By Emma Peterson. 

Why mental health deserves the same attention as physical safety in the roofing and cladding trades. 

In the roofing and cladding trade, safety and health are often thought of in the physical sense – fall protection and safe tool handling. But the mental health and safety of our tradespeople are also hugely important. It is estimated that one in six workers in the U.K. is currently dealing with depression, anxiety or stress. And in the construction field, it’s suggested that as many as 350,000 people are suffering at any one time.  

These numbers can feel staggering and overwhelming, but there are ways we can all work to protect our tradespeople – physically and mentally. One such way that National Federation of Roofing Contractors recommends for their members and other professionals in the U.K. is to support Mates In Mind.  

Mates in Mind is a U.K. charity whose entire mission is to “raise awareness, improve understanding, implement effective interventions and address the stigma of mental ill-health.” Originally founded in 2017, Mates in Mind has partnered with over 700 organisations as part of their mission.  

Their work, while supporting the goal of building an overall more positive mental health culture, focuses on construction. This focus stems from the pressing nature of mental ill-health in the trades. A 2020 CIOB report found that “97% of construction workers had felt stressed, 87% had experienced anxiety and 70% had experienced depression over the past year.” Further, suicide in construction workers is 3.7 times higher than the national average. All of this goes to show the necessity of developing a more positive mental health culture where leaders and workers have access to the resources and tools needed to stay safe – mentally and physically.   

There are a number of ways individuals can support Mates in Mind and their mission. Some examples include fundraising in your community, advocating for your coworkers and breaking the silent stigmas at your workplace. Together, we can make change with employers of all sizes and at all levels to improve the quality of life for our entire workforce.  

Learn more about Mates in Mind at www.matesinmind.org.

National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has announced that the public will decide the winner of Great British Slate Off 2026 following a too-close-to-call round of judging.

The competition, held in collaboration with SIG Roofing, took place on stage at InstallerSHOW from 23-25 June and attracted crowds from the public and exhibitors to watch and support.

The competitors, Adam (AL King Roofing), Jacob (Signature Roofing SW) and Josh (1st Choice Roofing) were selected to take part in the public final following a call for entrants, with judges Matt Timby and Andy Rowlands recognising their potential in the craft.

Tasked with drawing their own design concept to cut in decorative slates, the competitors had just three days to turn their designs into reality, all whilst under careful inspection from judges and visitors from across InstallerSHOW, contributing to the already challenging task.

"We knew the quality of work would be impressive, but what we’ve seen has gone above and beyond expectations, and we’re blown away by what the lads have achieved,” said Andy Rowlands. 

“Matt and I were closely watching over the designs as they came together, noting key elements to help choose a winner but ultimately, when all the designs were finished, it was just too close to call” Andy continued.

After hours of deliberation, judges Matt Timby and Andy Rowlands couldn't reach a unanimous decision and decided to put it to a public vote.

Voting is now open and will close at 8pm on Thursday 2 July, with the winner announced the following day.

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how NFRC is working to protect roofers from harmful silica dust exposure. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth had the chance to sit down with Gary Walpole from National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) to discuss their Cut the Dust campaign. This campaign puts a spotlight on a safety issue that is often overlooked in the roofing issue – dust.  

Dust might seem small – in fact, by definition, dust is fine or small particles of material – but the safety risk it poses should be no small worry. Gary shared some background into the problem with dust on the jobsite:  

The problem is silica dust from cutting roof tiles with a skill saw or a mechanical grinding wheel. That dust goes everywhere, including into the lungs of our roofing contractors. And when silica dust enters your lungs, you’re looking at a variety of respiratory issues like lung cancer, silicosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  

In response to this issue, NFRC developed the Cut the Dust campaign. In building the campaign, they took notes from a previous NFRC safety campaign (Safe2Torch). Gary explained, “Safe2Torch has been successful at changing the culture. And right now, we’re nine years into that campaign. So, in making the Cut the Dust campaign, we decided not to reinvent the wheel. It’s set up very similar.” 

This new campaign is a combined effort of raising awareness of the issue of silica dust and highlights different safety precautions that professionals can take to protect themselves. As Gary put it, “We don't only want people to see the risk/hazard, we want them to have the tools and motivation to implement change in how they own and mitigate that risk.” 

Listen to the recording or Watch the episode to learn more about NFRC’s Cut the Dust campaign. 

By Megan Ellsworth. 

Celebrating the craftsmanship and people shaping roofing’s future. 

There are certain moments in this industry that remind you that roofing is so much more than shingles, membranes and job sites. The 2026 National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) U.K. Roofing Awards was one of those moments for me. 

Walking into the awards ceremony in London, I immediately felt the pride in the room. Hundreds of roofing professionals from across the United Kingdom gathered together dressed in suits and gowns, celebrating craftsmanship, innovation and the people behind some of the most impressive roofing projects in the U.K. The whole event was a powerful reminder that roofing is not just construction but preservation, artistry, engineering and legacy all combined. 

The projects recognized throughout the evening showcased not only technical excellence, but also an incredible respect for workmanship and history. From historic restorations and slate roofing to waterproofing, solar integration and large-scale commercial work, the winners represented the very best of the U.K. roofing industry. The awards also reinforced something I have been thinking about a lot lately: the future of roofing depends on how we present this industry to the next generation. 

When young people see roofing celebrated at this level, it changes perceptions. It shows that roofing is not simply labor. It is problem solving, creativity, teamwork and building something that can outlast generations. Events like the NFRC Awards help elevate the image of the trade and inspire people to see roofing as a respected and rewarding career path. 

Throughout the evening, there was also a strong emphasis on mentorship and workforce development. Young professionals were recognized alongside established workers and companies, proving that the industry is actively investing in the future. That matters, especially as our industry worldwide continues to face labor shortages and recruiting challenges. 

The NFRC Awards reflected an evolution in roofing in many ways including green roofing, while still honoring the traditional craftsmanship that built the industry in the first place. The atmosphere throughout the night felt less like a competition and more like a celebration of the trade itself.  

Leaving the awards ceremony, I kept thinking about how important it is for the roofing industry to celebrate itself more often. Recognition matters. Storytelling matters. Highlighting craftspeople matters. The NFRC U.K. Roofing Awards did all of those things exceptionally well. More than anything, the evening reminded me that roofing leaves a lasting mark on the world. The roofs being recognized that night will protect buildings, preserve history and serve communities for decades to come and that is something worth celebrating.  

Below is the full list of winners from the 2026 NFRC U.K. Roofing Awards. 

• Project of the Year: Staick House — Rowlands Roofing 
• Industry Choice Award: Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire — Roof Brothers Ltd working with CUPA PIZARRAS S.A. 
• Bituminous Hot Applied Liquid Waterproofing: One Leadenhall — Lindner Prater Ltd 
• Cold Applied Liquid Waterproofing: The Library, Murray Edwards College — Millane Contract Services Ltd 
• Fully Supported Metal Roofing: Rockmount — Install Zinc Ltd 
• Green Roofing: Chester Zoo — Safeseal Roofing Ltd 
• Heritage Roofing: Staick House — Rowlands Roofing 
• Leadwork: Kings Theatre — Premier Specialist Roofing Contractors Ltd 
• Mastic Asphalt: Herstmonceux Castle — Sussex Asphalte 
• Multi-discipline Project Over £500K: Chesterfield & Derby Hospitals — MAC Roofing & Contracting 
• Project Under £25K: The Highcross Bell Tower — Prestige Metal Roofing 
• Rainscreen Facade: Countess of Chester Hospital — Longworth Facades 
• Reinforced Bitumen Membrane: Cambridge South Station — Hambro Roofing 
• Roof Slating: Walworth Town Hall — Richardson Projects 
• Roof Tiling: Orme Court — Richardson Projects 
• Sheeting and Cladding: Belfast Grand Central Station — Thornton Roofing (Ireland) 
• Single Ply Roofing: Robin House — Aim Developments working with Sika 
• Solar: St Nicholas Leisure Centre — Stace Roofing 
• Local Hero Award: Sean Lynden — Blackpool Industrial Roofing 
• Individual Health & Safety Award: Edward Radley — Marksman Roofing & Cladding 
• Young Roofer of the Year: Corey Dowell — Progressive Systems 

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the learning opportunities available to roofing and cladding professionals across the U.K. 

Whether we're talking about a seasoned professional or someone at the beginning of their career, personal ongoing learning and development is key for maintaining and enhancing professional competence. Not only does it improve the standard of work performed in the roofing and cladding industry on a whole, but it also empowers individual tradespeople to take pride in their work, get higher pay and advance their career. 

But it can be hard for professionals who are busy with the of the day-to-day demands of working on and around roofs to find good training opportunities. This is why National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has built a map of training providers that offer courses across the U.K.  

Please note that these providers are listed for the informational purposes of those seeking training — NFRC does not endorse any particular provider and has not audited the quality of provision. 

