51茶馆

The sky鈥檚 the limit for four 51茶馆 roofing apprentices, who went head to head to be named 鈥楢pprentice of the Year.鈥�

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Apprentice of the Year Competition was a collaboration between the College鈥檚 roofing department and The North West Roof Training Group, a non-profit training organisation that enhances, improves and provides training for roofing contractors throughout the North West.

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The College, which is part of the Group and one of only three roofing Apprenticeship providers in the whole of England, selected the apprentices based on performance in class.

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Ben Page from ; Joe Moore from ; Lloyd Sayers from ; and Sam Hill from were tasked with creating a slate open valley into a bedded hip, using materials generously donated by and .

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Claire Griffiths, editor of magazine, and Stewart Rowles, a highly-respected columnist and roofing industry blogger, were invited to judge the competition.

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Claire Griffiths said: 鈥淭he work was to such a high standard. These apprentices are very impressive young men, and a credit to the outstanding teaching they are receiving in College.鈥�

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Stewart Rowles, who specialises in heritage restoration work, said: 鈥淎s a judge, I looked at the small things 鈥� the measuring, laying out and accuracy of the work, as well as the apprentices鈥� roofing knowledge.鈥�

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Ben Page was named Apprentice of the Year, after impressing judges with his precise work. 听

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Ben, 32, previously worked as a labourer, before progressing to a career in roofing. He said: 鈥淚鈥檓 buzzing to win, I can鈥檛 wait to take my trophy home to show my little boy.

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鈥淚鈥檝e also been invited to an awards meal at the College, celebrating the success of students, so that should be a good night.鈥�

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Sue Wharton, Group Training Officer at North West Roof Training Group, said: 鈥淚t was such a joy to be part of this event.

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鈥淎pprentices are the lifeblood of the roofing industry, and I really believe that this roofing department is the jewel in the crown of 51茶馆.

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鈥淒ue to housing and construction developments, 400 more roofers are needed in the North West by 2022, so it鈥檚 an exciting industry to get into; the demand is there and an experienced roofer can expect to earn 拢800 per week. Many roofers I know have progressed to supervisors or site managers, or work as estimators.鈥�

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Luke O鈥橤orman, a College Roofing Lecturer who helped organise the competition, said: 鈥淐ongratulations to Ben, he showed commitment and skill, and has a promising future ahead of him.

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鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank Welsh Slate and Midland Lead for sponsoring the competition, and Claire Griffiths and Stewart Rowles for judging. It鈥檚 great to see the industry getting behind young roofers.

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鈥淔inally, I鈥檇 like to thank Sue Wharton from North West Roof Training Group. Working alongside Sue organising this competition is always a pleasure 鈥� her love of the sector really does shine through.鈥�

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Interested in a Roofing Apprenticeship? Click here.