By The Coffee Shops®.  

Learn how this regional award gives contractors an opportunity to take the national stage for the U.K. Roofing Awards. 

Every year, the Scottish Roofing Awards gives National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Scottish Members an opportunity to showcase their skill and have their craftsmanship recognised by their peers! As Scott Miller, chairman of NFRC Scotland, described it, “Making an entry for an award alone gives a chance for a contractor to pause and look back at a project... It allows recognition for the skills, craftsmanship and teamwork within their organisation to make a job excellent.” 

And while getting one of these awards is already a huge accomplishment, many of the Scottish Roofing Award recipients haven’t stopped there! Winning a Scottish Roofing Award is an automatic qualification for entry into the U.K. Roofing Awards and many Scottish tradespeople have found success on that national stage!  

For example, in 2024, Marley Contract Services (top of header image) won back-to-back at the Scottish and U.K. awards in the solar category for a project called Social Housing in North Ayrshire. Then in 2026, Aim Developments Ltd (middle of header image) won at both award ceremonies for their single-ply project Robin House. That same year, Premier Specialist Contractors (bottom of header image) took home wins at both award ceremonies for leadwork done on the Kings Theatre project.   

These are just a few examples of how Scottish contractors are showcasing incredible talent and skill on both the regional and national levels! Scott explained, “We have an incredible response to the Scottish Roofing Awards every year but knowing that our members’ projects then go on to be victorious on a greater scale at national level is really something special, and a very big incentive to put your entry forward for the Scottish Awards.” 

Learn more about the Scottish Roofing Awards and how contractors can put their projects forward for recognition.

By Emma Peterson. 

Why making technical and leadership career pathways visible benefits both workers and employers. 

With rising building demands, recruitment and retention of talented and skilled individuals is more important than ever in the roofing trade. And one of the best ways to bring in new blood and keep the people you already have is by ensuring that roofing career paths are clear, realistic and accessible.  

What do we mean by that? Many people don’t realise that the roofing industry is a multi-billion pound sector with a wide variety of career options. And a big part of why people don’t know about the opportunity in this trade is because a career in roofing doesn’t follow the same corporate ladder we’re taught about in school. 

Instead of jumping into an office as a junior associate, a roofing career often starts with an apprenticeship. This apprenticeship period is all about helping newcomers to the field develop key skills and experience. As National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) describes, “At this stage, quality, reliability and technique become key... As trainees gain hands-on experience and build foundational skills [in their apprenticeships], they move into qualified roles performing roofing work independently.” 

From there, when peers in the corporate world may be looking at jumping into a senior associate position, roofers get a choice:  

1. Follow a technical/compliance track that sees them specialise in a specific aspect of roofing, becoming a master of that part of the trade. 
2. Jump into a management and leadership positions where they supervise teams, plan projects, manage businesses and interact with clients.  

And once you start on either of these tracks, the sky is truly the limit. As a roofing company, making sure that these pathways to progression are clear and employees are supported as they try to pursue different career goals is key. As NFRC puts it, “When staff see a realistic, supported path forward, they’re more likely to stay and grow within the business... This not only benefits the individual but also the employer as it attracts new talent and aids retention.” 

How do you make the ladder clear to your employees, both current and potential? One of the best things employers can do is invest in internal programs like coaching and performance reviews that give employees touchpoints to help them see how their day-to-day work is building their long-term career.  

Want to learn more about building a clear roadmap to a roofing career at your company? NFRC’s team is always ready to answer questions and offer further support!

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

SpeedFlash® is a flashing system designed to simplify solar photovoltaic installations on slate roofs.

One of the greatest opportunities created by the launch of RoofersCoffeeShop® U.K. has been discovering innovative products developed specifically for the British roofing market. While roofing professionals around the world share many of the same challenges, the materials, installation practices and architectural traditions of each region inspire unique solutions. The U.K. roofing industry is filled with manufacturers and inventors who understand those differences and are finding smarter ways to protect the roof while helping contractors work more efficiently. 

During the 2026 NFRC U.K. Roofing Awards, our team had the pleasure of meeting the people behind Genius Roof Solutions. The awards offered an incredible look at the craftsmanship and technical knowledge found throughout the U.K., but our conversation with the Genius team stayed with us. They are roofers developing practical solutions for roofers, and that experience is clearly reflected in their products. 