London and Southern counties 

• Construction Industry Training board (CITB): Their direct training program is called the National Construction College and focuses on supporting apprenticeship roof training.  
• Eastern Region Roof Training Group: A Department of Education (DfE) main provider, this program delivers roofer standard apprenticeships across East Anglia and London. 
• Lead Sheet Training Academy (LSTA): Provides City and Guild accredited courses related to using lead or hard metal in the construction industry.   
• South Coast Roof Training Ltd: Provides training ranging from introductory courses to level 3 courses on slating, tiling, lead work, built-up felt and GRP.  
• M&J Group: Hosts a training centre and program in Beford that delivers a Level 2 Roofing qualification. 
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Northwest England and North Wales  

• BMI Academy: Has free of cost training materials as well as systems-specific courses for both flat and pitched roofing.  
• North West Roof Training Group: This organisation works closely with apprenticeship and training providers to arrange training opportunities for individuals.  
• Simian: A nationally recognised training and consultancy provider with unique focuses of areas like scaffolding.  
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Scotland 

• BMI Academy: Has free of cost training materials as well as systems-specific courses for both flat and pitched roofing. 
• Construction Industry Training board (CITB): Their direct training program is called the National Construction College and focuses on supporting apprenticeship roof training. 
• Edinburgh College: At both their Granton and Forthside Campuses, they offer a wide range of construction courses and pre-apprenticeship courses. 
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Southwest England and South Wales 

• BMI Academy: Has free of cost training materials as well as systems-specific courses for both flat and pitched roofing. 
• The Centre Of Roofing Excellence (CoRE): A provider based in Hereford that offer specialist training across the roofing disciplines.  
• Greenlight Training: Provider of pitched and flat roofing apprenticeships with training centres based in Plymouth and Bristol.  
• South West Roofing Training Group: Training provider with dedicated professionals teaching RST Apprenticeships, lead welding and bossing, NVQs and UKATA asbestos.  
• Wales National Roofing Training Group: Connect Welsh companies with young people looking for training and employment in the roofing industry.  
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Yorkshire and Northeast 

• Leeds College of Building: With around 5,500 students, this college combines classroom learning with hands-on work experience in the roofing industry.  
• Optimum Skills Limited: Works in partnership with roofing employers to create apprenticeship programmes. 
• Derwentside College: Provides apprenticeships in slating, tiling and waterproof membrane installing as well as offers a full-time course in construction.  
• Redcar and Cleveland College: Has a wide a wide range of courses from entry level through to level 3, adult courses, apprenticeships and HNC’s.  
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Midlands  

• Construction Skills Midlands: A CITB Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) that provides construction training and qualification testing.  
• Juniper Training: Hosts study programmes and vocational pathways that enable 16-18 year-old students to build skills and prepare to enter apprenticeships.  
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Northern Ireland 

• People 1st: A training organisation with 15 offices all dedicated to helping people, whether they’re students or adults, achieve their training and employment goals. 
• Langley: Offers a range of qualifications from apprenticeships to continuous professional development courses. 

Explore the full map of training courses available to NFRC members! If you need help finding a particular course, please fill out this form.

By Emma Peterson. 

This year’s winners showcase the exceptional talent across the industry continues to grow and thrive. 

On 8 May, the U.K. Roofing Awards tallied the votes and crowned the winners of their 2026 awards in front of over 900 guests at the O2 in London! This year’s awards, which were headline sponsored by Radmat Building Products Ltd, saw a record number of entries and the event was an unforgettable celebration of the roofing and cladding disciplines. 

James Talman, National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ (NFRC) CEO gave a speech at the event:  

We have once again witnessed the importance of recognising the outstanding talent from across the roofing sector. This was a sell-out event with over 900 guests from across the U.K., Europe and even the United States, celebrating the best of British roofing. I’d like to thank each of our sponsors for their generous support, and congratulate every team and individual who made it to the finals. To the winners, your achievement is remarkable and you’ve done the U.K. roofing sector, and NFRC, tremendously proud.    

A total of 21 awards were handed out throughout the afternoon by special guest host Sara Barron and the category sponsors. Between awards guests enjoyed entertainment from singing waiters and the night closed with an incredible afterparty kindly sponsored by Recticel Insulation U.K. 

