Helping the next generation Climb the Ladder

By Emma Peterson. 

This initiative provides roofing companies with practical tools to develop employees, strengthen leadership and improve workforce retention. 

Across the United Kingdom, there is one common industry challenge top of mind for roofing tradespeople – the skill shortage. Contractors are struggling to bring in new talent and develop the skilled crews needed to meet modern construction demands. In response to this, National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has developed a new initiative, Climbing the Ladder, entirely focused on building stronger teams and leaders. To learn more about the initiative, Megan Ellsworth invited Ruth Scarrott, NFRC’s head of careers, onto an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Ruth began the conversation with an explanation of the factors causing the skill shortage and workforce issues in the U.K. She pointed to two main challenges. One was time, “Most of our contractor members are what we call SMEs or small-medium-sized enterprises, usually with an employee base of about 20 people and everyone is busy, they don’t have time for anything beyond the day-to-day operations.” The other challenge is the perception of the roofing trade. As Ruth put it, “There are so many career options for young people and the public perception is why would you choose roofing.”  

What the Climbing the Ladder program aims to do is help roofers overcome these two challenges by integrating professional development into their business models. Ruth explained, “Climbing the Ladder was designed to help roofers create staff development programs. It walks you through what that process looks like and holds your hand through the whole thing with a clear step-by-step to-do list.” 

By building professional development and career growth opportunities in roofing companies, it helps these smaller businesses develop skilled crews and helps change the public perception of the roofing trade.  

Want to learn more about the Climbing the Ladder program? Read more on NFRC’s website, Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording!