Winners of the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2026 Announced

After two days of intense competition, the winners of the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2026 have been announced.

Winners

Alexander Dempsey, employed by Samuel Moore Roofing and an apprentice at Redcar and Cleveland College, was declared winner of the 2026 BMI Apprentice of the Year in Pitched Roofing.

Meanwhile, George Mcilhiney of E.G Swingler and Sons and Langley Training Ltd took home the 2026 BMI Apprentice of the Year award for Flat Roofing.

Both winners received a cash prize of £1,000, alongside 3 years’ of bespoke training at the BMI Academy in Gloucestershire.

Highly Commended

Alongside the winners of this year’s competition, two apprentices received the Highly Commended award from the judges, reflecting the high standards of this year’s final.

Crowned Highly Commended were Niall Dean from Together Housing Group and Bolton College in the pitched roofing category, and Alfie Hirst from Karl Austerfield Roofing Limited and SIMIAN in the flat roofing category.

Now in its ninth year, the competition, sponsored by SIG Roofing and IADA, is designed to give apprentices the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and passion, and network with industry experts.

BMI said: “Congratulations to all the finalists and winners it’s a huge achievement and we couldn’t be prouder to see your growth throughout the last two days!”

Finalists

A total of 20 apprentices represented colleges, training providers and roofing contractors from across the UK. They are:

Pitched Roofing

• Jamie Carling – From Optimum Skills Limited & Alexander Sinclairs
• Luke Lewis – From Leeds College of Building & Dalton Roofing
• Nicholas Tarr – From Eastern Region Roof Training Group Ltd & Steadfast Roofing Ltd
• Jordan High – From Eastern Region Roof Training Group Ltd & Vertice Roofing & General Contractors, LLC
• Millie Sanders – From Langley & Leicester City Council
• Niall Dean – From Bolton College & Alpha Roofing (NW) Ltd
• Darren Haig – From Bolton College & Together Housing Group
• Tyler Gillbe – From Newcastle College & MJ Holliday Roofing
• Antony Coghlan – From Greenlight Safety & Training & Ashcroft Services Ltd
• Alexander Dempsey – From Redcar & Cleveland College & Samuel Moore Roofing

Judges for the pitched roofing contest were: Oscar Darby, of Chess Roofing LTD, Edward Kelly, editor of Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer, and Ben Rowlands, Technical Manager – Pitched and Solar at the NFRC.

Flat Roofing

• Keyan Miller – From Langley & Ashe Group
• Nicholas Hurdman – From Juniper Training Ltd & Absolute Roofing Solutions Ltd
• Fraser Jones – From Juniper Training Ltd & Rio Group
• Chris Lloyd – From London Academy of Sustainable Construction – LASC (Waltham Forest) & Sussex Asphalte Ltd
• Daniel Alan Morton – From Optimum Skills Limited & M & C Roofing Contractors Ltd
• Joel Nottage – From Langley & All Aspect Roofing & Solar Solutions
• Danny Bell – From Optimum Skills Limited & M&C Roofing Contractors Ltd
• George Mcilhiney – From Langley & Swingler Roofing
• Libby Johnson – From SIMIAN & Complete Roofing Systems
• Alfie Hirst – From SIMIAN & Karl Austerfield Roofing Limited

Judges for the flat roofing competition were: Sarah Spink, Chief Executive Officer at the LRWA, Duncan Murdock, Director at the NRA Roofing & Flooring Services Ltd., and Anthony Hogan, Chief Executive Officer at The Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA).

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