Changes to workers parental rights
There are to be two new changes coming into force in April which will help working parents. These two changes have been brought about by government initiatives to consider family-friendly regulations within the workplace.
At DPR Roofing, roofing specialists in Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Pontefract, we believe following the principles to great a happy working environment, and this includes making sure our employees are comfortable with their work and family life balance. We welcome the new changes which are going to come into place for our roofers. From the 5th of April the following will be enforced:
Parental leave
Parental leave, which currently is unpaid and extends only up to the child’s fifth birthday will extend until they are 18 years old. (To be eligible you must have completed one year’s services with DPR Roofing). The new rules allow parents to take up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave before the child’s 18th birthday. This can either be straight after the birth, after any maternity or paternity cover or just as they wish. All that is stated is that 21 days’ notice must be given. You should also take blocks of a week or weeks off rather than just the odd day here and there and you can only take a maximum of four weeks a year.
Shared parental leave
The second change is that shared parental leave is to come into force from April 5th too. This means that employees have the right to request shared parental leave and pay. Basically you can share the 52 weeks mother’s entitlement to maternity leave. Both parents can submit to the employer however the employer could ask that the blocks are shared on a monthly basis, rather than one employee taking six months then the second taking six months too.
Even if a couple opt for SPL, a birth mother must still take at least two weeks leave following the birth of a child. Fathers can also take two weeks statutory parental leave and pay in addition to any shared parental leave.
DPR roofing has always keen accommodating to the needs of our employees and welcome some of these changes. We believe that providing a high quality roofing service, which includes roof repairs and new roofs, starts with happy employees so we are always looking to help our staff.
Construction industry to create over 200,000 jobs by 2019
DPR Roofing has today learnt that the construction sector is to create more than 200,000 jobs by 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of 2.9% year on year. These finding have been compiled in a report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and attribute the resurgence of confidence on the industry as a major factor for the projected growth.
The CITB released a report a while ago claiming slightly less figures but after reassessing confidence in the sector, they now believe around 44,000 jobs a year will be created.
Speaking about the results they had found, CITB chief Exec Mr Belton said: "New jobs are required not just to deliver on growing order books, but also to deliver a step change in costs and delivery times. These additional jobs – 224,000 according to this report – will be pivotal in driving our industry forward."
The same report also highlighted that for the first time since 2007, there will be growth delivered in housing, leisure and infrastructure in 2015. The percentage growth will be slightly different in each area of the UK but there should be considerable and noticeable growth right here in Yorkshire, with rough estimates showing around 2.3% growth.
DPR are excited by this news and have ourselves invested heavily in our roofing and surveying team in the past 12 months and will continue to do this in the next 12 months. We hope this optimism continues.
Prime minister pledges to help roofers
2015 is a big year for David Cameron as the general election takes place and it appears he is trying get roofers on board. Already this year has been the roofing college but now in his latest attempt to win voters he is pleased to support roofers and other trades in his new ‘Job Factory of Europe’ economy ideas
Speaking at a party conference in Ipswich, the Prime Minister outlined all the recent changes that happen and the new strength of the economy: Cameron said: “After a tough few years, we have a good record of getting people into work - 1,000 jobs every day this Government has been in office. We’ve created more jobs here in Britain than the rest of the European Union combined.
"I hope people will stick with this plan. We haven’t solved all our country’s economic problems, but the plan is working. We are getting Britain back to work and increasingly with those jobs people can see a better living standard, better security for themselves and their families.
One of the other things David Cameron really wants to push hard is the apprenticeship scheme and hopes to have 3 million apprenticeships in his new plan. The five key points are outlined below:
• Continue getting British people back to work by controlling immigration and delivering a robust welfare system for EU migrants;
• Encourage enterprise and support small business, keeping jobs taxes low and cutting red tape;
• Invest in infrastructure to attract business and good jobs across the whole of the UK;
• Reward work, help people into a job and lower the benefit cap;
• Create three million new apprenticeships.
If this is the case this is great news for roofers like ourselves in Leeds and Bradford. The telegraph newspaper claimed that: “Mr Cameron’s call to “builders and roofers” is likely to be seen as a direct plea to traditional Labour voters snubbed last year”. If these plans go ahead this will enable DPR Roofing to continue to provide a professional service. With support from the government our locally based roofers will be able to improve their training and obtain better skills to provide a more professional quality service for our customers.
We will keep an eye out on any changes that happen and look forward to Mr Cameron’s ideas being further elaborated on in the next few weeks.
Roofing problems this winter
At DPR, we are always conscious that roofing problems can occur when you least expect them. Although with most roofing problems there is a noticeable cause such as wind, sometime there isn’t and the problem may only surface a period of time after this initial event.
