Teaming Up to Raise the Roof on Industry Skills

Mark Parsons, Technical Director at Russell Roof Tiles

ROOF TILE manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles is providing tailored training sessions to support the National House Building Council (NHBC) in its ambition to address the skills shortages within construction.

Last month, at a roundtable on how to build the housebuilding workforce required by the UK, NHBC announced it is helping to tackle the skills shortage with a £100 million investment in a national network of 12 multi-skill training hubs. These facilities will train 3,000 apprentices each year in trades such as bricklaying, groundworks and site carpentry.

To support this, Russell Roof Tiles’ in-house technical team is providing training covering roof tile fixings, accessories, and site compliance to NHBC at sessions in England and Scotland over the next three months.

Tailored Training

The new initiative is headed up by Russell Roof Tiles Technical Director Mark Parsons, who has worked closely with NHBC for many years on technical best practices.

It builds on the manufacturer’s recent investment in skills training, marked by the launch of its first Training & Innovation Hub. The new hub houses the firm’s technical team, as well as functioning as an innovation centre for product development with six modular roof rigs units, with pitched and vertical options. The custom-made rigs enable course delegates to experience ‘hands-on’ practical sessions with Russell Roof Tiles’ range of tiles and fittings, along with dry fix accessories.

The training covers how the products are manufactured as well as how they should be correctly installed. Theoretical training in the classroom covers topics including product awareness, roofing systems, correct fixing, British Standards and Building Regulations.

Mark Parsons commented, “We’re delighted to be supporting NHBC and its crucial work in investment in skills and training. We are pleased to be providing expert tuition on installing pitched roof tiles as well as dry fixing systems.”

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