Filling the skills gap: Bauder supports roofing and cladding skills bootcamp for London residents

The UK construction sector is facing a major skills gap, with more than 140,000 vacancies slowing vital housing and infrastructure work. Demand for skilled trades, like roofing, continues to outpace supply, driving the need for new talent.

In an effort to help address this skills shortfall, Bauder are supporting The Skills Centre with their Skills for Life Roofing and Cladding Bootcamps, funded by the Greater London Authority.

Held under the shadow of the Olympic Stadium, the roofing skills section of the bootcamp aimed to offer learners green skills and a practical route into the flat roof sector of the construction industry.

A focus on safety and technique

The day opened with a classroom briefing covering essential health and safety guidance and an outline of the practical sessions to follow. On the Bauder training rigs, learners were introduced to Bauder’s roofing products and learned manual handling techniques to safely move roofing materials around site.

A practical introduction to the skills and tools of the trade

Bauder-approved contractor, London Felt Roofing (LFRC)’s Charley Smith, led a demonstration of the tools used in bituminous roofing, including cutting tools, rollers and both gas torches and hot air guns. Participants practised cutting bitumen membranes and BauderPIR insulation before splitting into groups to undertake supervised application of bitumen membranes to upstands.

Training support was provided by LFRC’s Liam Dawson and Bauder’s technical team (local area technical manager Daniel De Bellis and site technician Ian Richardson) ensuring each participant received close guidance and supervision.

An afternoon classroom session introduced the principles of bitumen membrane application, giving learners an understanding of both flame‑free and flame‑based installation methods.

Inspiring career change through skills learning

Among the attendees was Daniel Yeboah, who previously worked as a delivery driver before deciding to pursue a new direction. As Daniel explains: “I initially considered cladding but then discovered flat roofing, so I enrolled on this course. I’m really interested in a career in flat roofing now.”

Bauder’s regional business manager, Tom Pugh, who helped organise the training, highlighted the wider value of the initiative: “It’s great to be able to give opportunities and teach skills to local communities, and try to plug that shortfall in the construction industry. It’s something that Bauder is very keen to continue and be a part of.”

The event was a success in demonstrating how targeted, hands‑on training can open doors for new entrants while helping the industry address the ongoing skills shortages.