Currently in Yorkshire we are experiencing very high winds and rain which although not uncommon for this time of year, does cause considerable problems for domestic and commercial roofs. Roof tiles falling off is particularly noticeable at this present time. When a tile falls off a roof it creates an opening for water to get access inside. If this occurs frequently, damp patches will form and this can have an adverse effect on health of the occupants inside.
As a professional roofing company with multiple years’ experience, we know that you want to get the problem solved as quickly as possible and that is why we offer a 24 hour emergency hotline should you have water coming into your property during out of hours.
Sometimes roofing problems can worsen over time and are not caused by a specific incident such as a hurricane or a tornado. This is more common in older or grade 1/2 listed buildings as they have had to face the strain of weather and rain for a long period of time.
Should you live in Yorkshire primarily, Leeds, Wakefield or Bradford and be worried about the state of your roof please do not hesitate to contact one of our roofing professional teams today. We have local roofers available every day of the week so that we can attend your needs when they occur.
Any problem that is left will never ever get better so it is always worth checking out any small issues with a roofing professional before they become a large problem. We have many case study examples of situations where the occupant has left the problems over a period of months, and eventually they get so bad that the roof has needed a full replace, at a greater financial cost.
Had they contacted us in the first place when they notice the initial problem, DPR roofing are sure we could have solved many of the issues within one visit at much less of a cost. We also would have taken last time at less disruption.
If you are worried about the state of your roof please do not hesitate to contact our team today.
Lead roofing stolen off of NHS Hospital
DPR Roofing are saddened to hear of lead roofing being taken from West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
In the past 12 months, the hospital said that multiple items had been taken from the hospital, including bizarre items like a scone. They were themselves disappointed at the number of thefts and had struggled to come to terms with the obscurity of the items stolen.
In a press statement, one of the Hospital staff said: “We take security at the hospital extremely seriously and do everything we can to prevent our patients, visitors and staff from becoming victims of crime.
“We operate CCTV systems across our buildings, employ a security manager, have installed panic alarms in sensitive areas and work in close partnership with the police. We encourage anyone who notices any suspicious activity around the hospital site to report it and will take further action wherever appropriate.”
Lead roofing can have a high re-sale value so it is little wonder the hospital, which is vast in size, has been targeted. Still this does not make it right and as roofers ourselves, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this news.
Should you be unfortunate enough to have lead stolen off your roof in Yorkshire and require a repair, our team can carry out comprehensive repair projects quickly, professionally and for a good price. For more information please do not hesitate to contact our team.
Severe weather warning issued in Yorkshire
Winds of up to 90mph are expected to hit areas of Yorkshire in the next 24 hours as storms hit the region. Severe weather warnings have been released by the Met Office across the North of England including Yorkshire and people are being advised to be careful.
The weather front has been brought about as two storms have raced across the Atlantic gathering speed from America. The worst hit areas are expected to be out in the countryside and people are being warned about going out unless it is an emergency.
Some cities such as Leeds have already taken precautions and have put road closures and diversions in place to limit the impact the winds have. This is expected to cause disruption in the rush hour on Thursday night and Friday morning.
DPR would like to remind people that if you notice anything fall off your roof in the high winds, you should seek professional help as soon as possible. Should you be concerned about any part of your roof you can call us on the number at the top of the page.
5 of the most common roofing problems
Every roof will have a problem during its lifespan, whether that is caused by natural wear and tear or a more serious weather incident.
Although you can never be in-charge of the strong winds, there are a few things which can be done on a regular basis which should prevent wear and tear taking its toll on your roof quicker than anticipated. Below our leading roofing experts have a look at five of the most common roofing components which can lead to roofing problems.
The Fascia
The fascia or the roof trim as it is sometimes referred is designed to provide a protective barrier between the edge of the roof and the outside elements, mainly water. They also provide the good look factor too.
Problems arise when moisture gets in your fascia, with signs of this happening often shown by rot. If you notice any signs of moisture in the fascia, you should contact a roofing professional as soon as possible.
Soffits
Soffits play an important role in ventilating your roof space and controlling temperature and thus any damage to them could lead to a serious problem. Soffits could crack, rot or show the appearance of small holes. This then makes them susceptible for easy water entrance and entry by animals looking for shelter.
Flashing
Flashings are the things that are used to seal roof system edges, walls, drains, and any other area where the roof covering is interrupted. These are used to help seal any of the voids in the system.
Problems with this component of the roof usually arises during periods of freak weather or oxidisation, however they can just come loose. Thankfully, for a professional roofing company they are very easy to replace.
