Celebrating Excellence: SIMIAN Waterproof Membrane Installer Apprentice Wins BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023 Competition

Showcasing SIMIAN Apprentices

Apprenticeships play a crucial role in developing the next generation of skilled workers for the construction sector.

At SIMIAN, our highly regarded Apprenticeships in Roofing and Scaffolding are helping businesses create their future talent. Not only do we take great pride in the quality of our training, but we are also keen to ensure our apprentices have the opportunity to showcase their skills alongside their peers.

We are therefore delighted that four SIMIAN Roofing Apprentices were shortlisted for the final of the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023 competition.

The BMI Apprentice of the Year competition is an esteemed annual event that recognises and celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of apprentices across the UK’s roofing sector. It serves as a platform for trainee roofers to showcase their skills and knowledge, vying for the coveted title.

And we are delighted that one of our apprentices, Charlie Plant, was awarded the top prize of BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023.

The journey begins

Charlie joined our Waterproof Membrane Installer Apprenticeship programme in October 2022, at our SIMIAN London Academy of Sustainable Construction (LASC) centre which we operate in partnership with Waltham Forest.

From the very beginning, it was evident Charlie had a natural flair for flat roofing, combined with an eagerness to learn and grow his skills. Under the guidance of our seasoned roofing professional, Luke O’Gorman, Charlie embarked on his apprentice programme, mastering various flat roof waterproofing techniques, safety protocols, and industry best practices, all with the active support of his employer Sussex Asphalte.

The BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023 Competition

The BMI Apprentice of the Year competition’s rigorous selection process involved various stages, including written assessments, practical challenges, and presentations.

Luke O’Gorman, SIMIAN’s Lead Roofing Instructor said “At each stage, Charlie demonstrated exceptional proficiency, impressing the judges with his technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of roofing principles. Throughout his presentation he demonstrated an ambition to progress his roofing career with a clear career path in mind.”

When asked what it would mean to him to win the BMI Apprentice of the Year competition, Charlie said:

“For me it’s all about getting my name out there a bit more and winning this will help boost that and the prize of winning training will help me to upskill and benefit my roofing future. It’s been a massive learning curve and a great experience.

And I couldn’t recommend SIMIAN more. It’s been a great experience training with SIMIAN, I’ve learnt so much and you’ve given me so much confidence.”

Celebrating all our SIMIAN finalists

Winning the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2023 competition is not only a personal triumph for Charlie but also a testament to SIMIAN’s commitment to providing top-notch training and opportunities for growth to our apprentices, ensuring that they are well-equipped to face the challenges of the industry.

This was highlighted by the achievement of our other three SIMIAN apprentices selected for the final of the competition. Congratulations also to  Joseph Potts and Lewis Hubbe, Waterproof Membrane Installer apprentices from CRS Warrington and Christopher Burns, Roofing apprentice from JLC Roofing, all worked extremely hard and got a very well deserved place in the finals.

Well done to everyone for their outstanding achievements. With such promising young professionals at the helm, the future of roofing looks brighter than ever!