Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2024
To celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2024, our Jordan Short was interviewed as a revisit to last year’s news article. The article can be found on talentview, it’s a really good read.
Well done Jordan.
Allan Doris
Glasgow Branch Manager
National Apprenticeship Week
A celebration of the value young trainees bring to UK businesses takes place in February with National Apprenticeship Week.
The government initiative, which began in 2007, is this year themed ‘Skills for Life’. Its aim is to encourage businesses large and small to consider how apprenticeships can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career. It is also an incentive for employees to develop a workforce with future-ready skills.
Commercial roofing specialist BriggsAmasco is an advocate of National Apprenticeship Week, having successfully employed trainees across all areas of the business for many years.
Karl Waddicor is one of 10 apprentices currently employed with the company. Based at BriggsAmasco’s Manchester branch, the 25-year-old is on a Roofer Level 2 apprenticeship known as ‘Trailblazer’.
Karl began his apprenticeship in September 2021. The programme incorporates all elements of the roofing sector including liquid, single-ply and reinforced bitumen membranes, with Karl due to take his final assessment in 2024. His hard work and progress were acknowledged when he was named BriggsAmasco’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’ for the 2021/2022 academic period.
Karl said a family member, a former BriggsAmasco roofing apprentice, encouraged him to take the same career path. “Watching how my older brother has worked and progressed in the roofing trade really inspired me to always work hard, “ he said. “He started as an apprentice roofer at BriggsAmasco, progressed to become a branch supervisor and now works for Bauder. His journey has really inspired me and thanks to BriggsAmasco, I know there are plenty of opportunities for me to similarly progress.”
Tony Lawther, BriggsAmasco’s Managing Director, provides an ideal example of the company’s successful apprenticeship scheme. Having joined the company as an asphalt apprenticeship in 1984, Tony progressed to a Chargehand before ascending all the way up to his current position in 2023. He said: “BriggsAmasco has always given brilliant support to its apprentices. I guess I’m proof of that. For the right person, BriggsAmasco provides a real opportunity to learn, work and pursue a successful career. An apprenticeship is the ideal route to make that happen.”
In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 752,150 people participating in an apprenticeship in England. The figure includes 337,140 apprenticeship starts, which represents a 33% decrease on the number of people embarking on a traineeship in 2015/16. With the UK construction sector continuing to suffer a skills shortage, an uptick in trainees enrolling in work placements that include an industry qualification remains crucial to fulfilling the country’s building needs.
Karl Waddicor has a message for those considering signing-up to an apprenticeship programme. “I would highly recommend it. Just remember to always put the maximum effort in, whatever you’re working on. And most importantly, ask questions. Because at BriggsAmasco if I ever have an issue, I know my colleague is there to give me any advice I need” he said.
National Apprenticeship Week takes place between February 5th and 11th. To find out how to get involved and download the toolkit at National Apprenticeship Week.
Preparing the Mastic Asphalt Roofing Industry for the Future
Malcolm Grinstead director of the Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) spoke to RCI Magazine about the future of Mastic Asphalt in the roofing Industry.
Read the full article in January’s 2024 issue of the RCI Magaine.
Passivhaus clarification required for improved compliance
Our branch manager Allan Doris from our Glasgow branch has spoken with Project Scotland about Passivhaus clarification required for improved compliance in Scotland.
You can read the full article here.
BriggsAmasco Celebrates Single-Ply Success at Roofing Industry Awards
BriggsAmasco has been acclaimed winner of the single-ply roofing category at this year’s Scottish NFRC Roofing Contractor of the Year Awards.
The success was in relation to the company’s expert delivery of a multiple-roof project at a residential complex in Westburn Gardens, Aberdeen. In explaining their decision-making process, NFRC judges praised BriggsAmasco for overcoming the challenging programme ‘with careful planning and expert tradespeople.
Tony Lawther, Managing Director said: “This is a wonderful achievement and congratulations to everyone involved in the Westburn Gardens project. Awards such as these are verification of our ability to make smart work of roofing projects varying in complexity and profile. We thank the judges for their kind comments and overall input with these superb awards.”
BriggsAmasco representatives received their NFRC award at a presentation luncheon held at the Central Hotel, Glasgow on Friday October 27th.
Tony continued: “The presentation event was indictive of the hard work teams across the company have put in throughout the year. Thanks to each and every one of you for your dedication to upholding BriggsAmasco’s reputation for the highest quality service delivery.”
Pictured above (left-right), Anton Bonner, Derek Stephen & Steve Adams
Everton FC Asphalt Installation
Briggs are contracted by Laing O’rourke to deliver the all the flat roofing at Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock Liverpool.
This extends to
- 5,000m2 of IKO Permaphalt and Permapark Mastic Asphalt covering the main plant areas above the crucial hospitality and trading areas of the stadium.
- 600m2 Sika Sarnafil Warm roofs to the east and west canopies including metal decking.
- Aperture SP sealing system to the many roof penetrations.
- 400m2 Bauder green roof to teh Hydraulic Tower which will become a visitor centre for the development.
- Site logistics and safety associated with the entire flat roofing package.
- Value in excess of £3.5m
You can view the video by clicking here.