Glidevale Protect Backs Regional Roofing Talent at SkillBuild

Leading building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect is proud to support the next generation of roofing professionals by being one of the sponsors of the regional heats and the Final of the Roof Slating and Tiling category of the 2025 SkillBuild competition.

Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and recognised as the UK’s largest multi-trade competition, SkillBuild is designed to nurture talent and raise standards across the construction industry. As part of its sponsorship, Glidevale Protect will be supplying its vapour permeable VP400 pitched roofing underlay for use in the practical sessions to help competitors demonstrate essential installation skills using specialist materials. Glidevale Protect’s VP400 is a tough and durable 170gsm underlay, offering the lowest vapour resistance of any type LR roofing underlay in its class with a >7.0m head of water resistance, to protect against water ingress and controlling the risk of harmful condensation forming in a roofspace. It has unrestricted wind uplift resistance across the UK and Ireland – Zones 1 to 5 at 345mm batten gauge, without the need for additional sealing tapes.

SkillBuild’s Roof Slating and Tiling competition, in partnership with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), provides aspiring roofers with a platform to showcase their skills, precision, and craftsmanship. With a strong commitment to supporting education and skills development in construction, Glidevale Protect is reinforcing its dedication to bridging the industry’s skills gap and working closely with colleges and training providers across the UK.

John Mellor, Head of Marketing at Glidevale Protect, commented:

“As a business committed to supporting roofing professionals at every stage of their careers, we’re delighted to be involved in the SkillBuild competition. Encouraging young talent and helping to develop skills in roofing is vital to the future of the industry and by providing our Protect VP400 pitched roofing underlay, we’re ensuring that competitors get hands-on experience with high-quality materials that meet the demands of real-world roofing projects.”

Ben Rowlands, Technical Manager, Slating and Tiling at NFRC added:

"SkillBuild is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring roofers to develop their craft in a challenging yet supportive environment. Practical experience is essential and by supplying products for the competition, Glidevale Protect is directly contributing to the future of roofing by ensuring trainees work with the type of materials they’ll use throughout their careers. It’s great to see manufacturers investing in skills development and supporting the next generation of roofers."

Glidevale Protect’s support for the SkillBuild regional heats and Final builds on its close collaboration with NFRC, and its relationship has gone from strength to strength since the manufacturer became an official member of the organisation last year. Glidevale Protect has also previously supported the NFRC team with the donation of its Viking Air air and vapour permeable pitched roofing underlay during the training for the 2024 IFD World Championships of Young Roofers. And for the second year running, Glidevale Protect is sponsoring the Heritage Roofing category at the forthcoming NFRC UK Roofing Awards held in London on Friday, 9th May 2025. 

The regional heats for SkillBuild’s Roof Slating and Tiling category will take place across the UK from 29th April to the 1st July 2025. The top eight highest-scoring competitors in each skill category will then go on to compete at the SkillBuild National Final later this year.