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March 2018

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Opinion<br />

ROOFING IS NOW A SAFE AND<br />

DESIRABLE CAREER CHOICE<br />

By Mark Hibberd, National Field Manager – Roofing at Sika<br />

If I was a school leaver considering my career<br />

options ahead of me, why would I choose to<br />

take a job in the roofing industry? At face<br />

value, it’s a decision that would see me spending<br />

the best part of my working life out in all<br />

weathers, doing a physically demanding role that<br />

can be dirty and unsafe.<br />

Most roofers when asked would probably not say<br />

they always aspired to be a roofer from a young<br />

age. Most roofers have fallen into the roofing<br />

industry by accident or default. So how can we<br />

encourage younger generations to embark on a<br />

career in roofing?<br />

Manufacturer training has improved significantly<br />

and is backed up by Trade Associations and<br />

national industry training boards to give each<br />

roofing operative a qualification, meaning<br />

recognition in the industry and the chance to<br />

progress however far they wish. Once an<br />

operative has a qualification and gains<br />

experience in the installation of different roofing<br />

systems, they become a prime target for<br />

manufacturers looking for Field Technicians to<br />

train in the use of their systems, products, and<br />

inspect installations to maintain high<br />

workmanship standards.<br />

Some may move into site<br />

supervision, contract management<br />

or chance their arm at starting up their<br />

own contracting organisation. Experienced<br />

installation operatives are much sought after – they<br />

do say you can’t teach experience.<br />

Working practices<br />

We can’t change the weather but we can change<br />

working practices. Health and safety protocols<br />

are at the forefront of any company’s strategy.<br />

Sites now have excellent welfare facilities,<br />

stringent PPE and place the emphasis on the<br />

safety of workers at all times. Products also have<br />

to meet or exceed strict guidelines, particularly<br />

when it comes to installation.<br />

“We can’t change<br />

the weather but<br />

we can change<br />

working practices”<br />

Left: Mark Hibberd, National Field Manager –<br />

Roofing at Sika<br />

Manufacturers, such as ourselves,<br />

are constantly reacting to<br />

feedback from operatives and<br />

changing installation techniques and<br />

products to mitigate the stress on the<br />

applicator. New products are designed to be far<br />

less demanding and cleaner to use than<br />

traditional methods.<br />

Spray technology has made major in-roads into<br />

most manufacturers’ portfolio of products which<br />

negates the need for site operatives to spread<br />

adhesives with rollers, brushes or squeegees and<br />

saving from future exo-skeletal problems. Selfadhered<br />

membranes are seen as a progressive<br />

way of installing single ply membranes for the<br />

same reasons, again with Sika leading the way.<br />

All this, combined, gives me such hope for the<br />

future of the industry.<br />

Long-term career opportunities<br />

The roofing industry is now safer, cleaner and<br />

less physically demanding than ever before and<br />

also offers more long-term career opportunities<br />

for young professionals than we’ve ever seen.<br />

This has helped draw more talented professionals<br />

into roofing, something we’re personally seeing<br />

through the Sika apprenticeships, industrial<br />

placements and internships. With more high<br />

quality roofing professionals using high quality<br />

products, the roofing industry will continue to<br />

deliver high quality roofing results for projects of<br />

all shapes and sizes up and down the country for<br />

many years to come.<br />

Contact Sika<br />

01707 394444<br />

gbr.sika.com<br />

@SikaLimited<br />

48 TC MARCH <strong>2018</strong>

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