One product that immediately caught our attention was SpeedFlash®, a flashing system designed to simplify solar photovoltaic installations on slate roofs. As demand for renewable energy continues to grow, roofing and solar professionals must find ways to add new technology without compromising the performance or appearance of existing roofs. That is especially important with slate, where incorrect cutting, drilling or loading can lead to cracked slates, water ingress and costly call-backs. 

SpeedFlash provides a no-drill-through-slate installation method that helps preserve the integrity of the roof. Unlike the company’s original SolarFlash® system, SpeedFlash does not require installers to remove the slates. The bracket is secured to the rafter while the flashing system maintains weather protection around the penetration point. According to Genius Roof Solutions, the approach reduces the amount of slate cutting required and can make retrofit installations significantly faster. 

That combination of speed and roof protection is increasingly important as more property owners consider solar for homes and buildings with traditional slate roofs. Slate is one of the U.K.’s most recognisable and enduring roofing materials, but it can present challenges for solar installers who do not have extensive roofing experience. A purpose-designed solution helps bridge the gap between the solar and roofing trades while supporting better installation practices. 

The innovation has already earned significant industry recognition. SpeedFlash received the Innovation Award at the 2025 Solar & Storage Live Awards, where Genius Roof Solutions was selected from a strong group of companies representing solar technology and energy innovation. It was also named Most Innovative Product at the 2024 Pitched Roofing Awards, while company founder and inventor Jimmy Hall received the Outstanding Contribution to the Roofing Industry award. 

What makes the Genius Roof Solutions story especially compelling is the experience behind the product. SpeedFlash grew from Jimmy’s decades of roofing knowledge and his determination to solve a real installation problem. Rather than asking roofers to adapt a generic product to a slate roof, the company started with the roof itself and developed a solution around maintaining its integrity. That contractor-led approach is exactly the type of innovation we love discovering and sharing. 

It is important for installers to follow the company’s technical guidance and confirm compatibility for each roof. SpeedFlash is designed primarily for slates measuring 18 inches and above, although it may be used with some 16-inch slates when the bracket and working area are suitable. It is compatible with modern composite slates installed with a three-inch headlap, but Genius Roof Solutions recommends its SolarFlash system for composite slates configured with a four-inch headlap. 

Launching RoofersCoffeeShop U.K. has opened the door to new relationships, regional expertise and products that deserve greater visibility. Genius Roof Solutions and SpeedFlash are excellent examples of what we hope to bring to our readers: practical innovation rooted in roofing knowledge and designed to help contractors deliver quality work. 

We look forward to sharing many more discoveries as RoofersCoffeeShop U.K. continues to grow. By connecting contractors, manufacturers, associations and innovators, we can celebrate the people and products shaping the future of roofing across the U.K. and beyond. 

By The Coffee Shops™. 

Five years after the Future (P)roof report, extreme heat is reinforcing the need to design, refurbish and maintain roofs for a changing climate. 

In 2021, National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) commissioned a report, “Future (P)roof: Building resilience of roofing technologies in a changing climate,” to be made on the climate risks and built environment adaptions that could be made to address them. The report, which was conducted by the University of Southampton, identified overheating and flooding as two of the greatest climate-related risks facing the built environment. Now, five years later, the extreme temperatures and other climate impacts experienced across the United Kingdom have made the report’s focus on adaptation increasingly relevant.  

Upon reflection on the report, NFRC reemphasized their belief that “climate resilience should progressively become embedded within normal building and roof design practice.” What does this look like in action? For one, roofing professionals should consider how a system will perform throughout its service life rather than relying solely on historical weather records. This includes evaluating overheating risks in roof-level accommodation and lightweight construction, planning drainage for future rainfall and establishing clear inspection and maintenance requirements. 

Further, we should change our perspective to think beyond each building’s energy efficiency and carbon reduction and think about how roofs can support broader climate goals. For example, cool and reflective surfaces can reduce solar heat gain, while green and blue systems can help manage rainfall. Roof space may also support biodiversity, urban cooling and renewable energy generation when appropriate for the building. 

