Q&A with Flat Roofing Apprentice

In a Q&A with flat roofing apprentice George Schofield, 19, we asked some questions about how he got started in roofing and life as a roofing apprentice.

George is employed by Primeseal Roofing (Chadderton) and is studying with Simian, Warrington, with Langley, for a qualification as a Waterproof Membrane Installer and is tutored by Craig Haddon.

Q&A with Flat Roofing Apprentice

Question: How did you get into Roofing?
George: I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school at 16. I was with a job coach who saw a job as a roofing labourer at Primeseal Roofing advertised and I went for that. I worked as a labourer for two years before I started my apprenticeship.

Question: What do you like about roofing? Would you recommend it to someone thinking of starting a career in the industry?
George: I’d say, if you’re thinking of doing roofing, then you need to ask yourself why you want to do it. It’s not an easy job, it can be pretty hard and a lot of work needs to go into it.

In the summer, it’s a great job, outside all day in good weather, brilliant views from the rooftops (as long as it’s not too hot). You get a great tan, and the job keeps you fit.

But you have to be able to put up with the cold weather too, you have to get through the winter and not mind getting cold and wet!

Question: Why did you start a roofing apprenticeship and how did you begin it?
George: After working for Primeseal for a couple of years, my employer told me about the flat roofing apprenticeship.

I started last September and I’ve just finished my first module on felt roofing.

Question: What do you do on your apprenticeship training? What do you most enjoy about it?
George: I go into college one week a month. I like it, you’ve got time to learn and it’s helped me be more precise in the work I do. The tutors are really nice, I like going in and talking to them and I’m learning a lot.

It’s given me more confidence because I know what I’m doing and now I just go for it, whereas before I was hesitant. It’s good to learn, the more you know, the better.

I’m full-time with the felting gang at work and I’m putting into practice what I’ve learned pretty much every day. I like to do a good job – it’s what I do and I want to be good at it, do the best job I can.

Next up are modules in other types of flat roofing – liquids, single ply and hot melt.

Question: What happens when you finish your apprenticeship? How do you want your roofing career to progress?
George: When I’m finished, I’ll become a fully qualified Waterproof Membrane Installer. It will mean I can work more independently and do a better job.

It opens up more career paths when your qualified – if you want to do different sorts of roofing: liquids, hot melt, single ply, felt – and you have that for your lifetime.

I’m not sure what I want to do down the line, I hope I’ll stay with Primeseal. I’m not interested in being a manager or anything like that right now. I just want to do a good job, the best job I can.

>>Read more about roofing apprenticeships in the news.