You already have a lot of accreditations, why did you decide to add the Competent Person Scheme to this list?
CPS focuses on regulation compliance, whereas our other accreditations cover different aspects of our work such as industry-specific skills, or safety certifications. The CPS registration specifically demonstrates our ability to self-certify that our work meets the requirements of the building regulations, saving time and money for our customers
What has been the biggest benefit so far of joining the CPS scheme?
There have been several benefits for us. It helps us win contracts as it separates us from our competitors. It also our customers peace of mind. They know that we are accredited to a standard where we can self-certify our work. Along with the Insurance Backed Guarantee, it helps our customers to see that we have nothing to hide. Interestingly there are very few CPS registered contractors in our region, but there are hundreds of roofing contractors. We win more contracts because we can demonstrate that we have the necessary qualifications and experience to carry out the works.
How much time do you think you have saved by being able to self-certify?
We save several hours on each job by being able to self-certify, but more importantly, it saves our customers time. Normally, they would have to get in touch with their local council, find the right department and arrange for an inspector to come out, without necessarily understanding exactly what is being inspected. Now, we can tell our clients “Leave it to us.” We can provide full documentation of the works we have carried out, as well as Building Regulation Certificate and Insurance Backed Guarantees It feels more professional this way.
You seem really passionate about doing things right…
We built our reputation on honesty, and we believe in doing things right. Before we joined NFRC and the CPS registered contractor scheme, we obtained other accreditations and have been doing our bit for the community. We’ve done a lot of rescue work, particularly for the elderly, who have sadly been ripped off by a rogue trader. The Gazette once labelled me “The White Knight Roofer”. The reason I say it is because we have always worked really hard to uphold the reputation of roofing contractors, which is what NFRC and the CPS scheme are also doing.
You spend a lot of time educating people about roofing works. Can you tell us more about that?
When we go out and see potential customers, a lot of them don’t even realise that there are building regulations that their roofing work needs to comply with. It’s a case of educating the public. But then, on the other side, there are so many roofers who don’t realise that they need to comply with building regulations, so we’re up against that as well. In our area we have a good reputation, so people look to us for advice even if we don’t carry out the work for them. We offer free advice to anyone who needs it. Sometimes I can have an entire day of appointments talking to property owners who have had roofing work completed by other contractors, and they just need some advice. Not every appointment leads to a sale, but it’s not all about that for me.
You’ve won the Which Trusted Trader award recently. How did that come about?
A local lady paid £8,000 for roofing work and was completely ripped off. She had leaks in her roof, broken slates and lots of other issues and she came to me for some advice on what to do. I got in contact with one of our NFRC suppliers and another local supplier who kindly donated materials, and we went and did the repair work free of charge. She wanted to pay us but I refused to take it, so she very kindly offered to donate £500 to our charity of our choice. My grandad was a Paratrooper, so I recommended donating to the Parachute Regiment. They got in touch with us to say thank you, and it ended up being a really lovely story, and we were awarded Which Trusted Trader of the Month.
Ok, we’re moving on to Building Safety Regulations now. Do you have a plan in place for when the Mandatory Technical Competency requirements come in, and for managing updates to regulations e.g. competency requirements for high-risk buildings?
As an employer I have a plan in place to make sure my employees and apprentices are constantly evolving their skills and qualifications.I stay informed about specific requirements and guidelines, usually from NFRC bulletins and my NFRC network. I identify gaps and provide necessary training and support to meet the requirements. I regularly assess their competency against the latest requirements and guidelines, e.g. for working on high-risk buildings. None of my team work on any projects without the necessary qualifications and training to safely carry out those works.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the roofing industry?
My advice to someone starting out in the roofing industry would be to prioritise your learning and gaining practical experience. Take care on the roofs. I always tell my apprentices that there are no respawns in real life. Get yourself a good firm that will aid your learning and look after yourself and your skin by wearing sun cream. That’s the best advice I could give. If you’re looking for a way to prove your competency to your clients and have the support of a network behind you, becoming a CPS registered contractor and joining the NFRC is the way to go. It saves the hassle of having to go through a third party to get planning, which can be a nightmare sometimes. Now, we can offer it under one roof. No pun intended…
