Eleven people, five days and a route into employment
Updated onOrganisation: Langley
Location: Haringey and Enfield, London
Focus: Employment, skills and local social value
In June, Langley ran the first London cohort of the Langley Roofing Academy. Eleven young people from Haringey and Enfield, all of whom were not in education, employment or training (NEET), spent five days at United Colleges Group in Paddington, taking their first step towards a career in roofing.
The programme was designed to create opportunities for local residents while helping address a growing skills shortage within the roofing industry. By connecting local people with practical training, qualifications and employers, the Academy aimed to ensure investment in the area delivered lasting benefits for the community as well as the construction sector.
Why Langley ran it
The roofing sector has an ageing workforce, with the average roofer now aged 54, and a growing skills gap. Langley identified a need to attract new entrants from a broader talent pool and provide clear pathways into the industry.
The aim was simple: to help local people gain the skills, confidence and industry connections needed to move into employment.
How Langley approached it
The course was free and included travel, workwear, lunch and PPE, funded by McConnell Group, CWG Mattisons and Ridge Consulting. By removing these costs, the programme reduced barriers that might otherwise prevent people from taking part.
Accessibility was built into the programme. Practical training was delivered on ground-level roofing rigs to build confidence before working at height, while written workbooks were kept to a minimum and additional learning support was available where required.
This inclusive approach helped ensure every learner could fully engage with the programme.
Zak Huwew, a Haringey resident, shared:
“The instructions was superb. They’re open to questions, and they’ve made the environment very friendly and comfortable.”
Creating a pathway to employment
A key element of the Academy was connecting learners directly with employers. They also met other learners from other courses at the college. These learners had completed their CSCS courses and Langley created additional educational pathways for them in partnership with the college.
Working with Haringey Works and Enfield STEPS enabled Langley to engage residents from communities connected to Haringey Council's £570m Housing Investment Programme, which began in April 2026, ensuring social value was created locally.
The programme concluded with an Industry Day, where employers met graduates, discussed opportunities and built relationships. This created a direct link between training and employment rather than leaving participants to navigate the job market alone.
The approach delivered immediate results, with one participant offered employment by Mattisons Scaffolding before the programme had even finished.
The difference it made
The Roofing Academy supported 11 young people from Haringey and Enfield who were previously NEET, helping them gain skills, qualifications and confidence while creating a pathway into the construction sector.
The outcomes included:
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100% programme completion
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100% achievement of recognised qualifications
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One participant progressing directly into employment
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Participants progressing into work experience and further training opportunities
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Improved confidence, practical skills and future employability
All participants gained ROSPA-accredited health and safety qualifications alongside practical roofing knowledge and industry insight.
The programme was delivered through a partnership between Langley, United Colleges Group and McConnell Group, demonstrating how collaboration can create meaningful opportunities for local communities.
Using a WELLBY-based wellbeing valuation methodology, Langley estimated that the programme generated £39,000 of social value, delivering a social return of £3.55 for every £1 invested.
With further cohorts planned and local pop-up hubs being developed around the UK, the London Langley Roofing Academy has shown how investing in local people can address skills shortages while delivering measurable social value for communities.
To find out more about the Roofing Academy or discuss partnership opportunities, readers can contact the Langley Social Value team at socialvalue@langley.co.uk.
