Profiles
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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