Roofing Skills Demonstrations Continue to Inspire Across UK
With the construction industry facing a skills gap and aging workforce, NFRC Members from across the UK have came together to provide hands-on, task based sessions across secondary schools, directly engaging with pupils, answering questions, and explaining pathways to roofing careers.
Ryan Mitchell, Roofing Contracts Manager and Solar and Battery Storage Lead at Samuel Moore Roofing, was a key coordinator for the most recent event at KTS Academy, Brotton.
We invited Ryan to explain the steps to take to deliver a successful skills demonstration and why the events are vital for the future of the sector.
How did this get started?
Following last year's roofing skills demonstration event at Outwood Academy, we shared the success of the day across our LinkedIn and Facebook channels and invited any schools interested in hosting similar activities to get in touch.
KTS Academy responded to that invitation. Lauren Parker, Lead Practitioner for Preparing for Adulthood, contacted us to discuss opportunities for their learners. We arranged an initial meeting at the school to explore how a roofing skills event could be adapted to suit their students. During these discussions, we agreed to deliver a range of practical, hands-on activities aimed at younger learners while also exploring opportunities for students (KTS+) following more formal educational pathways, such as progression into FE college.
As planning progressed, we brought together partners who had previously worked with us on similar initiatives. Yorkshire Independent Roofing Training Group (YIRTG), NFRC, Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, Blade Roofing and Elite Roofing all became involved through existing relationships developed during previous skills events. Additional planning meetings were held with school staff, including Assistant Headteacher Lizzie Thompson, alongside representatives from NFRC and YIRTG, to better understand the learners, discuss accessibility requirements and agree expectations for the day.
Once dates had been agreed as part of the school's Careers Week programme, planning continued through regular meetings and email communication, allowing us to coordinate resources, activities and volunteers to deliver the event successfully.
What did the workshop look like?
The event was designed around groups of up to 15 learners per session, with five sessions taking place throughout the day. This allowed us to plan activities that were engaging, accessible and gave every learner the opportunity to participate.
We created four activity stations covering different aspects of roofing:
- Slating
- Tiling
- Slate cutting
- Roofing-related challenges and roof identification activities delivered by YIRTG
The Yorkshire Independent Roofing Training Group (YIRTG) activities were designed to introduce learners to roofing in a fun, interactive and accessible way. These activities included miniature roofing rigs using 3D printed tiles, roof identification exercises, jigsaw puzzles, magnetic roofing activities and building block challenges. These stations encouraged learners to develop problem-solving skills while gaining an understanding of different roof types, materials and roofing concepts.
For the practical roofing activities, we utilised a full-size training rig previously used at other roofing skills events. To ensure accessibility for all learners, including wheelchair users and those requiring additional mobility support, the rig was positioned at floor level, allowing all participants to engage with the activities comfortably and safely.
One side of the rig was prepared for slating, allowing learners to see and participate in the process of fixing battens and installing natural slates. The opposite side of the rig was prepared for tiling using Marley Acme Single Camber Plain Tiles, where learners could gain experience installing tiles using traditional roofing tools and techniques. Jordan from Elite Roofing generously volunteered his time to lead the tiling activity, while our team delivered the slating and slate-cutting demonstrations.
The slate cutting station gave learners the opportunity to use traditional slate cutters under supervision, helping them understand another key roofing skill and the precision involved in preparing materials for installation.
The event was supported with a range of roofing materials and equipment including slates, tiles, battens, roofing felt, hammers, tile nails, slate cutters, PPE and protective floor coverings. Learners rotated around each station approximately every 10–15 minutes, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to experience every activity and gain exposure to different aspects of the trade.
The day was structured across three morning sessions and two afternoon sessions, providing opportunities for approximately 75 learners to engage with roofing activities throughout the event. This rotating format ensured that all learners had equal access to the activities while maintaining a safe, engaging and interactive learning environment.
Why did you get involved?
Our involvement was a natural continuation of the work we have been developing through the Roofing Pathway initiative and previous skills demonstration events.
We wanted to help change perceptions of the roofing industry and give young people an opportunity to experience roofing in a positive and practical way. Many young people have little exposure to construction careers, and activities such as this allow them to explore opportunities they may never have previously considered.