Guttering
Gutters and guttering is used to safely transport water away from your roof as well as safeguarding the structural integrity. Gutters can become clogged up easily so it is very important that you check or get a professional company to periodically come and clean your gutters.
When your gutters are full of debris, they do not allow water to run off the roof properly which can lead to other more serious water damage problems. Gutters can also start to sag when the debris gets too heavy leaving to greater problems.
If you notice an issue, you should start with a thorough check and clear of your debris. If this does not solve the issue please seek professional help at your earliest convenience.
Shingles
Shingles offer great protection for your roof but can be prone to curling. Missing shingles can make wood which is underneath susceptible to damage, which could include rotting, water damage or hole formation.
Discolouration is a sign of damage to the shingles so should you notice this at any time, seek professional help.
These are five of the most common roofing problems. Should you have an issue over the festive period, please contact us on Monday 5th January and we will send someone out to visit you as soon as possible.
DPR wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas
DPR would like to wish everyone, including past and present customers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This year we have been involved in some amazing commercial projects which includes roofing work at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, Castleford College, SITA in Huddersfield and Finlays Beverages in Pontefract.
We have also carried out a number of roof repairs, new roof builds, guttering checks and flat roof replacements for domestic clients across the whole of West Yorkshire.
DPR will be closing for the Christmas Holidays on the 19th December and will resume on the 5th January.
Customer reports his own roofers
At DPR, we are meticulous in our health and safety procedures, ensuring that every roof we work on is completed to the strictest of guidelines.
We know that for many homeowners this is a very important part of how roofers work, and can be the difference between getting a repair contract or not. Not only do they want a roof repair or new roof build that is completed to the highest of quality standards, but also to be completed safely and without compromise.
This is also very important regarding commercial sector work. Some local councils like Leeds and Wakefield have slightly different standards so it is important to understand this to.
The extent at which homeowners will ensure roofing work is completed safely was also brought to light recently as a resident in the town of Windsor sent photos of the roofers repairing his roof to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Many of the photos show that the roofers had no fall prevention or fall arrest measures in place and the householder commented that at no point did they see the three workers taking safety into consideration. Some of you may think this is the fault of the workers but as the HSE inspector comments that it is the company first and foremost.
In a statement he said: “The company put the lives of three of their workers at risk by carrying out the roofing job in a totally unsafe manner. Anyone falling from the roof of a two-storey house would likely be killed and that type of disregard for safety is totally unacceptable.
“If the work had been planned correctly, more suitable equipment, such as a scaffold, and effective fall protection measures would have been in place. Where practical when working on roofs, there should be fully-guarded platforms or good edge protection in place to stop falls happening.”
Although this is not always the case, erecting scaffolding and safety equipment can add money to jobs and it is one of the reasons why people often work without the correct safety equipment.
At DPR we take roofers safety very seriously and it is one of the many reasons we have a high access boom, which allows us to complete work at a higher level safely. If you, like the gentleman from Windsor, want to commission roofers that work to the safety criteria, please do not hesitate to contact our local roofing team today.
Small house-builders are to be let off from zero carbon standards
It was announced yesterday that the government has planned to propose exemption on smaller sites regarding the zero carbon homes policy standards.
According to the reports, from 2016 it was meant to be that all new homes that are built in the UK would have to be ‘zero carbon or carbon neutral’. This means that there should be no carbon emissions generated from the energy needs to a) light and b) heat the home.
However, the government has now made a u-turn after they claimed it is not always feasible on a technical and economic level.
To make it fair, the government is saying exceptions will now only occur based on site size. Ideally this would be ten units or fewer. It also wants to ensure that larger companies do not split sites into smaller units to avoid meeting these standards. This is to both cover the big companies buying smaller sites by splitting into subsidiary firms.
This is good news for us as roofers as it means that more smaller firms will still be able to offer great housing, with top quality roofs without having to stretch their resources to meet the standards. Although we always strive to meet the standards needed and we have a proud tradition of being accredited with some of the very best roofing and construction standards, this news is very welcome.
One of the main reasons behind this move is because the number of small builders has steadily been declining since 2007. Speaking in a recent interview, the CEO of FMB said: "The FMB is supportive of the zero carbon objective but we are concerned about the disproportionate cost implications for smaller house-builders. The Allowable Solutions element of zero carbon will be added in 2016 and could result in smaller building firms paying out an additional £2,000 for every single detached home.
The changes are much needed for the industry and will hopefully have a positive effect on the whole house building and construction industry as a whole.
If you are builder based in Yorkshire and require an expert roofer for your construction needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch.