Teaching award for Leeds roofing tutor

A roofing tutor from Leeds has become the first person to be awarded an ‘Excellence in Teaching’ medal from the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers.

Chris Messenger is a lecturer in roof slating and tiling at Leeds College of Building and since competition training started at the college in 2007, Chris’s apprentices have won a total of 15 SkillBuild/WorldSkills medals (six gold, two silver, and seven bronze). Many more apprentices have made it to the finals of the annual trade competitions. On receiving this award, Chris said: “I was extremely proud and honoured to accept this award. Many of my apprentices have gone on to great achievements, some slating in Australia with the blessing of their companies and a job waiting on their return, some now running their own companies and sending their apprentices to train at Leeds College of Building with me.

“It gives me such job satisfaction that so many of the roofing apprentices from the College that I have trained stay in touch and consistently thank me for the training, guidance and impact that competing at SkillBuild/WorldSkills competitions has had on their lives. It was a very emotional day for me.”

The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers encourages excellence in the tiling and bricklaying industries. The new award recognises the major contribution made in developing the skills of others in roof slating and tiling and for success in training young people who have gone on to achieve top places at international competitions and awards.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was apprentice Joseph Turner, who was awarded the Mason Elliott Award for roof slating and tiling. In November, Joseph (an apprentice at The Roofing Corporation Ltd.) won gold in the Roofing: Slating and Tiling final of the national WorldSkills UK competition at the NEC Birmingham.