Helping ‘Build the Future’ This National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week 2022

With the government’s commitment to building back better and greener, the current outlook for the construction industry is optimistic. And a great time for building apprentices too, with significant investments in infrastructure, skills, and innovation.

At BMI, we’re committed to the teaching, skills development, and training of roofing professionals. Here’s how we’re supporting apprentices this National Apprenticeship Week…

National Apprenticeships Week: A Celebration of Apprentices

Apprenticeships are needed now more than ever, with Covid-19 disrupting many industries including construction and manufacturing. Apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge they need for their career, and support businesses with growing a workforce that is equipped with the skills and knowledge they need.

It takes time to build up their skills, but that’s where we can support you, and your apprentices…

BMI’s Tailored Support for Apprentices, Mentors and Colleges

Throughout the year we work with colleges and training centres to offer personalised support with their apprenticeship programs, and this week sees Mat Woodyatt, Technical Training Manager at The BMI Academy, tour across the UK to meet with young apprentices and college tutors to share best practice advice, explain standards, showcase virtual reality training technology and  discuss new products.

Mat is visiting colleges from Devon to Leeds and Scotland, as well as to education provider Juniper Training. The aim of this tour is to provide roofing apprentices and college tutors with hands-on, tailored support, advice, and product presentations.

Throughout the week Mat will cover a variety of CPD topics, from the British Standards for Roofing to single lap tile insulation as well as the ins and outs of the whole BMI pitched and flat roofing range.

Here’s what Mat has to say about the tour:

“Working closely with colleges who are delivering apprenticeship training is important in the current climate where skills shortages are at the forefront of challenges the industry is facing. BMI places huge value on empowering apprentices with the knowledge, support, and training opportunities needed to develop the skills to become motivated and career driven  roofers.

 “As the future of the industry relies heavily on developing these skills, as well as the role of mentorships, I’m looking forward to this year’s college tour during National Apprenticeship Week to speak with apprentices and college tutors to learn first-hand what support BMI can provide to the roofers of the future.”

We’ll be posting updates on Mat’s tour, including discussions with students and college tutors so stay tuned throughout the week for insights from the road.

Helping the Industry Develop with BMI Academy

We’re seeing a huge change in materials and technologies, establishing new and better ways of delivering quality solutions. Elsewhere, pioneering techniques such as prefabrication and modular construction are accelerating construction. Alongside this, there’s a growing concern for our planet, which is driving more sustainable approaches to the built environment.

Digitisation is also impacting everything from design, decision making and project management. Everything is being done to ensure lasting quality and more efficient ways of working, and no aspect of the industry is immune from these changes – especially in roofing.

The need for better and safer working practices is driving change in product development, such as BMI Sealoflex, a solvent free waterproofing system. These new ways of working and new products mean the need for ongoing training is crucial – BMI provides in-depth training and support from project specification right through to planning and build to make sure new products are installed right first time.

As well as supporting apprentices and their colleges, we are committed to supporting the roofing industry by providing hands-on training at our in-house facility, BMI Academy. At our academy we offer training to roofers at all stages of their career, as well as to specifiers, main contractors, developers, and merchants.

The aim of the academy is to improve industry standards, understanding, and knowledge of the use of new technologies and techniques through a mix of theory and practical courses.