Tony Lawther talks to Total Contractor about our Competency Matrix
Tony Lawther (Managing Director) has spoken to Total Contractor on how important our Competency Matrix is.
The Building Safety Act 2022 legally requires all design and building workers to be competent this means possessing the skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to undertake their work safely and in compliance with building
regulations.To satisfy these legal obligations, BriggsAmasco executed a company-wide competency review in 2024, utilising the framework established by the JCI’s Achieving Competence in the Building Envelope. This process involved redefining job roles, conducting over 200 employee assessments, and aligning personnel with targeted training programmes.
Our competency matrix formally documents employee qualifications, providing external stakeholders with proof of compliance. We regard this strategic investment in training as paramount to fulfilling our statutory duties and cultivating a highly professional workforce.
Staff development is a long-standing core value. We actively employ 18 apprentices and facilitate progression up to NVQ Level 7 (Master’s equivalent), exceeding typical industry training targets.
By improving skills, qualifications, and confidence, BriggsAmasco aims to increase workforce sufficiency and ensure our built environment meets the highest competencies.
- The full article can be found on pages 20-21 of October’s edition of Total Contractor.
Triple Success for BriggsAmasco as Scottish NFRC Awards Finalists Announced
BriggsAmasco is in line for a hat-trick of honours at this year’s NFRC Scottish Roofing Contractor Awards.
Three projects that benefited from the company’s waterproofing expertise have been shortlisted for the popular and fiercely contested awards, which celebrate exceptional roofing workmanship, safety, and innovation.
Tony Lawther, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco, stated: “While having one project nominated would have been excellent, the shortlisting of three projects is a clear testament to the expertise and professionalism of our teams in Scotland. The NFRC awards hold significant prestige, as they actively help promote the talent and skills of roofing personnel throughout the region. We are immensely proud that BriggsAmasco has been recognised among this high-calibre field.”
BriggsAmasco has been shortlisted in three award categories: Multi-Discipline Project, (Other) Flat Roofing, and Reinforced Bituminous Membranes.
The company’s refurbishment of 18 roofs as part of an £8m upgrade of the Grade A-listed Rothesay Pavilion on the Isle of Bute earned its shortlisting in the award’s ‘Multi-Discipline’ category. The high-profile, complex project involved the installation of a hybrid waterproof system that included a levelling screed and a cold-applied, liquid polyurethane membrane. BriggsAmasco’s large scale roof refurbishment is integral to transforming the landmark pavilion into a vibrant hub for leisure, culture and entertainment.
BriggsAmasco’s refurbishment of Edinburgh’s Crawford Bridge gained a nomination in the (Other) Flat Roofing category. The bridge’s steep-gradient design presented a challenge to operatives during the multi-stage programme, which was crucial to ensuring fans of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian had convenient city centre access to their team’s Easter Road Stadium.
Briggs’ completion of a huge roof refurbishment at Aberdeen Royal Mail Distribution Centre is another finalist, this time in the Reinforced Bituminous Membranes category. The installation of a dual bitumen-based underlay and cap sheet solution over a 13,000m2 area is the largest roofing project carried out by the company’s Aberdeen branch.
Tony continued. “The size and complexity of the nominated projects clearly demonstrate the multi-disciplinary skills of our roofing teams. We are tremendously grateful for their commitment and professionalism. We now look forward to the awards ceremony and hope these nominations will result in category victories. Congratulations to all who contributed.”
Scottish NFRC Awards category winners will be announced at a luncheon being held on October 24th at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.
Project innovation and sustainability hallmark latest BriggsAmasco award win
BriggsAmasco was among the winners at this year’s Construction News Specialists Awards.
The leading commercial roofing contractor won the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability’ award for delivering a complex low-carbon roofing package at the Dakota Hotel, Newcastle. Their impressive victory was announced at a finalists’ presentation held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
Kobir Ahamed, BriggsAmasco Sustainability Manager, said: “What a fantastic achievement. The award recognises our leadership in decarbonisation. Our innovative application of the groundbreaking IKO Permatec LI was critical to our success. The hot melt roofing solution achieves a 50% lower embodied carbon compared to its standard product. BriggsAmasco became the first contractor to trial IKO Permatec LI when we employed it for the Dakota Hotel roofing programme. The award also recognises our inventory of electric hot melt machines and e-torches, as well as our commitment to quality and safety through our use of reverse loading machines.”
The Dakota Hotel project involved the installation of a 261m2 main roof, and a 45m2 green roof. The site’s exposed quayside location instigated a mid-programme specification change, with BriggsAmasco and IKO collaborating on the selection of an alternative roof system to achieve minimum weighting and prevent wind uplift.
The teams’ exceptional technical adaptation and resilience in overcoming the redesign issue were acknowledged by judges as part of the awards decision-making process. Briggs’ use of sustainable products, including red polymer primer with reduced VOC content, also merited mention in terms of sustainability.
