Scotland’s first Flat Roofing Open Doors Day gave young apprentice candidates exclusive insights into a career in the specialist building sector.
Sixty youngsters attended the Flat Roofing Open Doors day on Thursday 20th March as part of the wider CITB Open Doors week, held over five days at the CITB National Construction College, Renfrewshire.
The immersive sessions included contributions from some of Scotland’s high-profile roofing contractors. Their industry knowledge and experience were manifest in practical skills demonstrations in Bauder felt flat roofing, and Sika single-ply flat roofing. Contractors were also on hand to offer guidance on flat roofing apprenticeships, as well as deliver toolbox talks and health and safety training.
Allan Doris, Glasgow Branch Manager at UK commercial roofing contractor BriggsAmasco, instigated the Flat Roofing Open Doors Day to encourage more investment in apprenticeships and help address the sector’s shortage of skilled personnel. The initial event followed months of engagement with trade bodies and careers administrators, including CITB, Tigers Group, West College Scotland, DYW Lanarkshire & East Dunbartonshire, and DYW Glasgow.
Allan said the inaugural Open Doors Day had been a huge success. “The interest and engagement from the apprentice candidates was overwhelming,” he said. “It led to several of them having interviews with our guest contractors, with many others engaged in ongoing discussions about potential apprentice opportunities. This was the first Open Doors Day to be held in Scotland for the flat roofing sector, but hopefully the first of many such events for all involved.”
The government and training associations nationwide have outlined the need for further investment in apprentice schemes to boost recruitment in the flat roofing sector. This requirement was highlighted in a 2023 report by UK construction market analyst, Glenigan. In respect of flat roofing, the report showed 22% of firms surveyed recorded a shortfall in built-up felters, with 16% and 12% of companies revealing a shortage of single-ply installers, and liquid-applied roofers respectively.
Allan Doris, who joined BriggsAmasco in 2017, outlined how his company was helping to introduce a new generation of skilled roofers. BriggsAmasco currently employs 18 apprentices as part of an ‘expertly devised’ and long-established programme. “We continue to strive to improve and focus our offering for trainees in the appropriate areas,“ Allan said. “At BriggsAmasco, there’s a belief system in place to ensure flat roofing apprentices have the resources and live environment experiences to reach the very top of their profession.”
Nearly 40,000 apprentices are employed across circa 12,000 businesses in Scotland. Of these companies, 83% reported improved productivity through traineeships. Apprenticeships.Scot figures also reveal that fully trained apprentices earn up to 52% more than ‘non-completer’ counterparts.
Allan said promoting roofing as an ideal career opportunity was key to attracting more apprentices to the industry.
“There is a golden opportunity to train for a valued profession offering excellent financial reward, personal fulfilment, a lifetime of amazing experiences and lifelong friendships.”
“It needs shouting from the rooftops – roofing is a career worth training for. Therefore, the means must be provided to make it happen.”