It is all important to acknowledge the necessity of refurbishments and updates in a world of changing weather patterns. Even what is considered a highly insulated building a few years ago may overheat in today's rising temperatures and a building that is up to code for drainage or waterproofing might be outdated in a few years.  

Overall, as climate conditions continue to change, resilience is no longer just an optional benefit. It is becoming a key part of good design and asset management. 

Learn more about how climate-resilient roof design can help buildings respond to overheating, intense rainfall and changing weather patterns by reading the full report.

Earlybird tickets available now.

Having enjoyed over two decades of success, the UK Roofing Awards are returning in 2027 and promise an even bigger and better show, with A-lister, multi-talented performer, Jason Manford confirmed as the special guest host.

NFRC is giving guests the chance to secure their tickets in advance at a special early bird rate. The event has attracted tens of thousands of roofing professionals and enthusiasts over the past twenty-one years and continues to grow, with guests travelling from as far as the United States to enjoy the celebrations.

A limited number of early bird ticket rates (holding 2026 prices) are available to purchase on a first come, first served basis. These limited tickets are available until 30 October or until sold out, at which point the standard 2027 ticket prices will kick in. NFRC encourages anyone wishing to attend to book their place/s in advance to take advantage of the discounted ticket rates to avoid disappointment. Likewise, there are some great sponsorship deals currently available to companies wanting to get on board early. Entries for the awards will open in the final quarter of 2026.

The UK Roofing Awards 2027 will take place on 16 April 2027 at the InterContinental-The O2, London.

Individual tickets are available to purchase, and tables of ten enjoy a further discounted price.

Sponsorship packages are still available for a range of award categories. To find out more, download the 2027 brochure from our website or contact Steve Laurence.

So far, confirmed sponsors for 2027 include:

• Headline: Radmat Building Products Ltd
• Receptions and single ply: Recticel Insulation UK Ltd
• Green roofing: Bauder Ltd
• Reinforced bitumen membrane: Unilin Insulation Ltd
• Project of the year and solar roofing: SIG Roofing
• Rainscreen façade: Kingspan Insulation Ltd
• Roof slating: CUPA PIZARRAS
• Roof tiling: Marley Ltd
• Individual health & safety award: ROCKWOOL UK

To take advantage of early bird tickets, please purchase before 5pm Friday 30 October. Limited quantity available.

By Emma Peterson. 

This initiative provides roofing companies with practical tools to develop employees, strengthen leadership and improve workforce retention. 

Across the United Kingdom, there is one common industry challenge top of mind for roofing tradespeople – the skill shortage. Contractors are struggling to bring in new talent and develop the skilled crews needed to meet modern construction demands. In response to this, National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has developed a new initiative, Climbing the Ladder, entirely focused on building stronger teams and leaders. To learn more about the initiative, Megan Ellsworth invited Ruth Scarrott, NFRC’s head of careers, onto an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Ruth began the conversation with an explanation of the factors causing the skill shortage and workforce issues in the U.K. She pointed to two main challenges. One was time, “Most of our contractor members are what we call SMEs or small-medium-sized enterprises, usually with an employee base of about 20 people and everyone is busy, they don’t have time for anything beyond the day-to-day operations.” The other challenge is the perception of the roofing trade. As Ruth put it, “There are so many career options for young people and the public perception is why would you choose roofing.”  

What the Climbing the Ladder program aims to do is help roofers overcome these two challenges by integrating professional development into their business models. Ruth explained, “Climbing the Ladder was designed to help roofers create staff development programs. It walks you through what that process looks like and holds your hand through the whole thing with a clear step-by-step to-do list.” 

By building professional development and career growth opportunities in roofing companies, it helps these smaller businesses develop skilled crews and helps change the public perception of the roofing trade.  

Want to learn more about the Climbing the Ladder program? Read more on NFRC’s website, Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording! 

New code scheme ties contractor compensation to project progress. 

NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the government’s plans to tackle rogue traders and strengthen consumer protection in the home improvement sector, while calling for the new measures to be robust, proportionate and straightforward for both homeowners and reputable contractors. 

