More Roofing Trainers Complete Award in Education and Training

LAST WEEK, another group of roofing professionals completed their teaching assessment towards becoming qualified to deliver roofing training. There are now 24 people complete or nearing qualification through this national project, with another 8 expected to complete by the end of the month.

Drawn from across the roofing industry, the trainers clock up huge experience from a diverse range of roofing disciplines in both pitched and flat roofing.

Now, they have concluded intensive training to gain the nationally recognised Level 3 Award in Education and Training (QCF) which means they are qualified to deliver teaching and training. The courses were fully funded by the National Roof Training Group (NRTG) to help tackle the skills shortage by providing more trainers.

Denise Cherry, Vice Chair of the NRTG, said, “As more people in the industry become more skilled in understanding and delivering training, the opportunities for both new entrants and our existing workforce will grow.”

Denise Cherry and Lauren Pollitt at the Master Roofers Training Academy

During the course, the trainers combine their normal day jobs with remote learning sessions, compiling a portfolio and written assessments on the theory of learning and teaching, culminating in observed micro teaching sessions to put into practice all they have learnt.

One of the observed teaching sessions took place at the Master Roofers Academy in Salford, Manchester on Thursday 11 August, with highly experienced construction tutor Andrew Cumiskey, from ATC Training and former Head of Training for Bellway Homes, observing the would-be roofing trainers.

Experience and Qualifications

Many of the roofing training candidates already have extensive training experience and want to formalise this with a qualification.

Master Roofers/NCTS Training Academy Training Centre Manager, Stewart Rowles is not only an expert level roofer but has also taught roofing for several years. He said, “The course has helped me to recognise development opportunities both for myself as a trainer and in terms of the learning experience offered to roofers attending the Academy.”

Simon Gardner has over three decades’ experience in roof training having worked for Sika delivering product training across the world before taking up his present role with Proteus conducting surveys and delivering training for various manufacturers’ products. He said the L3 qualification would help to recognise his extensive experience and widen future opportunities.

Simon Gardner, trainer at Proteus, delivers his observed micro teaching session at the Master Roofers/NCTS Academy in Salford, Manchester.

Andy Houghton from Moy delivers training in a number of different flat roofing systems. He says the L3 qualification, “will back up what I already do, reminding and reinforcing me of the principles of training.”

Other trainers included Aaron Jones who works for Birmingham Flat Roofing and delivers training in Restec systems; Darren Ashmore who delivers installation system training with Kingspan and Lauren Pollitt, a qualified roofer who works for Wythenshawe Community Housing.

Liam Dooley, also a roofer for family firm North West Roofing said the course would help him train apprentices in the company, while Ryan Burke who is also a roofer and works for Liberty Housing Association hopes to progress his career with the qualification.

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