Rock’s apprentice programme – the key to a committed and skilled workforce

In 2011 Rock’s construction director, Mike Goddard, gave four apprentices the opportunity to have hands-on, professional experience of our industry. The benefits, however, are mutual, and he plans to employ an equal number of apprentices in 2012. “To achieve the level of future growth Rock envisages, a structured apprentice programme is vital,” Mike explains. “Skills shortages and recruitment difficulties can pose a genuine threat to long-term growth. We seek to renew and enhance the skills of our people, as well as improve industry standards in general. By supporting colleges and taking on apprentices, we are able to harness fresh talent and bridge any potential skills gaps.”

Two of the apprentices are training at our head office in Chiswick, while two others are working on site. Hayden Viggers is currently involved with projects in Birmingham. Frank Judge is gaining experience on projects throughout London while also attending the Mastic Asphalt NVQ2 course at Hackney Community College. Frank says that when he joined Rock he quickly realised how committed the business was to giving him the best possible training. “I was paired with a highly skilled mentor who has been in the roofing business for over 25 years. That coaching, combined with Rock’s training passport scheme and their excellent training academy in Elstow, enabled my knowledge and practical capabilities to take huge leaps forward.

“While enrolled at Hackney Community College,” Frank continues, “I have also been fortunate enough to gain on-site experience on numerous high profile projects, including The Heron in Moorgate and the Leadenhall project near Liverpool Street. So far I am finding my experience at Rock very enjoyable, as I know I have the full support of a company that genuinely wants to see me succeed and perform to the best of my abilities.”

There’s more good news, as Frank has been nominated Apprentice of the Year 2012 by CITB-Construction Skills. He acknowledges that the nomination would not have been possible without the backing and training he has received from Rock. “I honestly believe,” he says, “that Rock are striving to help the future of the construction industry and to see me develop into an important part of the company’s future.”

Martin Botha

Our dedicated health and safety manager

Having served nine years as logistics manager at Elliott Thomas, Martin Botha has recently joined Rock as our new health and safety manager. “At Elliott Thomas I was involved in every aspect of managing site logistics to ensure an efficient and safe environment for all those working on site,” says Martin. “My new role will see me drive a cultural change throughout Rock in our bid to achieve Zero Harm by 2015.

“Traditionally, our industry’s approach to safety has been based on management-led observations, feedback and goal setting. But I believe that lasting behavioural change requires modification of contributors to unsafe behaviour, reinforcement of safer practices, and inclusion of strategies that sustain change over time. In this respect, getting the workforce on board is essential. I shall be conducting a one-to-one interview with all operatives at our new training facility in Elstow, accompanied by a 45 minute presentation and questionnaire that will reveal to me their current mindset.

“These will be the first steps to greater workforce engagement, so that it becomes second nature for people to rethink the decisions they make each day which influence the health and safety of themselves and others. Rock will be putting behavioural change into practice and will actively encourage our industry partners to follow suit.”

Mark Collinge

Rock’s new senior surveyor

Rock’s current phase of carefully planned growth has only underscored how critical it is to deliver fully on contracts. It was for this reason that in November 2011 we recruited Mark Collinge as senior surveyor. Until then, one of Rock’s longest standing professionals, Chris Brereton, had taken sole responsibility for quantity surveying. In line with Rock’s increasingly diverse portfolio, Mark has established our commercial department and recruited five full-time surveyors from the market. Before joining us he was a senior surveyor at Lakesmere, the national building envelope specialist involved on projects as large as Heathrow Terminal 2.

“Rock is gearing up for around £30m turnover this year in contract roofing and commercial business,” Mark revealed, “so in the last few months I have appointed a team who will focus on our expanding commercial contracts. I am based both in London and Birmingham and favour a very hands-on approach to my work. With our new team of quantity surveyors Rock is better equipped to keep a close eye on project finances and contractual relationships while continuing to provide clients with genuine value for money.”

