We can think about roof training in our industry as the experiences that equip individuals with the education, skills, knowledge and behaviours to achieve both personal and business success, exceed expectations and deliver a truly demand-led provision for UK roofing.
Equally, the skills, knowledge, training and behaviours of those who deliver the courses and assess standards of competence must be considered to achieve the necessary outcomes contractors want.
Unfortunately, it is currently the case that training, qualification, and assessment across the roofing industry are suffering from a lack of qualified and competent trainers, assessors and training managers.
There are far too few individuals equipped to effectively deliver the skills and knowledge required in the modern roofing industry. But it’s not just a question of delivery and assessment of courses, trainers are in an ideal position to help bring about cultural change, reinforcing the behaviours expected on site in this increasingly complex and diverse sector. In addition, they must implement new systems, technologies and qualifications, incorporating them into mainstream qualifications as soon as possible in order to ensure training is relevant and to keep our teams working safely.
In the absence of a comprehensive and up to date register, members of the National Roof Training Group (NRTG) have carried out research with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and roofing trade federations to identify the specialist trainers and assessors working in the roofing industry.
Find out about becoming a Trainer and Assessor
Following this research, which has identified a substantial unmet need for trainers and assessors, NRTG would like to invite individuals who are interested in finding out more about becoming roofing assessors or trainers to contact them to their interest. NRTG can offer support and potential funding to undertake training to qualify for these roles.
Join the Register
Qualified trainers and assessors can and give details of the type of work they carry out, their qualifications, technical subjects and disciplines covered and their preferred geographical area of operation. Those registering with NRTG will receive support and where appropriate, assistance with upskilling.
Training Qualifications
At an entry level, trainers usually undertake the Level 3 Award in Education and Training which covers three units and a micro-teaching task. This is the minimum level usually required to teach in further education. Those intending to make a career out of training would then be expected to pursue a Level 4 Certificate of Education, while those in training management should undertake a Level 5 Diploma in Education. All of these courses are quite widely available, in colleges, through private training providers and online.
Assessment Qualifications
Assessments of competency for NVQs or other accepted standards need to be considered by a qualified assessor. Assessors can be qualified through a Level 3 Award in Assessing Competency in the Workplace, or a Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related achievement (in a centre or controlled environment). The Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement encompasses both these awards, giving a broader overview and competence across a range of assessment.
Assessment Centres
There are quite a few assessors who qualify but never go on to carry out assessments. This is often because they are not attached to an NVQ assessment centre which is willing to provide mentoring to encourage confidence and competence in the assessment process. If you represent an assessment centre with capacity to support new assessors, we would also like to hear from you to complete the circle. We have willing candidates, we have roofing assessors, and we will need centres to support them; the NRTG will offer support to centres for mentoring. your interest.
This project is delivered through the National Roof Training Group with support from the Roofing Industry Alliance.
