North Staffordshire’s Rydale Roofing has signed a partnership with a training company which will give young people a pathway into the trade.
With an ageing workforce, roofing is facing a skills shortage while, at the same time, there’s no formal pathway for school leavers to start a career in the industry.
But Silverdale-based Rydale Roofing has joined forces with Juniper Training to launch the Building Futures, Stoke-on-Trent Roofing Hub.
It is hoped the pathway – only the second to be launched in the West Midlands – will create job opportunities for youngsters not only at Rydale, but with building companies across North Staffordshire and beyond.
Rydale Roofing’s Directors, Mick and Julie Mirowski are calling on roofing and building companies to register for an introductory webinar on Wednesday, 7 October, at 10.30am.
Julie said: “The Roofing Hub will give 16-year-olds an introduction to a trade. Rydale Roofing, working with Juniper Training, will give trainees taster sessions in skills such as slating and tiling, fitting waterproof membranes, sheeting and cladding, manual handling and working at heights.
“They will work with us for 24 weeks, both out on the job and in our training room at Rydale Roofing on the Silverdale Business Park. The first cohort is expected to start in January and, by the end of their time with us, which will include site visits to other local companies, they will have worked towards their CSCS site card.
“We think this new scheme is ideal for both construction companies and young people looking for work. The trade needs an influx of young roofers and there’s work available, even at a time when the economy is slumping due to the impact of Covid-19.
“Once they have completed the course with the Roofing Hub, trainees will be in a fantastic position to go on to complete apprenticeships with companies in North Staffordshire. The hub will produce new workers for Rydale Roofing but also for several other companies. The whole trade in our area can benefit from this.”
Currently, there’s a £1,000 incentive from the Government for companies taking on apprentice sand and if Construction Industry Training Board apprentice levy payers there are £7,000 worth of grants available.
Juniper Training has run a successful scheme with the SPV Group, a building and roofing company based in Walsall.
The Chartered Institute of Building has quoted that the construction Industry needs 157,000 new recruits by 2021 to keep up with demand but currently the rate of recruitment into the sector is far lower than the retirement rate within the sector. With the industry now experiencing rates of growth, particularly in housebuilding, this is putting further strain on an industry which has already been facing skills shortages.
The first step is for companies to join the webinar on 7 October. To get involved or for further information, please contact Lisa Jenkins on [email protected] or call 07923 209239 to book your place.
ENDS
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