This event was also particularly important as it was the first roofing skills demonstration we have delivered within a SEND school as part of the Roofing Pathway in the North East and Yorkshire region. We believe it is important that all young people, regardless of their needs or circumstances, have the opportunity to experience activities like this and learn about the career opportunities available within the roofing industry.
The event provided learners with practical experience, insight into career pathways and an understanding of the wide range of roles available within the roofing industry.
Alongside demonstrating practical skills, we also shared our own career journeys and explained that roofing offers opportunities far beyond working on the tools, including management, administration, surveying, estimating, technical and specialist roles.
Most importantly, it allowed learners to make informed decisions about their future by experiencing the industry first-hand. Several learners showed genuine interest and aptitude throughout the day, and it was rewarding to see their confidence grow as they engaged with the activities.
Addressing the industry's skills shortage is also a key motivation. By giving young people meaningful exposure to roofing and construction, we can help them understand the opportunities available and support them in making informed career choices. Whether they eventually become roofers, surveyors, managers or work elsewhere within the construction sector, events like this help open doors and broaden horizons.
We also wanted to demonstrate that roofing offers a genuine career pathway with opportunities for progression, training and long-term employment. By speaking directly with learners about our own experiences and the routes available into the industry, we were able to give them a realistic insight into what a future career in roofing could look like.
Why would you encourage others to get involved?
Events like this provide significant benefits for both the industry and individual businesses.
From a business perspective, engaging with schools, colleges and training providers helps create valuable recruitment opportunities while strengthening community engagement. It also demonstrates a genuine commitment to social value and supporting local communities.
For young people, these activities provide exposure to careers they may not otherwise consider. They gain practical experience, develop confidence and learn about the pathways available into construction and roofing. We have already seen positive outcomes through work experience placements and employment opportunities that have arisen from similar engagement activities.
On a wider industry level, addressing the skills shortage requires employers to actively engage with education. Roofing relies on skilled individuals passing on their knowledge and experience to future generations. If we do not create opportunities for young people to learn about the industry, we risk losing valuable skills and expertise.
One particularly rewarding aspect is seeing experienced roofers share their knowledge. At this event, we were supported by our own Jeff Moore, whose roofing experience gave learners valuable insight into the trade. Creating opportunities for experienced professionals to mentor and inspire the next generation is vital for the long-term future of the industry.
I would encourage employers to consider succession planning within their workforce and look at how experienced employees can contribute to initiatives like this. Not only does it help preserve valuable industry knowledge, but it also creates meaningful opportunities to inspire and support future generations entering the trade.
Ultimately, these activities help raise awareness of roofing careers, attract future apprentices, support social value objectives and strengthen the long-term future of the industry. More importantly, they give young people opportunities they may never otherwise receive and can genuinely make a lasting impact on their lives.
Future Opportunities
There is definitely scope to develop activities like this further through larger events, after-school programmes, half-term projects and wider industry showcases.
Longer-format activities would allow learners to spend more time developing practical skills, gain a deeper understanding of the roofing industry and explore a wider range of career opportunities. There is also potential for collaborative industry events, similar to STEM festivals or careers exhibitions, where multiple employers and organisations come together to showcase the breadth of opportunities available within roofing.
However, our immediate focus is the Roofing Pathway pilot currently being delivered across the North East and Yorkshire region. As this is a new initiative, it is important that we take the time to ensure the pilot is successful, sustainable and delivers meaningful outcomes for both learners and employers before expanding our attention to larger-scale projects.
By establishing a strong foundation locally, we can identify what works well, learn from the challenges we encounter and develop a proven model for engagement. Once that has been achieved, there is a significant opportunity to collaborate with organisations and roofing groups in other regions that are undertaking similar activities. By bringing together our collective experiences, successes, lessons learned and best practices, we can help shape larger national initiatives that are even more effective at inspiring the next generation and attracting people into roofing careers.
The long-term ambition would be to see successful regional programmes working together to create larger industry-wide events and opportunities, helping to raise awareness of roofing careers on a much broader scale while ensuring that the activities delivered are built on proven experience and practical knowledge. While it would be fantastic to deliver something on a national scale, we believe the best approach is to first make the Roofing Pathway a success across the North East and Yorkshire region and then use those foundations to support wider collaboration and growth across the industry.
