February 2024

NFRC Roofing Talk
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES IN
THE YEAR AHEAD
James Talman (pictured), CEO of NFRC, discusses the roofing trade association’s priorities
and ambitions over the next twelve months.
2024 will be a year of change and
transformation to the landscape in which
the roofing industry operates. The
Construction Products Association (CPA) predicts
limited recovery to construction output this year,
but it will still be all change on regulation,
competency, and perhaps much more after the
promised general election.
NFRC’s goals are thus angled to support
Members through these challenges, whilst
maintaining a mission to proactively take on
long-term and future issues for the industry.
Skills and labour
Ongoing feedback from Members and data from
our quarterly State of the Roofing Industry survey
supports that labour will remain a challenge into
2024. Many will need to take action to keep their
entitlement to a CSCS card once ‘Grandfather
Rights’ have ended, and the NFRC Assessment
Service is one of the providers that can deliver
site-based assessment to make sure experienced
operatives can carry on as usual.
We are also expanding our efforts to provide
information to young people, parents and career
changers on the opportunities available within
the roofing industry via the NFRC Careers
Service, and 2024 will see us embark on
actioning the first parts of a comprehensive Skills
Strategy in response to industry needs. This will
fit into wider initiatives such as working with
NHBC and the HBF to develop on-site roofing
masterclasses, which were valuably influenced
by learnings from the RoofCERT programme on
more common gaps in knowledge for operatives.
Poor payment practices
The risk of having to cease trading will be a
concern for some businesses in the coming
months as economic conditions look
unlikely to improve at any great speed.
Late payments and retentions are an
unacceptable contributing factor to
many insolvencies, and we will be
continuing our campaign on the importance
of ending cash retentions in 2024. There are
several strands to this topic and a priority is to
end abuse of the current process. Access to cash
is crucial to businesses’ investment in skills,
technology, and their survival.
Solar surge
Sustainability, and translating green ambitions
into practical measures to support the roofing
industry, will continue to be in focus. For
example, NFRC has participated in the
Government's review of substantially increasing
the use of solar PV, of which obviously roofing has
a key role to play. It is vital that solar design and
installation on rooftops is done by individuals
with the relevant roofing expertise.
Competence counts
However, the biggest change in construction,
perhaps for generations, is now upon us.
Building safety, and its associated
requirements regarding competency, will have
fundamental impacts on how we build from
now on. The onus to get this done starts at the
top, with competency requirements for principal
designers and contractors enacted and the
register of building control professionals live from
the 1st April 2024. Initiatives such as the Code
for Construction Product Information and
widescale efforts to get operatives assessed for
their levels of competency are key actions this
year. The industry needs to take small, regular
steps to higher standards. NFRC is actively
working with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR)
and relevant stakeholders in setting
relevant competency standards.
Our NFRC Competent Person Scheme
(CPS) business, which now sits under
the responsibility of the BSR, has a key
role to play in certifying compliance and
introducing mandated individual competencies.
Contractors who are registered with CPS are
increasingly seeing the benefit of their third-party
accreditation which is an essential requirement in
the regulated market. We are also continuing to roll
out inspections of NFRC Trade Members through
our CPS business, providing third-party
independence and impartiality.
In addition to these areas of work, NFRC as a trade
association will always be there to help and advise
our Members with technical guidance, finding the
right people for your business, and much more. We
will continue to encourage community,
cooperation, and the celebration of excellence
through our regions, with the UK Roofing Awards,
skills competitions – including this year’s
international championship in Switzerland – and
the many opportunities to get more involved in the
work of your trade association.
Hence, while 2024 may present challenges, a
wealth of opportunities certainly remain to take
your business and the industry in the right
direction. Those who commit to developing the
skills and competency of their workforce and to
following the emerging regulatory framework,
should reap the rewards. If you need guidance to
do so, you know where we are.
Contact NFRC
020 7638 7663
www.nfrc.co.uk
NFRC
16 TC FEBRUARY 2024