

Presentations from Richard Miller and Ruth Scarrott of the NFRC offered useful advice and information on roofing careers and qualifications.

This excellent provision would not have been possible without the industry working together, and its supporters, including CITB and the NFRC Charitable Fund.

Midlands Apprentice Employers Needed

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