On course for higher standards

Training at the Rock Academy

2012 sees the inauguration of the Rock Academy, a brand new training facility that shares the same site as our manufacturing plant in Elstow, Bedfordshire. The academy will provide third party certified training not just for our own people, but for those from partner organisations who wish to gain a better understanding of Rock’s areas of specialism. These include waterproofing, green roofs, renewable technology, tunnelling – all interfaces, in fact, that are associated with the finished deck. Those employed by our main contractor clients, such as younger, up-and-coming project managers, are sure to benefit from the hands-on guidance and coaching given by Rock’s experienced trainers.

Accompanying the launch of the Rock Academy is an internal scheme just for our own personnel, the Rock Passport. Our employees will each have a passport which carries a record of their training and qualifications to help establish standards and consistency. 

Rock’s training will promote teamwork and personal accountability, advocate the continuous improvement of skills and knowledge, and seek to raise standards of professionalism throughout our industry. Both the Rock Academy and the Rock Passport signal our dedication to excellence in performance through a stimulating and engaging learning experience. 

A model of its kind

Rock embraces BIM strategy

Last year the Department for Business released a strategy paper concerning Building Information Modelling (BIM), with the decision to mandate use of BIM in the delivery of all future government-procured construction projects. BIM involves the generation of a 3D digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. It’s a sobering thought that 80% of a building’s costs are incurred post-construction by ongoing maintenance. This expenditure can be significantly reduced by BIM, which enables more informed decision-making from the earliest conceptual stages through to design and construction.

Rock welcomes this government strategy and now plans to adopt it for ourselves. Better quality information at the start will allow a building to run more efficiently for years to come, enhancing the project's long-term investment potential. Aligning our internal processes to support BIM offers Rock’s clients the advantage of a 3D digital model of the building elements we deliver to ensure that all design interfaces are robust. By reducing the whole life costs of a building through 3D modelling, Rock seeks to add even greater value to any given project.

Have it in black and white

Rock’s work to be underwritten by AWM

In a market proposition unique to Rock, we are partnering Auditing Workmanship & Materials Ltd (AWM) to offer our clients a warranty on our roofing materials and installation.

Any area of construction can suffer  defects due to poor workmanship, imperfect materials, flaws in the original design or failure to comply with building regulations. While this is as true of the roof slab as any other element, Rock is able to point to a track record where such a scenario is either extremely rare or unknown. Main contractors have come to place complete trust in our unrivalled professionalism, which is why such a high proportion of our work is through repeat business.

We appreciate, however, that total peace of mind is a precious commodity for any client. While we believe that Rock will still be in business for many decades to come, there’s little doubt that clients enjoy the kind of assurance you get when a job is underwritten by an insurance company. Post-installation, AWM will retain a relationship with our client so that, should any issues relating to Rock’s work be encountered, AWM can be called on to swiftly remedy the situation. The warranty covers all materials and labour, and extends for 25 years on all Rock’s waterproofing and green roof systems. For our clients, the result is greater project security at minimal cost – a further example of Rock’s commitment to service.

Eyes on the prize

Rock is Construction News Awards 2012 finalist

The Oscars may boast more glitz, and the BRITs may grab more headlines. But in our line of work, the Construction News Awards remains the biggest show in town. Which is why we are extremely pleased to announce that Rock has been named a finalist in the Specialist Contractor category in the Construction News Awards 2012.

These illustrious awards are a source of great prestige for any successful recipient. Becoming a finalist in this category is quite an achievement in itself, as each year sees many outstanding submissions from specialist contractors who are recognised leaders in their particular field. Rock clearly impressed the Awards panel, comprised of a number of renowned figures in the world of construction. Our submission detailed the transformation of our business, in part by driving innovation to create value, which has led to Rock becoming the first choice specialist roofing contractor for some of the biggest names in the industry.

The next stage will see us engage with the Construction News Awards judges in what will be a very rigorous face-to-face interview. It may seem daunting, but we are confident that our submission team will make a powerful and well-argued case for Rock. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 10 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane. Here’s hoping that Rock will discomfit our fellow nominees by taking home a little new silverware. If so, we’re sure to give it pride of place.