The government has today announced a new Approved Code Scheme for home improvement businesses, alongside a new payment system designed to protect homeowners’ money by linking payments to key project milestones. 

NFRC supports the direction of travel. Our members are already required to meet high standards of competence, professionalism, customer service and compliance as conditions of membership, and have long been working to distinguish reputable roofing contractors from the rogue traders that continue to blight the industry. 

NFRC Policy and External Affairs Manager Gray Gibson said, “We welcome the government’s focus on tackling rogue traders. Reputable roofing contractors have been fighting this problem for years, because rogue operators not only put consumers at risk but also undercut businesses that invest in doing things properly. 

“The requirements for the new approved code must be meaningful enough to distinguish professional businesses from those simply looking for another badge to put on their website. They should be comparable in substance to the standards NFRC expects of its members. 

“At the same time, we must not create another layer of complexity for homeowners or contractors to navigate. The home improvement market is already difficult for consumers to understand, and adding another code risks creating more confusion rather than greater confidence. The Government must ensure the new code is clear and recognisable. 

"It is also worth asking what resources the Ombudsman will be allocated for managing and monitoring the behaviour of the companies that sign up to this approved code. NFRC Competent Person Scheme uses industry expertise to actively monitor and enforce standards across its registered contractor base. Without active enforcement and oversight, the approved code risks being ineffective." 

NFRC also supports the principle of linking payments to project milestones, but stresses that the system must protect contractors as well as consumers. 

“A payment system that gives homeowners confidence that their money is protected is a positive development, but it must not place an unreasonable administrative or financial burden on contractors who are simply trying to get paid fairly for work they have completed," said Gray. 

“The system must support fair payment rather than undermining progress made by the Commercial Payments Bill currently progressing through Parliament, particularly on retentions. Any additional costs of Trusted Payments must be proportionate and should not simply become another cost SME contractors become expected to absorb.” 

NFRC believes consumer behaviour will also be critical to making the reforms work. 

According to an NFRC spokesperson, “consumers have an important role to play too. A reputable contractor that employs competent people, invests in training, maintains appropriate insurance, complies with regulations and stands behind its work will inevitably have higher costs than someone who does not. 

“Homeowners need to recognise that the cheapest quote is not always the best value. If the approved code is to have a meaningful impact, it must help consumers understand the difference between a properly qualified and compliant contractor and someone offering a cheap price.” 

NFRC says achieving widespread recognition of the new scheme will require sustained Government support and a long-term change in consumer behaviour. 

The spkesperson continued, “an approved code will only work if consumers recognise it, understand what it means and actively use it when choosing a contractor. That will require serious investment, promotion and time. It cannot be assumed that creating a new scheme will change the market overnight." 

NFRC hopes that these new developments will support, rather than replace, work that government departments are already undertaking to elevate the quality of contractors across the UK.

The extreme temperatures experienced across the UK during 2026 provide a timely reminder that buildings designed or refurbished today will need to perform in a very different climate over their service life.

As the UK experiences increasingly extreme summer temperatures, NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) is calling for climate resilience to become a standard consideration in the design, refurbishment and maintenance of roofs.

NFRC has published Future (P)roof: Five Years On – The Importance of Climate-Resilient Roofs as the UK Swelters, revisiting research originally commissioned by the NFRC Charitable Trust and undertaken by the University of Southampton in 2021.

The original Future (P)roof research examined how the roof space could help the built environment adapt to a changing climate, identifying overheating and flooding as two of the greatest climate-related risks facing UK buildings.

Five years on, the findings are increasingly relevant. The extreme temperatures experienced across the UK during 2026 provide a timely reminder that buildings designed or refurbished today will need to perform in a very different climate over their service life.

Climate adaptation, especially of existing building stock, must sit alongside efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Improving energy efficiency remains essential, but a building can be highly energy efficient and still be vulnerable to overheating, extreme rainfall and other future climate risks.

Gary Walpole, NFRC technical safety, health and environment officer, and author of the report, said, “The climate that roofs need to perform in is changing. A roof installed or significantly refurbished today could still be in place in the 2050s, so relying solely on historical weather conditions when designing for its service life is no longer enough.

