Roofers Need Level 3 for Supervisory Progression say Roofing Tutors

Roofing tutors from colleges across the UK are calling for a Level 3 roofing apprenticeship standard. They warn that the industry has no structured progression route for qualified roofers who are already taking on supervisory responsibility. 

Speaking at the recent roofing tutor forum, hosted annually by BMI UK & Ireland, tutors described a clear gap once apprentices complete their Level 2. There is no formal next step between qualified tradesperson and site management, yet many newly qualified roofers are already mentoring and directing newer apprentices on site without the training or recognition to do so confidently.

Roofers Need Level 3

Tutors were clear that a Level 3 should not be treated as a heritage or specialist qualification, which has historically limited demand and made courses difficult for colleges to justify. Instead, they argued, it should be built around the skills the industry needs now, including supervising teams, estimating, planning work and leading others on site.

The tutors’ concerns come as roofing faces sustained pressure on its workforce. According to the NFRC’s Winter 2026 State of the UK Roofing Industry report, 58% of roofing contractors say skilled labour shortages are limiting the work they can take on, 47% say recruiting has become harder over the past year, and just 2% believe it is currently easy to attract new people into the industry.

Meanwhile, the CITB’s latest Construction Workforce Outlook estimates that construction will need an average of 41,200 extra workers a year till 2030 and warns that too few people are entering the sector while too many experienced workers are leaving.

BMI UK & Ireland is backing the tutors’ call and urging Skills England to work with colleges, employers and industry bodies to develop the standard, highlighting the importance of continued development in fostering new talent and improving the attractiveness of the sector.

Stuart Farndell, Lead Technical Trainer at BMI, said: “The people training the next generation of roofers are telling us that there’s a missing rung on the career ladder, and we think they’re right. Young roofers are being asked to take responsibility for others on site, but there’s no qualification that recognises or supports that step.

“Good supervision is what makes sure a roof is installed properly and performs as it should. But this supervision is only as good as the training we support it with. At a time when the industry is losing experienced people faster than it can replace them, we can’t afford to give talented roofers a reason to look elsewhere.”

BMI hosts the tutor forum annually as part of its Apprentice of the Year competition, offering tutors dedicated time to come together and address issues that the industry is facing nationwide.

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