Leading UK housebuilder, Persimmon Homes, has partnered with the roofing accreditation scheme, RoofCERT, to promote best practice in their supply chain and ensure sub-contractors get it right first time every time. The partnership is one of the first to come out of the wider ‘Persimmon Way’ strategy, which aims to ensure the highest build quality through collaboration with its suppliers.

RoofCERT accreditation, managed by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), demonstrates a roofer’s competency through a robust knowledge test, six mandatory health and safety awareness training courses, and either evidence of a vocational qualification or a one-day practical assessment. The accreditation must then be updated every three years after that to demonstrate ongoing learning and development as legislation and regulations change. There is a greater expectation across the construction industry for operatives to be able to demonstrate their competency, and this is only set to intensify over the coming years.

Through its partnership with RoofCERT, Persimmon aims to use its leading market position to support roofing contractors, many of whom are small and medium-sized companies, to get ahead of the game and ensure their roofing operatives are RoofCERT accredited and can demonstrate their team’s competency. It will also allow experienced operatives who currently hold a CSCS Card through ‘grandfathering rights’ to gain a new skilled worker card before the old grandfathering system comes to an end in 2024.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has funding available for 2000 accreditations, but this funding is only available until April 2022, and with hundreds of roofers already in the pipeline, operatives are being urged to sign-up to get their accreditation now, whilst it is free.

At a recent webinar with their roofing suppliers, Persimmon encouraged all of their roofing contractors to put their operatives through the accreditation process, as it will not only help drive up industry standards but make them more attractive companies to work for.

Commenting on the partnership, RoofCERT’s Commercial Manager Matt Dawson said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Persimmon to help them in their mission to ensure the highest build quality standards throughout their supply chain and ensuring operatives get it right first time every time. As one of the largest housebuilders in the country, we are grateful to Persimmon for using their position to help their sub-contractors, many of whom are small and medium-sized companies, to gain RoofCERT accreditation for their operatives. 

“Now that we have agreed this partnership, I am looking forward to working proactively with Persimmon to drive the programme forward through various collaborative activities to help as many roofers working on Persimmon sites gain RoofCERT accreditation whilst there are still funded places available.”

Persimmon Group Construction Director, Andrew Fuller, said:

“Being accredited to RoofCERT and by having a well-trained and industry accredited workforce, roofing companies will have independent verification to provide confidence to clients, main contractors and all stakeholders.

“By working with RoofCERT I am convinced that together we can improve industry standards in roofing across our sector and above all else, we can all take pride in the work we produce and the homes that together we build.”