Employer involvement
Bradford Roofing Contractors Ltd has supported seven apprentices at Leeds College of Building over the past three years, according to Roofing Today. The family-run business currently has two apprentices studying there. Its construction manager, Aaron Peel, attended the college’s Employers Day in September.
The company directly employs 35 roofers and uses a further 15 subcontractors. One of its apprentices, Liam Rose, is preparing for his End Point Assessment, known as EPA, to complete his qualification.
Peel was himself an apprentice at the college. He said the company’s apprentices had stood out at interview for their attitude. He described them as willing to learn, ready to ask questions and interested in improving their work.
He said contact with the roofing department helped the business provide opportunities for apprentices to practise what they were learning. It also allowed the employer and college to address difficulties during training.
Preparing for assessment
The Employers Day took place at the beginning of the academic year. It covered the Roof Slating and Tiling apprenticeship, including the stages at which employers need to contribute to an apprentice’s progress. Senior roofing tutor Dave Mallory hosted it alongside fellow tutor Chris Vessey.
Mallory said employers needed to give apprentices access to a range of roofing activities so they could meet the requirements for completion. He also said employers had a role in judging when an apprentice was ready to take the EPA.
Understanding the course and its milestones was therefore part of the employer’s responsibility, Mallory said. With many apprentices in the second year progressing well, the department’s attention was moving towards completion of their training.
Tutors and training links
Vessey joined the roofing department this year. He previously worked for Leeds roofing firm Pickles Brothers and then ran his own company before moving into teaching.
After a few months in the role, Vessey said he had been encouraged by the work of many apprentices. He said continued contact between the college and employers supported skills development and helped businesses benefit from the training they funded.
More than 50 roofing apprentices are studying at the college. Some participating employers have maintained links with it for years, while others have been involved for decades.
Mallory has taught at the college since 2003. He is now teaching apprentices sent by businesses whose earlier trainees he also remembers teaching.
The college’s apprentices have reached finals and won awards in the national SkillBuild competition. Several have also represented Great Britain at the IFD World Championship for Young Roofers. Others have been finalists or secured places in the BMI Apprentice of the Year competition.
Further meetings for roofing tutors
Training providers are also extending their own programme of exchanges. Mallory has been involved in the Roofing Tutor Forum since it began. The forum meets annually at the BMI National Training Academy in Gloucestershire, where tutors exchange curriculum information and discuss teaching practice.
A second meeting each year is being organised, with colleges and roofing training providers taking turns to host. Optimum Skills will hold the first of these additional meetings in the North East.
Roofing Today also reported that Leeds College of Building was set to take a wider role in developing technical education across the region. The report did not specify the scope or timetable for that work.