You started a month ago, how’s it going so far?
It’s been great so far, I get to work with some very knowledgeable people, I’ve been getting my head around the systems and processes, as well as jumping straight into getting involved in the Competency Working Group. I haven’t been out to see as many of the inspectors as I’d like. There are 14 of them and they are spread all across the country, so I’ll get there but it will take some time!
What does your new role entail?
My remit is really to improve, develop and standardise the inspection process for the competent person scheme. Our inspectors are great at what they do, but we just need to make sure that everyone follows the same processes and procedures for inspecting. I’m spending the first three months observing, seeing what works and what doesn’t. Then I’ll focus on building some processes to make the inspectors’ jobs easier and ensure they’re all following the same process.
This is important because it means that all of our inspectors are holding registered contractors accountable to the same high standards that we require for self-certification.
Where were you before joining the NFRC Competent Person Scheme?
I spent four years at Keystone Roofing Ltd as a Contracts Manager, where I played a key role in digitising and modernising company processes and procedures. My responsibilities extended across the wider business, with significant involvement on the commercial side, including procurement, estimating, and valuations. Although Keystone was a relatively small company, it was a great place to work and provided the opportunity to be part of a highly knowledgeable and collaborative team.
It was a hard role to leave, but this opportunity came along and I’m someone who loves a challenge. I just couldn’t turn it down.
Have you always been in the roofing industry?
Actually, no. I started in retail. My very first job was working in the fruit and veg department in a supermarket. I worked my way up and at 21, I became the youngest store manager they’d ever had. I looked after 140 staff, two stores and a huge revenue. But I was working 80+ hours a week, which wouldn’t be sustainable now, never mind when I was 21.
After I left, I had a break and then found myself working as a labourer for a friend’s father who owned a roofing company. Then I moved onto a different roofing company doing slating, which I’ll be honest, I didn’t love. I really wanted to get into lead work. Luckily my boss at the time agreed to help me, so he funded my training, and I stayed with that company for over 20 years. I got my gold heritage card in leadwork, which I was super proud of.
So, I guess you left to get off the tools?
Exactly. It’s a physically hard job, and I knew I wanted to get off the tools by the time I was 50. I was 43 when I stopped. The next logical step for me was to get into site supervision/contract management style roles. I applied for three jobs, was offered all three and chose a mid-size company to start with. I was promoted from site supervisor to contract manager within my first couple of months. What I loved about this role was that I was able to develop junior contract managers . I moved onto a larger roof company, as a senior Contracts Manager, which specialised in new build roofs as part of a team overseeing circa 500 roofs a week, but quickly jumped into a big corporate as a contract manager as I was ready for a challenge. They’d actually offered me a job a few years earlier, so it was a bit of a full circle moment ending up there. However, I’ve got two children, one was very young at the time, and the travel didn’t suit me, so from here I went to Keystone roofing .
And now here you are at NFRC CPS
And here I am! I don’t like to stand still or be complacent. I give every role my absolute all. I want to be the best I can be and make a difference. It’s obviously a very different type of company to where I’ve been before. But I’ve spent years implementing systems, processes and procedures. I think it helps that I spent so long on the tools, like many of our inspectors have.
What do you love about your work?
I’ve particularly enjoyed mentoring junior roofers, I’ve looked after many apprentices over the years. Seeing them succeed brings me a lot of joy. I’m a people person, so I love to coach and encourage my teams to be the best that they can be. Knowing that I’ve had a small part in their success makes me feel very fulfilled.
I’m passionate about the roofing industry. It has a bad reputation, and I want to try and change that. It’s a mammoth task, and I feel like I’m in the right place and among the right people to help drive that change
