THE MD of a Glasgow-based roofing company, who founded his first roofing business in honour and at the wish of his late sister, has told Project Scotland of his delight at his firm scooping its second major award of the year.
Northwest Roofing and Building Maintenance was named Contractor of the Year by Property Managers Association Scotland (PMAS) in March. The annual PMAS Excellence Awards ceremony is designed to recognise, reward and celebrate individuals who go over and above to deliver exemplary service to clients, customers and colleagues. The company will also receive the Roofing Contractor of the Year for Innovation accolade at the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 in Edinburgh in October.
Launched in 2014 by experienced roofer Billy Grant with just a single van and one labourer, Northwest now employs over 30 staff and has a fleet of 15 vehicles, as well as a sprawling base in northwest Glasgow.
Billy began his roofing career in the 1990s and had always spoken about his ambitions of running his own firm – eventually doing so in 2007 two months on from the passing of his sister, who had urged him to realise his dream. At that point, Billy launched a firm with a business partner but sold his shares in 2014 to fully go it alone with the newly formed Northwest Roofing and Building Maintenance.
The company offers a range of services including slating, tiling, flat roofing, stone rendering plastering, roof replacements, roof condition surveys, fire insulation and protection, and a maintenance service for their clients and customers.
In the early days, growth was driven by the winning of contracts with factoring clients.
Although typically focused on maintenance, Northwest has recently begun moving into larger scale projects at the request of clients. Ongoing work includes a 1,200sqm re-roofing scheme in Newton Mearns and a balcony renewal project at properties in Edinburgh’s Quartermile.
Reflecting on the success of the last decade, Billy told Project Scotland, “In that time we’ve predominantly stuck to our niche of building maintenance… but recently our clients have asked for us to take control of larger scale projects, which we’ve done no problem. We’re set up for it but we’ve got a bit of a niche because we’re probably one of the only building and roofing maintenance companies out there that predominately sticks to the one task, which is maintenance.”
Having come up through the roofing industry as an apprentice, much of the running of Northwest is based on Billy’s experiences and lessons learnt throughout his time in the sector. One early influence was when he sought temporary work as a youngster after the small roofing company he served his time with closed for a two-week break during the Glasgow Fair. Taken on by a larger firm which had a more established set up, it was there he learnt the importance of branding.
“We’re massive on branding,” he added, revealing that all Northwest vehicles are wrapped in the company livery, while staff wear uniforms displaying the company logo and carry ID cards.
“If you see somebody working on a roof with all their PPE and branded workwear, you think: ‘yeah, they know what they’re doing and look like a trusted and reliable contractor’,” Billy explained, before adding that casualwear such as jogging bottoms and T-shirts can sometimes unfairly give the opposite impression. “It’s important that clients and customers trust you and your processes – and that begins with presenting yourself in the correct manner.”
Northwest has a dedicated mental health programme and a bespoke training academy, formed to give youngsters a direct route into roof maintenance. The academy is key to the firm’s upcoming new five-year plan, which will see further established construction and roofing operatives brought on board with the offer of upskilling in maintenance, as well as being put through Sika liquid plastic, PASMA, CSCS, IPAF and many other courses.
The business is a Sika quality-approved contractor and is set to use Sikalastic 625 liquid applied waterproofing membrane on a major project at Cumberland. The system is also being used to deliver a complete overlay on flat roofs at a residential site in Newton Mearns.
The Newton Mearns project is progressing well despite this year’s wet summer, with the product only able to be applied in dry weather.
“We’re getting a dry day pretty much every three days now, which isn’t great,” Billy said. “Time is of the essence, as you can’t deliver this project in cold and wet weather. What we’re trying to do is work in between showers, on dry days, and at weekends. Our guys are working late at night if we get dry spells.”
The hard work, however, will be rewarded in October – with Billy planning on taking the entire team to the Innovation & Excellence Awards at the Village Hotel in Edinburgh.
“The award came from someone nominating us; we didn’t know anything about it until we were contacted (by the organisers),” Billy said. “It’s going to be a good night. All the staff will be there and they’re looking forward to it – It’s been a team effort and we can’t wait to celebrate our success together on the night!”
