This year, CUPA PIZARRAS doubled the number of colleges and training centres included in its college sponsorship scheme, offering support to an additional 160 roofing apprentices nationwide. Representative from six of the colleges will be visiting the company’s quarries over the coming months – the first of these trips took place at the beginning of June.
Now, the scheme expansion aims to improve the standards and level of workmanship within the UK roofing industry, through the provision of training and education.
The scheme provides roofing apprentices with the opportunity to learn about the production and installation of natural slate through in-house CPD presentations. It also offers valuable practical time using CUPA PIZARRAS’ slate to help hone in their skills.
Students from the colleges within the scheme are also provided with a selection of branded merchandise as well as CUPA PIZARRAS resources including product literature and fixing guides. Furthermore, a personalised slate trophy will be offered to the best or most improved slate roofer across the scheme for the academic year.
The colleges added to the scheme this year included Fife College, Eastern Region Training Group, Roof Train UK Ltd., CITB Northern Ireland, Construction College Midlands, and South Lanarkshire College.
The diminishing effects of the Coronavirus pandemic has also paved the way to reinstate visits to the CUPA PIZARRAS quarries as part of the sponsorship scheme. CUPA PIZARRAS will provide a trip per college to travel to northern Spain to visit its headquarters, quarries and processing plants. The first of these trips took place at the beginning of June and more are scheduled to follow throughout the summer months.
“This is an excellent programme and a great opportunity for our students,” said Ross Hepburn, lecturer at South Lanarkshire. “With this support, they are able to learn new roofing techniques and use market leading materials that really contribute to their overall development. It’s the best sponsorship programme currently being run within the industry.”
Simon Dixon, technical officer at the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NRFC), added: “CUPA PIZARRAS’ increased support ensures even more roofing apprentices across the UK will benefit from training and education to enhance their skills. With regards to the rising costs of materials, CUPA PIZARRAS’ commitment to training with slates in the UK is astounding.”
>>Read more about CUPA PIZARRAS here.
