Roofing Specialist of the Year

Winner

Rock Asphalte

Landmark schemes are a speciality for this leader in manufacturing and installing flat roof waterproofing, structural waterproofing and elevated vehicular deck waterproofing schemes. Among its blue-chip projects this year have been Drake Circus, the Emirates Stadium and Liverpool’s Paradise Street. Significantly, the company chose to focus on offering more in-depth management to quality contracts rather than chase orders. As a result, fewer but far larger projects have seen turnover nearly double in the past 18 months. And it’s driven repeat business to new levels, now over 80%. Technical innovation continues apace – last year it achieved ISO 14001:2004 for its environmental management system in both manufacturing and contracting. Green roofs have also become something of a calling card. Paddington Basin, Pearl Assurance HQ, Kensington Palace Gardens and Barking town centre have all been brightened by Rock’s green fingers.

Runners-up

Breyer Group

Long-term partnerships in the public sector are the foundation of Breyer’s success for over 50 years. Its complete rooftop package – from gutter upwards through to lightning conductors and aerial systems – helped boost turnover by nearly 10% this year. Drastically reducing its suppliers – from 200 to 84 – has sharpened Breyer’s act considerably.

Briggs Amasco

Changing its name back to Briggs Amasco, its long-time traditional title, has worked well for the £30 million-turnover roofing specialist. Customers like Taylor Woodrow, Bovis Lend Lease and M&S value its 14-strong national branch network and the quality of its supply chain partners. Sustainability and safety are key considerations that also appeal. The Westfield Shopping Centre in Derby showed it at its best this year.

FK Roofing Services

FRKS is aiming high: it wants to be recognised as “the leading provider of sustainable building envelope solutions.” Laudably ambitious, and an arm-long list of environmental initiatives last year has put it well on the way. But technical innovation hasn’t been overlooked, and investment in IT and design technology is consistently high as Laing O’Rourke, one of its regular partners, noted particularly on the breast care clinic at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Lakesmere

Not just a cladding contractor, Lakesmere displayed its other skill sets at Aintree Racecourse this year using the new Kalzip XT aluminium system on a challengingly curved design that formed the roof canopy. It required the team undergoing specific abseiling training, which paid off in spades as the project kept perfectly to immovable timescales. A firm believer in “lean construction” techniques, Lakesmere has regularly identified ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Its client satisfaction reports make for happy reading.

Prater

Innovative roofing systems are a strong card in Prater’s hand – and part of its all-round cladding expertise. Off-site manufacture, partnering, safety and sustainability are all at the heart of the company’s operations. Job the year was the Kings Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, where Prater installed at speed what’s believed to be a unique two-layer Pro-Roof panel system. In May 2007, the company achieved re-recognition from Investors in People.