Two BriggsAmasco apprentices worked on the Dakota Hotel project, gaining practical experience in design and quantity surveying. This counted towards the award’s Social Value criteria, which was enhanced by Briggs’ use of local products and support of local businesses.
In summary, judges praised the Dakota Hotel roofing project as one that ‘balanced innovation, practicality and long-term environmental benefit’.
Kobir added: “Congratulations to all those who contributed to the exceptional Dakota roofing programme. It was a real collaborative effort, with our excellent working relationship with IKO proving crucial to the project’s successful outcome. Low carbon construction’s evolvement is vital to the industry and the environment. We hope our dedication to quality and sustainability will be rewarded with further industry accolades as we journey towards our net- zero target.”
BriggsAmasco Progresses Low Carbon Transition as Net Zero Week Beckons
Net Zero Week, from July 5th to 11th, is a government-backed initiative aimed at increasing awareness and supporting the UK’s 2050 carbon neutral target.
To mark the programme’s fifth anniversary, net-zero stakeholders have been invited to Parliament to create a series of events including roundtables and webinars. During these collegiate sessions, MPs and policy aides will explore how the UK can lead the world’s low- carbon transition.
As a long-term advocate of practices and technologies that inspire sustainable construction, BriggsAmasco fully supports Net Zero Week.
Kobir Ahamed, Sustainability Manager at BriggsAmasco said: “Any initiative that puts the UK’s sustainable future at its front and centre deserves promoting. For the building supply chain as a whole, the need to address our carbon footprint has never been greater. Individual responsibility is crucial to collective change. We must all commit to smarter, more sustainable ways of working to protect the environment for future generations.”
BriggsAmasco’s journey to net zero received a boost earlier this year when the company became the first UK roofing and waterproofing contractor to receive Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) accreditation. The award certifies BriggsAmasco’s commitment to ensuring that employees are knowledgeable about climate change and related environmental issues. The accreditation was approved by the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP), one of the UN’s 100 Transformative Action Programmes. To obtain approval, BriggsAmasco needed to develop a CLP-themed course and present it to employees.
The impressive achievement earned BriggsAmasco ‘Bronze’ CLO status, with the company currently working towards achieving Silver-level accreditation by rolling out the CLP course across all branches. This certifies that 30% of company employees are carbon literate.
In addition, BriggsAmasco has introduced a full company greenhouse gas emissions inventory covering Scopes 1, 2, and 3, which provides a comprehensive overview of its CO2 output. The company’s progress in this field has been rewarded with ISO 14064 certification, an international standard that verifies a company’s greenhouse gasses accounting.
To further consolidate its environmental strategy BriggsAmasco is in the process of signing up to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi is a scientifically rigorous global standard for achieving net zero, providing a clearly defined pathway for emissions reduction commitments that align with Paris Agreement goals to limit global warming.
The company has installed solar panels across its head office site and warehouse in Cradley Heath, Birmingham.
Kobir added “We are delighted with our net zero strategy’s progression. Whether in the office or on-site, our dedication to service excellence with minimal environmental impact is unstinting. We’d like to thank our staff and contractors for supporting our sustainability programme. They are essential to helping us achieve our low carbon ambition.”
For more information on Net Zero Week, click here.
Men’s Health Week Highlights Need to Talk Problems Through
Men’s Health Week 2025 takes place between June 9th and 15th
The campaign, run by UK charity ‘Mates In Mind’, focuses on the need for men to start a conversation about mental health in their organisation.
Mental health is a particularly pressing issue in the construction industry. Factors such as tight project deadlines, long working hours and the physically demanding nature of the job contribute to making it one of the world’s most stressful professions.
A recent ONS report revealed a gender disparity in overall suicide figures. The 2022 statistics showed the age-standardised suicide rate in England and Wales for males was 16.4 deaths per 100,000, compared to 5.4 per 100,000 for females. It means men accounted for circa three-quarters of all suicides.
Men’s Health Week aims to empower UK businesses to ‘Tackle the Silence’ surrounding mental ill-health and inspire a workplace culture change. The campaign has BriggsAmasco’s full support, with the company’s mental health awareness training a long-established part of its culture.
Tony Lawther, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco said: “The Tackling the Silence issue is one we’ve focused on over the past few years across all areas of BriggsAmasco business. For some men, mental health remains a taboo subject. Hence, we’ve worked incredibly hard to overcome that barrier by encouraging employees to open up about personal problems they may be dealing with. we remain vigilant, and we’ll continue to prioritise our colleagues’ mental wellbeing.”
BriggsAmasco has 36 mental health first aiders and 2 dedicated mental health first aid instructors. Its Mental Health First Aid Instructors deliver a full two-day Mental Health First Aid Course, as well as refresher training when required. Mental Health Awareness training is also provided as part of BriggsAmasco’s employee induction.
Tony continued: “The comments from our mental health training course attendees have been extremely positive. Our instructors have earned praise for their excellent engagement and understanding of the course’s objectives.”
