Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 October 2025
Letter from National Federation of Roofing Contractors relating to the evidence session on 16 September, 15 October 2025
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Small business strategy
Summary
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) follows up on evidence given by member Josh Clarke on 16 September regarding construction apprenticeship access. The letter highlights that the lack of accessible roofing apprenticeship training routes is a widespread UK problem affecting SME recruitment, with significant regional gaps in Level 2 provision and calls for expanded access and alternative on-site training models.
Key findings
- Over 60% of NFRC members cite recruitment as one of their greatest challenges, with training new entrants identified as a key barrier
- Apprentices in Eastbourne must travel to Leytonstone, London for Level 2 Roofing Apprenticeship; Wales has no provision at all and other regions face similar gaps
- NFRC's heatmap analysis shows significant mismatch between where roofing apprenticeships are offered (red dots) and where member businesses are concentrated geographically
- Some listed providers, such as Stoke-on-Trent, are not yet operational, further limiting access
- NFRC calls for expanded regional access to Level 2 apprenticeships and stronger emphasis on on-site training to complement college-based provision
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), Josh Clarke (NFRC member, SME business owner), Liam Byrne (Business and Trade Committee Chair), Gray Gibson (NFRC Policy Officer), Business and Trade Committee
Notable line
“Without action, these barriers will continue to exacerbate the construction skills crisis and hinder the ability of SMEs to recruit and train the next generation of skilled roofers to meet the government's …”
Key Quotes
“Recruitment is consistently one of the greatest challenges facing our members: over 60% cited it in our Spring State of the Industry Report.”
“… apprentices in Eastbourne must travel to Leytonstone, London, to access the Level 2 Roofing Apprenticeship in slating and tiling, the standard qualification for the majority of roofing works.”
“… there is currently no provision at all in Wales, and other regions face similar gaps.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