“Climate resilience does not mean that every building needs an expensive or innovative roofing system. Good design, effective drainage, appropriate ventilation, inspection and maintenance remain fundamental. But we need to take a longer-term view of how roofs will perform and make better use of the opportunities that roof space provides.”

Duncan is a strong advocate for developing the roofing industry, supporting contractor training and encouraging new talent into the sector.

Commercial Director at SIG Roofing, Duncan Winter, has been elected as chair of NFRC's Roofing Suppliers Group Committee. The announcement was made at a recent NFRC Board meeting, after committee members were invited to vote on the position of Chair and Vice Chair. Duncan, elected as Chair of the Committee, will be supported by Stuart Nicholson, Managing Director of Marley Ltd, who was elected as Vice Chair.

These appointments will be formalised in the Terms of Reference for the next RSG Committee Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 15 September at NFRC’s offices in Central London.

As the Commercial Director at SIG Roofing, Duncan brings more than 20 years of experience across the UK roofing industry. His career began as a roofer, giving him first-hand practical knowledge of the trade before progressing into contractor training, sales, commercial leadership and business management. This hands-on background has helped shape his customer-focused and commercially driven approach.

The purpose of the NFRC Roofing Suppliers Group (RSG) is to provide strategic input and advice to the NFRC Board regarding the manufacture, distribution and supply of roofing products and materials. Members are derived from all roofing disciplines, and the Chair of the Committee holds a position on the Board of NFRC. The Committee meets quarterly and focuses on a wide range of industry issues, including but not limited to:

• Building safety legislation
• Sustainability
• Product regulation, testing, safety and quality
• Support for installer competency and skills

Before joining the SIG Roofing leadership team, Duncan spent many years with Flex-R, a specialist flat roofing business. He played a key role in the company's growth, progressing through a variety of leadership positions and helping to expand the business significantly following its acquisition by SIG. Alongside Flex-R, he has also directed specialist businesses including SIG Design & Technology, SR Timber and Industrial Roofing, broadening his expertise across multiple construction sectors.

As commercial director, Duncan is responsible for driving product strategy, supplier partnerships and commercial performance across SIG Roofing. He is passionate about bringing innovative roofing solutions to market while ensuring customers have access to the products, technical support and training they need. His focus is on simplifying the customer offer, strengthening relationships with manufacturers and helping branches provide complete roofing solutions across pitched, flat, insulation, roofline and renewable technologies.

Duncan is also a strong advocate for developing the roofing industry, supporting contractor training and encouraging new talent into the sector. Through his involvement with industry organisations, including the NFRC Roofing Suppliers Group, he works collaboratively to help address industry challenges and promote best practice across the roofing supply chain.

These new pathways help address the common issue felt across the trades — that finding skilled people is one of their biggest challenges.

NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement of the intention to establish new technical education pathways for 14-year-olds in England, while calling for further detail on how the plans will be delivered on the ground.

Allowing students in Year 10 to combine core academic subjects with technical education, work experience and employer contact from September 2028, responds directly to NFRC Member concerns that students are not given equal opportunity to explore a career in the trades.

NFRC's own research underlines the scale of the challenge. The latest State of the UK Roofing Industry report (Winter 2026) found that 47% of roofing contractors said recruiting skilled labour was harder than a year earlier, and 58% said skilled labour shortages were limiting the amount of work their business could take on. Just 2% of contractors thought it was currently easy to attract new workers to the industry.

Ruth Scarrott, NFRC head of careers, said:

Anything that gets roofing and construction in front of young people earlier, and treats technical education as equal to the academic route, is a step in the right direction. Our Members continually tell us that finding skilled people is one of their biggest challenges.

We do need to see more detail on how this will work in practice. There's a real opportunity here to build on established programmes, like Local Skills Improvement Plans, rather than creating something parallel that competes for the same employers' time and attention. 

It's also vital that schools are supported to work with smaller, local construction firms, not just the large national employers who tend to have dedicated resource for this kind of engagement. Most of our members are SMEs, and they're often the ones best placed to offer a young person a genuine route into the trade in their own community. But a small contractor with a handful of staff can't always give the same time to school visits and work placements that a large employer can, so any new system needs to make it straightforward and low-burden for them to get involved.