Recognising signs of stress is key to intervention and preventing an individual’s mental health issue from escalating. Tony said BriggsAmasco’s first aiders were well equipped to spot colleagues’ distress signals. “Developing behaviours that indicate a mental health issue might include a change to a person’s demeanour or personal appearance. Each of these potential red flags could help us assign a source of help to someone who is suffering from stress.”
The disproportionate male suicide rate could be partly attributed to men being less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women. This is supported by research that found just 36% of NHS referrals for psychological therapies were for men.
Tony said “The more encouragement we give men to talk about mental health issues, the less they will suffer from what is sadly a very prevalent problem. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we face mental health head-on and reach out for help when we need it.”
For more information on Men’s Health Week, click here
Embracing Competency is Key to Improved Building Efficiencies
Tony Lawther has spoken with Roofing Today in their May-June 2025 issue.
Tony discusses how the BriggsAmasco has rolled out a competency framework and the benefits that brings.
Read the full article on pages 40-41 or read the full magazine.
BriggsAmasco’s SPRA Award Listing Highlights Value of All-Round Service Delivery
BriggsAmasco has been shortlisted in the sustainability category at this year’s Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA) awards.
The nomination is for the company’s exceptional team performance on the Cow Green housing development in Halifax town centre. BriggsAmasco’s delivery of a single-ply roofing system for the 122-home scheme was a collaborative triumph, with the company working alongside the contractor (Caddick Construction) and architect (jmarchitects) to accommodate a mid-project design change.
Tony Lawther, Managing Director, at BriggsAmasco, said: “The SPRA nomination is excellent news. The Cow Green project provided a real test of our all-round skills. The original specification required a hot melt roof system. Following consultations between ourselves, the contractor and architect, a single-ply solution was preferred. Our expertise in delivering a wide range of applications varying in size and complexity enabled us to take the specification change in our stride and complete the project to the agreed timeframe, and the client’s complete satisfaction.”
The specification change to a single-ply roofing system was required to create falls through tapered insulation. The membrane’s exceptional finish, which negated the use of gas-powered tools or plant, was also crucial to its selection.
Cow Green’s mix of high-quality, energy-efficient one and two-bedroom apartments enabled developer Placefirst to deliver its most sustainable housing project to date.
Tony continued: “We’re proud of our contribution to Cow Green – a development that embodies the 21st century requirement for stylish, comfortable, energy efficient homes. We thank the SPRA judges for our award nomination and BriggsAmasco teams’ superb delivery of the project’s aspect.”
SPRA category winners will be announced at an Awards Luncheon held on June 12th at the Hilton NEC Birmingham.
Flat Roof Open Day Opens up Career Opportunities for Apprentice Candidates
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.”
Mental Health Awareness Week Focuses on Community as a Pathway to Improved Mind and Spirit
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) celebrates the power of community as a means of improving personal wellbeing. Hence, this year’s programme, which takes place from May 12th to 18th, provides a range of expert guidance on how a spirit of togetherness encourages good mental health.
As an established mental health champion, BriggsAmasco is an avid MHAW advocate. The company boasts 36 mental health first aiders and two dedicated mental health first aid instructors, with staff training progressing to increase that figure.
Tony Lawther, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco said instilling a sense of workplace community workplace had benefitted employee wellbeing. “People generally feel more encouraged to discuss their feelings in a more honest and open way with individuals they know and trust,” he said. “This is particularly important for people suffering from stress or a difficult personal issue. In such instances, our mental health first aiders are a vital source of support for colleagues. Their voluntary service is invaluable to upholding employee welfare, which is paramount to BriggsAmasco’s culture.”
Staff and site operative health and safety initiatives, such as the introduction of mental health first aiders, have reduced anxiety and stress-related absenteeism at BriggsAmasco. This outcome is particularly encouraging due to the construction industry’s vulnerability to mental health-related impact. An Office for National Statistics report revealed suicide rates amongst construction workers were 3.7 times higher than the national average. Furthermore, a 2020 Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) survey of 2,000 construction workers found that 97% of respondents had felt stressed, 87% had experienced anxiety and 70% had suffered depression over the previous 12 months.
Outside of the workplace, a report by UK mental health charity MIND showed that one-in-six people admitted suffering a common mental health problem – such as anxiety and depression – in any given week in England, where it’s predicted one-in-four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind annually.
***continued: “Because problematic mental health seldom emits visible signs, it can be difficult to detect. Our staff are trained to look for the signals that suggest someone is suffering on the inside. Then it’s a case of ensuring that individual doesn’t suffer in silence; we let them know that someone who cares is available for them to talk to and listen to them. This encapsulates the value of community in the workplace. Therefore, we are once again proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week.”
For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week and guidance on becoming involved with your community, click here
Easter Egg Donation
Together with Willmott Dixon, BriggsAmasco has donated a selection of Easter Eggs for local residents near Torridon House in London.
