Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Construction & Building

Roofer

Cover, weatherproof and repair roofs in slate, tile, felt, single-ply or lead.

Strong demand Can go self-employed Level 2 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£29,000 – £45,000
Training length
2 years
Apprenticeship standard
Roofer
Where to train
234 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG F395 · 5 stops · 2 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 2 years Fully qualified around £29k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £45k
  5. Then Your own business you set the rate

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Roofing is well paid because it is skilled, weather-dependent and carries real risk, so the people who do it properly are valued. You will pick a pathway: pitched roofing in slate and tile, flat roofing in felt and single-ply membrane, or specialist lead and hard metal work.

Most work is on price, and a quick tiling gang can earn very well. Storm damage and re-roofing keep demand steady all year, and solar installation has added a new stream of work for roofers who can also handle mounting systems.

A typical day

  • Strip old coverings and inspect the structure beneath
  • Fit battens, underlay, insulation and ventilation correctly
  • Lay slate, tile or membrane to falls and laps
  • Form and dress lead flashings, valleys and abutments
  • Work safely at height with edge protection and harnesses

How you get in

  • No formal qualifications required for most level 2 apprenticeships
  • You must be genuinely comfortable at height — this is not something to talk yourself into
  • Good physical fitness and balance
  • CSCS card and working-at-height training

Where it leads

  • Specialise in heritage slating, lead work or single-ply systems
  • Roofing gang leader or contracts supervisor
  • Self-employed roofer with your own van and team
  • Solar PV mounting and roof-integrated systems

Where to train for this

234 colleges and training providers on our list cover Roofer training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 15
East of England 18
London 17
North East 14
North West 29
South East 24
South West 18
UK-wide 15
West Midlands 21
Yorkshire and the Humber 20
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 2
South Wales 8
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 6
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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