Roofer Apprenticeship Guide UK: How to Start a Career in Roofing

Roofing is one of the most skill-dependent and physically demanding trades in construction. Unlike some trades where informal learning can take a person a long way, roofing requires a structured understanding of materials, weather, structural loads, drainage principles, and — critically — safe working at height. A structured apprenticeship provides all of this in a way that informal on-the-job learning rarely can.

Roofing is also a trade with a persistent skills gap. The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) has consistently highlighted recruitment challenges across the sector, which means that qualified roofers with an apprenticeship background can command strong earnings and have excellent employment security.

The specific reasons to choose the apprenticeship route over starting as an unqualified labourer:

• Legal working at height requirements — Working safely at height requires specific training and risk assessment. Employers who put unqualified workers on roofs without adequate training face serious Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement action. A formal apprenticeship builds this knowledge systematically
• CSCS card access — Most commercial roofing sites and main contractors require a CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker). This requires an NVQ Level 2 in a roofing occupation, which the apprenticeship provides
• NFRC membership eligibility — The NFRC only admits companies that can demonstrate the technical competence of their workforce. Employing apprentices working toward recognised NVQs supports this
• Higher earnings — Qualified roofers with a recognised NVQ earn significantly more than unqualified labourers. The premium for qualification is particularly pronounced in specialist roofing (heritage, flat roof systems, green roofs)

The primary apprenticeship route into roofing is the Roofing Occupations Level 2 Apprenticeship, supported and promoted by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board). The apprenticeship standard is registered with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

What the apprenticeship covers:

• Health and safety on roofing sites, including working at height legislation, risk assessment, and emergency procedures
• Reading and interpreting specifications, drawings, and schedules
• Setting out and installation for the specific roofing specialism chosen (slating, tiling, or flat roofing — see below)
• Selection and correct use of materials, fixings, and accessories specific to the specialism
• Weathering details: abutments, valleys, hips, ridges, verges, and flashings
• Drainage principles and ensuring water shedding and discharge are correctly managed
• Environmental considerations including material disposal and working sustainably

Duration and structure:

• Typical duration: 2–3 years depending on the specialism and the apprentice's progress
• Delivered through a combination of on-the-job learning with the employer and block-release or day-release attendance at a CITB-approved training centre
• End-point assessment by an independent assessor covers a practical skills test, a professional discussion, and portfolio review

CITB's role:

CITB actively promotes roofing apprenticeships and provides grant funding to registered employers who take on apprentices. The CITB Apprenticeship Matching Service connects roofing businesses with candidates, and CITB Skills and Training Advisors can visit employers to help set up their first apprenticeship.

Unlike some trades with a single unified NVQ, roofing qualifications are divided by specialism. You (or your employer) choose a specific roofing discipline for the apprenticeship and NVQ, which determines the practical content assessed. The main options at NVQ Level 2 are:

Slating and Tiling (Pitched Roofing):

• The most common roofing specialism. Covers natural slates, concrete tiles, clay tiles, and interlocking tile systems on pitched roofs
• Skills include batten layout and spacing, slate nailing and clipping, tile interlocking, ridge, hip, and valley work, and fitting lead and other flashings at abutments and chimneys
• Applicable to domestic new build, domestic repair and re-roofing, and commercial roofing on pitched structures

Flat Roofing:

• Covers single-ply membrane systems (e.g., EPDM, TPO, PVC), felt systems, liquid waterproofing systems, and built-up felt roofing
• Increasingly important as flat roofing — particularly warm-deck systems — has become the dominant roofing approach on commercial and new-build structures
• Skills include substrate preparation, membrane laying and seaming, detailing at upstands, outlets, and penetrations, and understanding insulation principles in warm and cold deck configurations

Lead Roofing and Cladding:

• A specialist NVQ covering lead sheet work — one of the most highly skilled and well-paid roofing specialisms
• Lead is used extensively in heritage and restoration work, on ecclesiastical buildings, and on high-end residential properties
• Lead workers can command significantly higher day rates than general tilers or flat roofers

Mastic Asphalt Roofing:

• Asphalt is applied as a hot liquid and forms a seamless waterproof membrane. It is less commonly used than it was but remains relevant for commercial flat roofing, car parks, and heritage structures

It is worth noting that experienced roofers often develop competence in more than one specialism over their careers, but the formal NVQ is gained in a single specialism. Some employers encourage apprentices to gain exposure across multiple systems even if the formal qualification is in one area.

The CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker) is the site access card required by most commercial roofing sites, main contractors, and developers. For roofing apprentices and qualified roofers, the card hierarchy works as follows:

During the apprenticeship — Red Trainee Card:

• Apprentices registered on a recognised apprenticeship programme can apply for a Red CSCS Trainee Card
• Requires a passed CITB Operatives Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test (cost £22.50) and evidence of apprenticeship registration
• Valid for the duration of the apprenticeship (up to five years maximum)
• Allows site access but identifies the holder as a trainee

After completing NVQ Level 2 — Blue Skilled Worker Card:

• Apply online at cscs.uk.com with your NVQ certificate and HS&E test reference
• Card fee: £36. Valid for five years and must be renewed
• The Blue Card is the standard card expected of all qualified roofers on commercial sites

Working at height — additional site requirements:

CSCS cards prove general construction health and safety awareness, but working at height has additional site-specific requirements. Most commercial roofing employers provide site-specific working at height inductions. Some sites and clients require specific additional cards or tickets:

• PASMA card — For erecting and dismantling mobile scaffold towers (optional but useful)
• IPAF card — For operating mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) such as cherry pickers and scissor lifts

These additional tickets are typically funded by the employer and can dramatically expand the range of work you are qualified to carry out.

Like all construction apprenticeships, roofing apprentice pay is governed by the National Minimum Wage (NMW) with specific apprentice rates in the first year.

NMW rates for apprentices (from April 2025):

• Year one (any age): £7.55 per hour
• Year two onwards, aged 18–20: £10.00 per hour
• Year two onwards, aged 21+: £11.44 per hour (National Living Wage)

At 40 hours per week, a first-year roofing apprentice earns approximately £15,600 per year. By year two at the National Living Wage rate, this rises to approximately £23,795.

What roofing employers actually pay:

Roofing is physically demanding and requires working at height — conditions that many workers find off-putting. As a result, roofing apprentices are valued, and many employers pay above the NMW minimums to attract and retain them. CITB apprenticeship pay surveys show that registered roofing employers commonly pay £10–£15 per hour from year two, reflecting both the physical demands and the skills shortage in the sector.

Earnings after qualification:

Qualified roofers in employment typically earn £30,000–£42,000 per year. Self-employed roofers — particularly those specialising in pitched roofing, heritage work, or flat roofing systems — can earn considerably more. Experienced self-employed roofers with their own small teams regularly earn £50,000–£80,000+ per year in gross income before overheads.

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) is the UK's primary trade association for roofing contractors. It plays a central role in setting and promoting training standards across the sector, and NFRC membership carries meaningful credibility with commercial clients and specifiers.

How the NFRC supports training:

• NFRC works with CITB and the IfATE to develop and maintain apprenticeship standards for roofing occupations, ensuring the qualifications reflect current materials, techniques, and safety requirements
• NFRC's Competent Roofer Scheme registers contractors who have demonstrated technical and business competence — participation requires evidence of workforce qualifications
• NFRC provides technical guidance to members on specifications, materials, and installation standards, which translates into training content for apprenticeship programmes
• NFRC partners with approved training centres to ensure roofing apprenticeship delivery is of consistent quality

NFRC membership for roofing businesses:

NFRC membership is available to roofing contractors who meet specific criteria including adequate insurance, demonstrated technical competence, and commitment to training. Benefits include:

• The NFRC member mark — a recognised quality signal for commercial clients and architects
• Listing in the NFRC Contractor Finder, used by specifiers and developers seeking approved roofing contractors
• Access to NFRC technical guidance and contract support
• Support for tendering on public and local authority roofing contracts

For employers taking on apprentices: NFRC membership and CITB registration together create a strong framework for demonstrating commitment to workforce development, which is increasingly expected by commercial clients and local authority procurement processes.

Small roofing businesses — including sole traders with one or two employees — can and do take on apprentices. The process is more straightforward than many employers assume, and the financial support available makes it affordable.

Practical requirements for taking on a roofing apprentice:

• A training provider — You need a college or training centre approved to deliver the Roofing Occupations Level 2 apprenticeship. The CITB training directory lists approved providers by region. Many providers will do the initial college liaison for you once you have identified an apprentice
• Adequate supervision — You (or another qualified person in your business) must be able to supervise the apprentice's on-site work. For a working at height occupation like roofing, this means an experienced roofer on site whenever the apprentice is working
• Sufficient work variety — The apprenticeship standard requires exposure to a range of situations: different roof pitches, materials, weathering details, and conditions. A business that does only one type of work (e.g., only EPDM flat roofing) may struggle to provide the full range. Discuss this with your training provider before committing
• CITB registration — Register at citb.co.uk to access CITB grants for your apprentice. Registration is straightforward and free

Financial support available:

• Government apprenticeship funding — For employers with a payroll below £3 million, the government pays 95% of training costs. The employer contributes just 5%, typically £250–£500 over the apprenticeship
• CITB grants — CITB registered employers can claim grants at apprenticeship milestones. Amounts vary but can offset the employer's 5% contribution and contribute toward other training costs
• Apprentice wages — Paid by the employer at the NMW rate. This is the main cost of the apprenticeship for small businesses — typically £15,600–£24,000 per year depending on year and age