On 27 and 28 May, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) returned to Edinburgh Castle to support the Build Your Future skills taster event. This celebration of apprenticeships and traditional skills brought together nearly 100 school pupils alongside industry, local, and national stakeholders.

Delivered under the leadership of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF), and the City of Edinburgh Council, the event was designed to inspire the next generation of craftspeople, construction professionals, and heritage specialists, while demonstrating the importance of protecting and sustaining these skills for the future.

Across the two days, pupils from schools across Edinburgh rotated through five interactive skills stations, participating in demonstrations and mini-masterclasses led by industry specialists. NFRC Member firm Compass Roofing Ltd ran the heritage roof slating activity, delivering hands-on demonstrations in slate cutting and nail fixing.

Lewis Miller, Company Director at Compass Roofing, commented: "It gives young people a chance to try loads of activities, so they know what jobs are out there when they leave school. It opens their eyes and gives them a lot more avenues to focus on when they leave school. They all say it's very satisfying and they all seem to enjoy it."

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Other specialised stations covered stonemasonry, painting and graining, timber joinery, and modern construction techniques such as thermal insulation. Together, they illustrated how traditional crafts and contemporary methods work in tandem to maintain and preserve Scotland's historic buildings.

This year's event marks 14 years since the NFRC first supported the inaugural Build Your Future skills demonstration in 2012, which was also held at Edinburgh Castle. The event continues to grow, with increasing recognition of the value of heritage skills reflected in tangible educational action: National 5 qualification pilots are now running across Scotland, embedding construction and traditional skills teaching directly into the school timetable. The Nat 5 in traditional roof slating and tiling, delivered in schools by NFRC Members, is now in its second year and has expanded to additional schools across the country.

NFRC Scotland Regional Manager John McKinney said: "Events like today are vital if we're serious about securing the future of traditional skills in Scotland. The drop-out rate in construction apprenticeships shows us that too many young people are arriving without a clear picture of what the work actually involves. Build Your Future skills demonstrations help address that, and the growth of the National 5 programme shows that real, lasting progress is possible when industry and education work together. NFRC and our Member businesses are committed to playing our part in that."

While the Edinburgh Castle showcase is the most high-profile event of the year, NFRC Members contribute to Build Your Future events and other skills demonstrations across Scotland throughout the year, providing students with meaningful exposure to the varied career pathways available within roofing and the wider construction sector.