March 15, 2024 Keegan Reeve-Yates

Building the Future: The Crucial Role of Apprenticeships and Recruitment in the Roofing Sector

In the construction industry, few sectors are as essential as roofing. From protecting buildings against the elements to providing insulation and structural integrity, the role of roofers cannot be overstated. However, the roofing sector, like many others in the trades, faces a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled workers. In addressing this challenge, apprenticeships and strategic recruitment play pivotal roles. In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of apprenticeships and recruitment in nurturing talent and sustaining growth in the roofing industry.

Closing the Skills Gap:

The roofing industry, like many others in the skilled trades, is grappling with a shortage of skilled labour. With an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the field, the need to close this skills gap has never been more pressing. Apprenticeships offer a solution by providing hands-on training, mentorship, and a pathway to a rewarding career in roofing. Through structured apprenticeship programs, aspiring roofers gain the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field, ensuring a steady supply of qualified workers to meet industry demands.

Hands-On Learning and Skill Development:

One of the most significant advantages of apprenticeships in the roofing sector is the emphasis on hands-on learning. Unlike traditional classroom-based education, apprenticeships allow individuals to learn by doing, gaining practical experience under the guidance of seasoned professionals. This experiential learning approach not only cultivates technical skills but also fosters problem-solving abilities and critical thinking—the very skills needed to excel in the dynamic and often challenging environment of roofing.

Furthermore, apprenticeships provide a structured framework for skill development, covering a wide range of topics such as roof installation, repair techniques, safety protocols, and material selection. By immersing apprentices in all aspects of the roofing trade, these programs ensure that they graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, ready to contribute to the workforce from day one.

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce:

Recruitment efforts in the roofing sector are not only about filling vacant positions but also about building a diverse and inclusive workforce. By actively recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, the industry can tap into a broader talent pool and foster innovation and creativity. Moreover, promoting diversity and inclusion within the roofing workforce not only strengthens the industry but also reflects the diverse communities it serves.

To attract a diverse range of candidates, roofing companies can implement targeted recruitment strategies, such as partnering with community organizations, participating in job fairs, and offering scholarships or tuition assistance programs. By proactively reaching out to individuals from diverse backgrounds, companies can create opportunities for talent from all walks of life to thrive in the roofing industry.

Investing in the Future:

Ultimately, investing in apprenticeships and recruitment is an investment in the future of the roofing sector. By nurturing talent and fostering a skilled workforce, companies can ensure their continued success and sustainability in an ever-evolving industry landscape. Apprenticeships provide a pathway for individuals to embark on rewarding careers in roofing, while strategic recruitment efforts help companies build diverse and inclusive teams that drive innovation and growth.

In conclusion, apprenticeships and recruitment play indispensable roles in addressing the skills gap and sustaining growth in the roofing sector. By embracing these initiatives, the industry can cultivate the next generation of skilled roofers and build a workforce that is equipped to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. As we look to the future, let us recognize the importance of investing in talent and nurturing the bright minds that will shape the rooftops of our communities for years to come.

How do we help?

Here at Ashbrook Roofing Supplies, we aim to help build a bright future for the roofing sector. We try various approaches to make sure that we are playing our part.

One of the ways that we aim to help is that we have a very specific “Roofing & Building Jobs” Group on Facebook. This is a centralised place where people offering jobs and people looking for work can post to the correct target audience for their industry.

The NFRC

The NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) aims to support employer members and their current and future employees through the entire careers cycle. We are committed to promote roofing as a skilled, professional sector within the wider construction industry. They offer a careers service, which is completely free to use and is a valuable and evolving resource for Young People, Employers, Parents and Career changers to come together in one place for careers information, guidance and signposting.

Ruth Scarrott, the head of careers at the NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) recently did an interview with ITN to explain the importance that this has on the future of the Roofing Sector. You can view that here: Ruth Scarrott Interview

How do I find jobs in the roofing sector?

Now you have decided that you want to pursue a career in the roofing sector—congratulations!

There’s now a new question: how do I get ready to apply for jobs?

Before you start applying, you will need to have a few things in place, ready to start your job searching journey.

Your job search checklist

You will need:

An appropriate email address—set up a free account that you only use for job searching. Remember to use something professional so it creates the right image to employers—your full name and perhaps some numbers is usually a safe choice. Using a separate email account for your job search means you avoid a clogged inbox and makes sure you’ll always be able to see when you get new job alerts, updates on your job applications and most importantly, invitations to interviews!
A job applications tracker—this is a simple tracker that helps you to keep track of what jobs you have applied for, when the closing date for applications is and who the employer is. You can use this tracker to log other information too, like research you’ve done about the company, the name (when available) of the recruitment contact at the employer (sometimes called the hiring manager) and contact details for the employer so you can get in touch with them to ask how your application is progressing.
CV—this is the most important part, without a CV you may not be able to submit job applications. We have a CV template that you can download and make your own.

That’s it: now you are all set.

Reviewing a roofers CV

The next step is to get looking—but where?

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have introduced a new jobs portal called Talentview Construction, where all construction employers can advertise work experience, traineeships, apprenticeships and graduate first roles in construction. Here at NFRC, we are committed to supporting our employer members to advertise their early careers jobs on Talentview, so all opportunities are advertised in the same place.

By registering yourself on Talentview Construction, you can:

research great employers and what they can offer you
build your profile so local employers can spot you more easily
sign up to alerts for jobs and training opportunities from employers you would like to work for or train with
upload your new CV.

If you are interested in applying for a Job at Ashbrook Roofing, you can view our current vacancies here: Careers — Ashbrook Roofing Supplies LTD and for more information then please do not hesitate to contact us on 01629 732988