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Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
Restoration and upkeep of cathedrals
There are some 42 Anglican cathedrals in the UK, not to mention 20 or so Catholic cathedrals. Cathedrals form the most important collection of historic buildings in England. The largest and most ancient are internationally famous, the smallest are usually among the most significant buildings in their region and even the most recent are architectural masterpieces.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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LPOW Grants
£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work.
CRE Events
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
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NFRC TRAINING AWARD TO PLOUGHCROFT
NFRC TRAINING AWARD TO PLOUGHCROFT
The Exceptional Contribution to NFRC Training Award was won by a rather pleased Chris Hopkins of Ploughcroft. Chris is a character that pushes training in all forms making it varied, open and accessible to all, and is the first to put his hand up to support any industry initiative.
The Ploughcroft story and the man behind it all
1996 - The Ploughcroft Journey begins
Ploughcroft started as a quality inspired family business created by Chris Hopkins and his father Bill Hopkins at Chris's home in Ploughcroft, Halifax (hence the name).
Working hard from the outset to ensure that the customer was always completely happy, Bill focused on the building projects while Chris specialised in roofing and modern roofing techniques.
2002 - Quality becomes the official standard
From the outset the quality of the workmanship meant constant recommendations and business growth.
In 2002 Chris pushed the company forward achieving quality standards including 'Investor in People' award and 'ISO 9001'.
Chris's professional approach to business soon got the name, the "Ploughcroft approach".
2004 - Ploughcroft becomes the sole ownership of Chris Hopkins
Chris wanted to create an innovative roof training school to teach other people how to deliver the "Ploughcroft approach" and then employ them to build the business. Bill saw the idea as bonkers, to train staff to such a high degree so they could leave to establish their own business. So it was amicably agreed that Bill would continue in his own building company, and Chris would become the sole owner of Ploughcroft Ltd.
2005 - Building a world class company
As far as Chris was concerned supplying high quality and professional services required professional staff, and his ambition to build a world class company continued with a deep routed understanding that he would need the following ingredients for continued success:
1. An NVQ/CITY & GUILDS accredited training academy (recognised by the industry)
2. Be charitable to the roofing industry by teaching and helping other companies, competitors, and individuals to gain qualifications through the NVQ Centre.
3. Develop new innovative courses for the roofing industry and share these new innovations.
4. Always deliver quality projects in roofing.
5. Never give up.
6. Keep an eye on the future of energy.
In September 2005 following Chris's development of the roof training academy, it was awarded full accreditation by the awarding body City & Guilds, centre number 5166.
RooferMan - The Launch
Earning himself the name "RooferMan", Chris later trademarked the name RooferMan TM and developed a franchise, which put roofers though the NVQ centre and then set them up in business in their own area as the local RooferMan
2006 - Investing in Solar Roofing Installations and a Professional Certificate
In 2006 Ploughcroft teamed up with the ‘NFRC’ and 'Construction Skills' to develop a unique training course to train roofers in the key competencies to install Solar PV and Thermal, working closely with :
• Viridian solar
• Solar century
• Worcester Bosch
• Vaillant
This won Ploughcroft the National Home Improvement Council Award for Innovation in Training 2007.
Chris then spent 2007-2008 training other roofing competitors and building II colleges around the UK with this new course which has now been formally recognised by City and Guilds C.A.A. and is an NVQ qualification – the unit credit is VR298
2008 - ’leading the solar roof revolution’
During 2008 Ploughcroft started to emerge as the leader in the solar roofing industry. Ploughcroft were lauded in the media as 'leading the solar roofing revolution' and dubbed Chris ‘Solarman’, which has since stuck so that Chris is now known in the industry as ‘Solarman’.
This excellent media coverage allowed Ploughcroft to go on and win prestigious contracts with:
1. 2008 – Vaillant Partner
2. 2008 – NPower Partner
3. 2009 – Plumb Centre Partner
2010 – Winning awards make Ploughcroft a winning company
In 2010 Ploughcroft were asked to build a solar roofing demo area for the Plumb centre at London's Earls Court for The Eco Build Exhibition. This went down a storm and was the biggest crowd puller, with live demonstrations of how to put solar panels on roofs. Chris was also asked to do a guest speaking spot on solar roofing and the market condition. Chris also appeared at the federation of master builders’ annual conference in York speaking on the solar market..
Ploughcroft continued its lead of the solar roofing revolution by winning the following awards:
• National corgi awards for best green business initiative 2010
• SME of the year 2010
• Yorkshire and Humber micro generation partnership best business initiative 2010-12-09
2011 – Future developments already achieved
Chris's expansion and development of Ploughcroft has seen Ploughcroft’s offices move to St. Peg’s Mill in Brighouse. This allows the Ploughcroft Training School to build bigger and better training facilities and class rooms as well as allowing Chris to expand the Eco Roof Visitor Centre which is now open to the public and industry to see the developments and benefits of solar energy.
NFRC Awards 2011
The Exceptional Contribution to Training Award was won by a rather pleased Chris Hopkins of Ploughcroft. Chris is a character that pushes training in all forms making it varied, open and accessible to all, and is the first to put his hand up to support any industry initiative.
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