rooftraining.co.uk

Roofing Contractors
Training Information Manual

Contents List   |  Foreword   |  Definitions of the types of training available   |  New entrant training plus roofing courses throughout the UK   |  Onsite assessment and training OSAT   |  Construction Skills Certification Scheme   |  Management and supervisor training   |  Levy and Grant   |  ConstructionSkills Roofing Team   |  Roofing Training Group Details   |  Trade associations   |  Manufacturer training   |  Assessment centres   |  Abbreviations relevant to the roofing industry

Roofing Training Group Details

What is a roofing training group?

The regional roofing training groups (RTG's) are in place to organise and co-ordinate roofing training at all levels.

These groups, which are located throughout the United Kingdom, take their direction towards training from local roofing contractors.

Manufacturers, trade association representatives and local training providers are also members or associate members of these groups.

RTG's meet every three months and a representative of the group attends the Roofing Industry Alliance’s (RIA’s) National Training Council every six months, which brings together all the roofing training groups.

A regular exchange of information is maintained to ensure best practice is shared nationally.

Each group has a direct link through its local ConstructionSkills Company Training Advisor (CDA} or equivalent  to the following ConstructionSkills and associated services:

• New entrant training (apprentice) officer 
• On-site assessment and training (OSAT) co-ordinator
• ConstructionSkills regional offices
• National specialist roofing training manager and his team.

Why join a roofing training group?

Main role of an RTG

Each RTG can establish, once a clear picture of local demand has been established, a wide range of roofing-specific trade courses and roofing-related health and safety courses. When these training requirements have been pooled the group can share the costs of training at competitive rates at an agreed time and location.

Further key benefits of belonging to an RTG

1. Groups are able to access and demand courses specifically designed for the roofing industry and the needs of the group’s member companies.
2. The group is used as a forum to gain access to ConstructionSkills, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), manufacturers, trade associations, the Institute of Roofing (IoR) and other agencies, to put forward suggestions and criticisms.
3. RTG's are able to obtain early information and keep up to date with changes and initiatives that might or will affect the roofing industry, such as changes to legislation, grants, building regulations, European directives, environmental issues, technological developments and changes in materials, equipment and tools.
4. Collective recruitment initiatives for all levels and types of personnel. This may be in various forms and involve the following
   • New entrant trainees
   • Management and supervisory
   • Plant, equipment and drivers
   • Clerical and accountancy
   • Sales and marketing
   • Technical, specification and consultancy.
5. The group’s local ConstructionSkills company development adviser or equivalent is, or becomes, experienced and understands the needs of the RTG and the roofing industry. The adviser is then able to offer a dedicated service to assist member companies in assessing their training requirements and organising training courses.
6. Formation of specific local education and curriculum centre initiatives, organised through the group, to promote the roofing industry and to attract potential new recruits. These might include school and college programmes, taster days, etc. Courses for youth groups can be arranged which include visits to local training facilities, contractors and manufacturers. A database of interested potential roofing trainees can then be built up.
7. Access to technical support with a wide variety of literature, eg health and safety, trade training manuals, and possible involvement and input towards their development.
8. Development of pilot schemes for training initiatives, specific to the group’s area needs.
9. Information on, and an input into, the development of NVQs or SVQs via a link to the National working groups that are involved in their revision.
10. PR stories and editorials regarding the groups and their members’ activities for inclusion in Roof Overview and other roofing sector publications.
11. Exchange of best practice and general cross-fertilisation between all group members and all RTG's through the RIA.
12. For RTG's there is a potential grant of up to £28,000 per year subject to meeting the necessary ConstructionSkills requirements and terms.
13. A forum for roofing companies to discuss their training needs and all other issues affecting their business. The group’s meetings also provide a forum for other sectors and parties to visit and exchange information, through presentations, etc.
14. Information can be sent out to member companies through mailshots, newsletters and on the individual groups pages of the RIA web site..
15. With the support and guidance of the RIA groups can put together bids for the European Social Fund and a wide range of other funding bodies. They have opportunities to secure other funding for training wherever possible, such as manufacturers, developers, Business Links, etc. Any RTG with new ideas or initiatives is more likely to receive support at high level from one of these organisations if promoted through the group and RIA, rather than as an individual company suggestion.
16. Groups are able to apply to become, or work with, an assessment centre, assist in training assessors to gain A1 and V1 qualifications and then provide a service to members for on-site assessment and training (OSAT), experienced worker practical assessment (EWPA) and work based recorders (WBR). These support on-site assessment procedure used for experienced operatives to gain an NVQ or SVQ (see section on OSAT).

How roofing contractors can benefit from training

• Less waste on site
• Job done right first time
• Higher motivation of workforce
• Increased turnover per employee
• Structured planning of workforce and their training requirements for the near and distant future
• Lower loss and turnover of employees
• Improved understanding of each person’s role and internal communications
• Reduced risk of accidents
• Avoid litigation
• Attract better operatives and staff to your company with clearly defined opportunities
• Repeat business with satisfied clients.

Contact details of all roofing training groups in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Regional Roofing Training Groups in England, Wales and Scotland