Academy shouts success from the rooftops

A national college for roofing will be launched in Nottingham thanks to a pioneering project between The Bulwell Academy and a roofing construction firm.

J Wright Roofing has just been successful in securing a £40,000 grant from the East Midlands NTI Catapulting Kids Further! programme funded by the East Midlands Development Agency.

This means that the company, on the Blenheim Industrial Estate in Bulwell, can now work towards developing a national roofing college at its premises and work with the academy to provide a vocational skills facility to young, school-aged students.

The college will also support the delivery of a BTEC qualification in construction, and host academy youngsters by providing work placements, industrial visits and supporting schools with careers, advice and guidance.

The project seeks to establish the first Diploma in Roofing in the East Midlands and support the purchase of equipment for the college, including computers, air conditioning, and four mobile roofing rigs to demonstrate roofing related skills and associated enterprise skills.

Alison Bingham, the academy’s director of business and enterprise says: “This is fantastic news for the company and for the students of Bulwell Academy who will benefit from the vocational learning provided by the experts at J Wright Roofing.

“The project will show other local employers the value of partnering with educators, particularly the Bulwell Academy’s vision of regeneration through education, and J Wright will be advocates of vocational and practical learning across its nationwide network of building contractors.”

J Wright Roofing works on projects such as heritage construction schemes, large scale public realm building projects and small-scale residential initiatives.

Jason Wright, who founded the company says: “By setting up this specialist roofing college to focus on training roofers, slaters, tillers and leadworkers, we will be able to ensure that the industry has youngsters with the relevant skills. This will enable practical and vocational skills in all young people, regardless of their background or specific learning needs. These skills will be drawn from the local community and we are delighted to be working with The Bulwell Academy as our key strategic partner in this project.”

The funding bid document states that there is currently no specialist roofing college in the UK, despite the fact that roofing work is a specialist area which is integral to the construction industry.