Here are the projects that won trophies for the incredible talent and hard work they exemplify:  

• Project of the year: Rowlands Roofing with their project, Staick House 
• Industry choice award: Roof Brothers Ltd working with CUPA PIZARRAS with their project, Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire 
• Bituminous hot applied liquid waterproofing: Lindner Prater Ltd with their project, One Leadenhall 
• Cold applied liquid waterproofing: Millane Contract Services Ltd, working with WestWood Liquid Technologies Ltd with their project, The Library, Murray Edwards College 
• Fully supported metal: Install Zinc Ltd with Rockmount 
• Green roofing: Safeseal Roofing Ltd with Chester Zoo 
• Heritage roofing: Rowlands Roofing with their project, Staick House 
• Leadwork: Premier Specialist Roofing Contractors Ltd with their project, Kings Theatre 
• Mastic asphalt: Sussex Asphalte Ltd with their project, Herstmonceux Castle 
• Multi-discipline project over £500K: MAC Roofing & Contracting Ltd with their project, Chesterfield & Derby Hospitals 
• Project under £25K: Prestige Metal Roofing Ltd with their project, The Highcross Bell Tower 
• Rainscreen façade: Longworth Facades with their project, Countess of Chester Hospital 
• Reinforced bitumen membrane: Hambro Roofing Ltd with their project, Cambridge South Station 
• Roof slating: Richardson Projects with their project, Walworth Town Hall 
• Roof tiling: Richardson Projects with their project, Orme Court 
• Sheeting and cladding: Thornton Roofing (Ireland) Ltd with their project, Belfast Grand Central Station 
• Single ply roofing: Aim Developments Ltd, working with Sika Ltd, and their project, Robin House 
• Solar: Stace Roofing Ltd with their project, St Nicholas Leisure Centre 

And the incredible individuals who were awarded:  

• Local hero award: Sean Lynden, Blackpool Industrial Roofing  
• Individual health and safety award: Edward Radley, Marksman Roofing & Cladding  
• Young roofer of the year: Corey Dowell, Progressive Systems Ltd  

Check out all the winning projects and people!

Those who pledge will receive a PDF poster to print and display at their workplace, a certificate, NFRC guidance and a social media pack.

Falls from through fragile roofs and rooflights remain the leading cause of fatality in the workplace and contribute to a high percentage of workplace injuries.  

National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) is calling on the roofing sector and wider industry to take the necessary steps to identify risk and prevent falls from height, driving positive change through practical action. 

Don’t Fall for Fragile is a campaign to help contractors, clients, designers and building owners identify fragile roof risks early, plan work properly and stop unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt.  

Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured after falling through fragile roofs and rooflights. These incidents are entirely foreseeable and preventable. The purpose of NFRC's 'Don't Fall for Fragile – Step Back & Plan' campaign is simple: encourage everyone involved in roof work to stop, assess the risks properly and put effective controls in place before anyone sets foot on the roof. 

“Don't Fall for Fragile is about challenging assumptions. A roof that looks safe may not be safe. That's why this campaign focuses on planning, competence and making the right decisions at the earliest stage of a project.” explains Gary Walpole, technical safety, health and environment officer at NFRC. 

The campaign asks those working at height, or anyone involved in the planning of works at height, to pledge their commitment and reinforce safer planning, access and working practices across their workforce and supply chain. 

“Clients, designers and contractors all have a role to play. The principles of prevention tell us that risks should be eliminated or reduced at the earliest opportunity. The safest solution is rarely found once work has already started’ continues Gary. 

The launch of Don’t Fall for Fragile follows NFRC’s recent Cut the Dust campaign, forming part of a wider strategy cantered around health, safety and wellbeing and providing practical guidance and solutions to enable individuals, employers and clients to act in accordance with health and safety best practice, driving a positive change in culture and the mindset of those within the built environment. 

“The statistics for falls from height are devastating,” says Gary, “and we must come together to change that.  

“Don’t Fall for Fragile echoes the fantastic work of No Falls Foundation by providing people education, guidance, and practical steps to take. I really encourage anyone involved with working at height to get behind this campaign and pledge their support.” 

Those who pledge will receive a PDF poster to print and display at their workplace, a certificate, NFRC guidance, and a social media pack. To find out more, visit //nfrc.co.uk/step-back-and-plan

By Emma Peterson. 

A youth panel has identified the lack of focus on apprenticeships as one of the biggest barriers to getting into the trades. 

In 2025, the U.K. government put together a Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel. Made up of 17 young people aged 18-24, this advisory panel met to discuss the barriers facing youth in terms of building careers and brainstorm what can be done to overcome these. The drive for creating this panel now came from the fact that one in eight young people are not currently pursuing education, employment or training. 

One of the main conclusions from the panel was that “lack of focus on apprenticeships in schools as one of the biggest barriers to getting into work or training.” National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC)’s Gray Gibson, their policy and external affairs manager, went into more detail on what they discussed, sharing, “Early insight from the panel has found that some of the most significant obstacles include mental health challenges and an overemphasis in school on UCAS applications instead of tailored careers advice, including alternative options like apprenticeships and training.” 

