Apprentice of the Year: A look back with Joe Potts

Across almost every sector, apprenticeships have an important role to play. Last year, more than 200,000 people embarked on an apprenticeship, and that figure shows no signs of slowing with more funding pledged by the government over the coming year to improve opportunities and make it easier for businesses to create apprenticeships.

Businesses across the roofing sector are more than familiar with the importance of apprenticeships. Not only are they attracting new talent to the industry, they’re also providing an opportunity for businesses to prepare for the future by ensuring the next generation of roofers have the skills they need.

Through our annual BMI Apprentice of the Year competition, we’ve seen the benefits of apprenticeships first-hand. That’s how we know that behind every apprenticeship is a story of growth and ambition - from individuals taking on new challenges and learning new skills, through to employers strengthening their businesses.

Ahead of this year’s competition, we caught up with Joe Potts who was Highly Commended at the 2023 competition in the Flat Roofing category to find out more about his journey and what the future holds for him.

Embarking on a career in roofing
When it comes to getting started in a career, everybody’s route is different – and it’s exactly the same story with roofing. As a practical career choice, apprenticeships are becoming increasingly common across the roofing industry, marrying up businesses’ need for skilled workers with a growing appetite amongst young people to learn on the job.

Joe told us: “I didn’t really know what I wanted out of a career when I was younger, apart from not wanting to work in an office. I knew an apprenticeship would be much more hands on, which is exactly what I was looking for, so when the opportunity came up, I just followed it.

“When I started my apprenticeship with Complete Roofing Systems, I spent the first couple of weeks shadowing, then started my college course so I was learning the practical stuff on site, backed up by the structure of the course.”

Balancing work life with college
Every roofing apprentice will benefit from two core types of learning – on site learning with other professionals, and a college course that brings together practical work and theory. Depending on the college course, this could be structured weekly college days, or blocks of a couple of weeks at a time.

For Joe, the two different styles of learning were the perfect combination, helping him to advance his understanding of the trade while gaining hands-on advice from the CRS team.

“When I was on site, I was learning how to conduct myself, how to get the housekeeping parts of the job right, and generally getting into good habits. College was much more about the theory and working with different types of systems, so there was a really good balance between the two.

“Whenever I was on a job, I had consistent support from the team and always found it beneficial to be shown the way by somebody more experienced.”

With a successful roofing apprenticeship being influenced by so many people – from employers and their teams through to college lecturers and the apprentices themselves – it’s important for all these efforts to be celebrated.

Our annual BMI Apprentice of the Year competition was created to do just that. As well as providing a platform for roofing apprentices to build new horizons by showcasing their skills and learning from industry professionals, the competition also celebrates the people who have supported their journey.

Celebrating achievements at Apprentice of the Year competition
“I really enjoyed taking part in the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023 and had a great time over the two days.

“One of the standout moments for me was meeting a lot of the experts from high up in our industry. I got to talk to all of them during the event and they gave me some good advice on how to progress in roofing and the importance of a good attitude to work. It was really inspirational to hear how they’d got to where they are as well.”

After two days of competition, Joe impressed the judges so much that he earned the Highly Commended award, recognising the level of skill he had demonstrated throughout each task and the enthusiasm he had shown for the sector.

“I was really surprised to win the Highly Commended award – I genuinely didn’t think I’d get it. I was at the competition with Lewis Hubbe from CRS too, so it was good fun taking part with him and taking an award home for the team.”

A day in the life of a roofer
Having completed his apprenticeship in late-2023, Joe continues to work with CRS, putting into practice his learning to undertake a variety of roofing projects.

“I’ve recently finished up a felting job on a 2,000m roof on a local bus station, and the next job is another 2,000m roof on a commercial building. It’s just me and one other member of the team on this job, so it’s great to have the responsibility to see the project through.

“I really enjoy being on the tools because it means that every day is different and you never approach the day with the same problem. There are always different details to consider to make sure the job goes smoothly.”

As every roofer knows, no two roofs are the same, and each will have their own unique challenges. That’s where Joe has found his passion for roofing – and where he looks to hone his skills to secure a strong career in the sector.

“My plan from here is to continue to up my game and become the best roofer I can be. I want to stay on the tools for as long as I can and continue to build my knowledge and skills.”

Since completing his apprenticeship last year, Joe has continued to push his development by taking on manufacturer-approved courses, elevating his own capability and that of his team.