September 2019

The Next Step
Above left: Matthew Ford wants to complete his Year Three modules and take his education as far as it can carry him. Right: Tony Thompson, Training Manager at Incommunities.
Messenger, his tutor at Leeds College of Building,
and Jay Webster, last year’s winner, encouraged
him to go in for it.
“Jay‘s doing his Level Three at the college and he
told us what to expect and how it was a lot to do
with business planning, not just putting on roofs.
We’re good friends now and talk quite often about
the roofing business,” Matthew recalled.
The competition was open to all roofing
apprentices who were enrolled with one of BMI’s
participating colleges or training groups, with the
finalists competing over two days that comprised
a series of presentations and assignments. These
examined every facet of running your own roofing
business – including business planning, technical
skills and presentation. In particular, each
apprentice had to make their own, five-minute
presentation to the judges at the end describing
their motivation and future objectives in roofing.
‘Hard work and sacrifice’
For Matthew, those ‘future objectives’ have yet to
be defined because, having completed his Year
Two course – six months ahead of schedule – he
now wants to complete his Year Three modules
and take his education as far as it can carry him.
His employer is also more than keen to assist. It
is a matter of policy says Training Manager Tony
Thompson. The policy of Incommunities is to train
its 1,000 strong workforce so they have all the
qualifications they need to reach the highest
ranks of the business.
“We celebrate success and this competition helps
us do just that. Apprenticeships require hard work
and sacrifice – they’re not highly paid – and it’s
right to reward that,” he explained.
“We know that university isn’t the right route for
everybody and apprenticeships can offer an
education that can take you right up to
management and degree level. This competition
raises the profile of apprentices and of roofing so
we’re very happy to take part.”
Incommunities is a large employer with 1,000
staff and manages 22,000 homes, mainly in
Bradford but also in Wakefield, Kirklees,
Rotherham and Sheffield. So, the opportunities it
can offer persuaded Matthew to change jobs. Up
until three years ago he worked with his father
Stephen in his roofing business but he wanted
qualifications, a steady job so he could get a
mortgage and better career prospects.
“I am ambitious and now, after winning the
competition, I can see that I could progress into
management, though that wouldn’t be roofing as
such but would be more like asset management,
being a project leader,” explained Matthew.
“Apprenticeships
require hard work and
sacrifice – they’re not
highly paid – and it’s
right to reward that”
“I would also like to look at wider roles in bodies
like the NFRC. I think entering the competition
means I’ve come out as a ‘well-rounded package’
with all the skills to run a business.”
Matthew also met Ceiran Peel-Price, another
former finalist, who now runs his own business –
a direction which Matthew is also considering.
“The competition definitely gives you the idea
that you could set up your own business and
Bradford would be ideal. You know that you could
make a difference and show how a roof should be
laid,” he concluded.
Whether Matthew decides to go down the
managerial route or strike out on his own, it is
plain to see that he is determined to make his
mark on this industry and that this will not be the
last time we hear of him.
Contact BMI National Training Centre
01285 863545
www.bmigroup.com/uk
@_Redland / @Icopal_UK
30 TC SEPTEMBER 2019