Filling this need for support is something that NFRC is already involved in. One example of how they are helping the next generation of young people find work is through the England Construction Opportunities (ECO) project. ECO has been a 4-year employment‑led recruitment and retention mentoring programme that supports entry into roofing apprenticeships and sustained employment. 

Delivered through training partners, employers and NFRC, this project saw 70% of the 351 mentees supported retained at 6 months in the job. Of these, 63% were unemployed (short or long term) before starting their apprenticeship job. 

Backed by the Industry Training Board for the U.K. Construction industry (CITB), the ECO project “offers support in the workplace through job coaching, mentoring, employer engagement, peer and buddy systems or other appropriate support measures.” Planned for three years, this project was founded upon research that shows giving new entrants more support increases retention rates.  

If you’re looking to grow your workforce and would like access to mentoring support, complete an enquiry form. Want to learn more about the challenges facing young people entering the workforce? Read NFRC’s response to Alan Milburn's Young People and Work report.

By Emma Peterson. 

NFRC’s James Talman on momentum, parliament and what comes next for U.K. contract and payment law. 

Recently, James Talman of National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) stopped by RoofersCoffeeShop.uk for an episode of Roofing Road Trips® all about the recent change in how the government manages retentions in construction contracts and payments laws. At the time of recording, NFRC had just released their press statement on the news, but the changes had not been finalized. When we spoke with him, James shared what needed to be done to get over the finish line and get those reforms finalized.  

How did we get this far?  

The process alone of getting to the announcement of the U.K. government’s intent to ban retention clauses and reform payment law is a significant feat. This is something that advocates like NFRC, the U.K. Department of Business and Trade, and the Construction Leadership Council have been working at for nearly a decade. James shared a bit about this major collaboration:  

The collaborative work between civil servants and our industry has been key to this. The work really was kicked off during COVID, and it wasn’t easy. There were people in that room who wouldn't be happy with exactly where we’ve ended up, but they still show up to work for the betterment of the industry and the economy on a whole. Because while this is huge for construction, it’s not only effecting construction... One day it might be a roofer, the next day it could be somebody doing fit-outs or an electrician, a plumber, et cetera.  

Where we are as of recording 

As of the recording of this episode (the beginning of April 2026), these reforms have not been finalised. However, the U.K. government has announced what they intend to change. James explained in a NFRC press release, “For too long, specialist contractors have been forced to operate under a system that allowed larger firms to withhold their money, delay payment, and use their cash as free working capital. [With this announcement], the Government has shown that it has listened, and we could not be more pleased.” 

What’s next for contractors and professionals 

So, what must happen to make everything official? The first step is parliament. James explained:  

The government is going to put this before parliament to be voted upon. We’re now in the last lap, and it’s the most important part. What we have to do is make sure that the momentum continues, that there’s support across parliament for this bill to go through.” That support can be fostered by contractors and other professionals in the industry through things like lobbying. And then when that happens, we can celebrate and educate as they say. 

Check out the entire podcast to learn more about these contract and payment law changes.

By Emma Peterson. 

A recent government decision to reform payment law is set up to help small businesses thrive.  

In the U.K. government’s recently decision about retention in construction contracts, they also made key changes to reform long-standing payment laws. To get a better understanding of what the payment law reform will look like, Heidi J. Ellsworth hosted James Talman, the CEO of National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

At the heart of the payment law reform are four major changes:  

• A new maximum 60-day payment term 
• A statutory deadline for invoice disputes to be raised 
• Interest on late payments, set 8% above the Bank of England’s base rate, is mandatory 
• A requirement of a public explanation of persistent poor payment performance and a plan for resolving the issue 

These changes are all designed to support the small businesses that the entire roofing and construction trades are built upon. James explained, “It's ultimately small business that builds large business. So, this legislation, with things like the new 60-day cap on payment terms for large firms paying small suppliers, is going to be great for the small businesses and ultimately build a stronger industry.”  

And it’s not just the roofing industry that will be made stronger by this reform. James explained, “This bill goes beyond just construction. Currently, these payment issues cost over 11 billion pounds per annum for small businesses. And then there's 38 small businesses close every single day in the UK because of money issues. These numbers are the equivalent of 266 small businesses closing every week and over a thousand pounds a month. So, these law reforms are crucial to not only construction, but to helping our entire economy.”  

Check out the rest of the podcast to learn more!