NFRC-UKCW Birmingham 2025: Thought Leadership in Action
From the outset, NFRC’s positioning was visible and confident. As James Talman, NFRC’s CEO, put it: “NFRC is proud to partner with UK Construction Week Birmingham to support the Roofing, Cladding and Insulation Show. The show is a vital platform for showcasing innovation, driving best practice and inspiring collaboration across the sector.”
That sense of purpose was evident when NFRC chaired its first panel, “The Innovation Imperative with NFRC: Transforming Training, Compliance, and Roofing Delivery”. The sector’s skills gap loomed large, and panellists John Forster (Forster Group), Helen Yeulet (BESA Group) and Dan Howson (Immersive Industry Experiences) sparked practical debate about breakthrough learning models, on-site simulation, and regulatory harmonisation.
One attendee later reflected, “It’s important that we’re here to collaborate and understand what the skills requirement are and how we can then respond.”
In the second session, “Powering Up Skills, Standards, and Opportunities in Solar Installation – NFRC x MCS”, NFRC’s head of Solar PV, Ben Rowlands, led a conversation that bridged roofing and solar installation practices. With panellists Martyn Raine (MCS), Ryan Mee (Eco2Solar) and John Lees (J.A.L Roofing), the session explored the emerging regulatory framework, accreditation needs, and the challenges of cross-trade collaboration in rapidly accelerating solar rollout.
One delegate observed afterward how refreshing it was to see roofing contractors and solar specialists “on the same page”, exchanging lessons about how quickly standards must evolve — a signal that the “old silos” are cracking.
The strong attendance, positive remarks, and ripple of conversation across the three days underline the success of NFRC’s presence at UK Construction Week. By curating these panels, NFRC ensured that urgent issues, including upskilling, compliance, and solar integration, were not just discussed but interrogated. Beyond debate, the sessions helped seed relationships between NFRC Members and the wider construction industry, all the while exploring productive pathways forward. In sum, the NFRC-UKCW alliance in Birmingham 2025 not only elevated sector dialogue but moved it closer to delivery.
