ATT Awards
Date: 08 September 2015
Roofing Apprentice Rises to the Top
Congratulations to Topline Roofing’s star apprentice Joel Tapsell who was presented with the award for Most Inspiring Apprentice at the recent ATT Awards.
The ATT is a nationwide, charitable organisation that was set up in 1991 to support the roofing, plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades. It provides trade training opportunities in the form of mentored apprenticeships for people looking to start careers within the industry. Topline Owner/Director Neil Gillespie is passionate about encouraging young people to choose a career in the trades. He has personally committed to up-skilling and training apprentices and trades people for over 30 years, and is an appointed trustee on the board of the Apprenticeship Training Trust (ATT).
Trading for the future
Joel has been working at Topline Roofing since the beginning of September 2014. He previously worked as a labourer on sites for a roofing company before deciding to become a roofing apprentice. Joel said, “I chose a career in roofing because I wanted to have a trade behind me for my future. Whilst working as a labourer I picked up quickly on the job requirements to be a roofer and decided to run with it. I enjoy the physical outdoor work and it has become a good lifestyle choice for me.”
A winning team
The young roofer acknowledges the Topline management team in helping him to reach his career goals, “To an extent everyone at Topline has been a mentor, my managers Glyn, Doug and Karl have spent a lot of time teaching and showing me certain things that I wasn’t so confident about and they are always there when I need a hand or any advice on the job.
Nic who works in the office has also been a great help with my paperwork and provides information on my jobs and forms that I am responsible for. Topline’s owners Neil and Jennie have been brilliant in answering any queries or concerns I have. They have assisted in every aspect of my job and I am thankful to be working for such a driven and passionate partnership.”
After only 8 months, Joel became a leading hand and is responsible for running specific roofing projects. This includes advising on how the job is done, looking after the paperwork and ensuring the safety of the team.
Joel will finish his apprenticeship next September. His advice to any school leavers contemplating a career in the trades is, “Decide what it is you may like to do and go with it, having a qualified trade behind you will set you up for a prosperous future.”
If you’re interested in joining the Topline team and learning a trade, then give them a call on 0800 111 818.
