The SPRA Council is made up of twelve members representing all categories of SPRA membership. A new feature starting this month is to include a view on SPRA and the work of the Council, each month, for members. Over the coming year therefore, all Council members will have the opportunity to provide membership with their views and hopes for the work of the organisation. John McMullan (Firestone), a membrane manufacturer representative, was kind enough to offer to go first with this new WN feature. Many thanks John
Having spent just over a year as a SPRA Council Member, I have been asked to give my insight into being part of the SPRA Council. I saw a seat on the council as an opportunity to take a more active role in increasing the strength of the single ply market in the UK flat roofing market. Although the need to raise the product type profile, improve integration on site and making roofing more attractive as a career are ongoing challenges, we all face in our respective business from a single perspective. On the SPRA Council these challenges and others are faced holistically, including the manufacture, contractor, supply chain, specifier and building owners perspectives. The Council is made up of elected SPRA members and associate members representing each of the groups involved in the specification, procurement, and installation of single ply in the UK.
Happily, I can confirm that broad representation has ensured and resulted in discussions, plans and solutions that are more likely to succeed long term. For example, a challenge which has made good progress since I joined the SPRA Council is the greater integration of the small roof market which has adopted single ply as an alternative to more traditional waterproofing solutions.
SPRA Council Members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to discussions and are able contribute effectively under Chatham House Rules, openly discussing their views in private while allowing the topic and nature of the debate to be made public and contribute to a broader conversation. The Chair- Martyn Holloway, Technical Committee Chair- Nigel Blacklock and the newly elected CEO- Ronan Brunton, play key roles in identifying the direction and focus of Council discussions.
Single ply roofing is like the other categories of construction where change is one of the few constants. SPRA and its Council have and continue to assist its members understand, react and thrive as new challenges appear. This includes promoting strong collaboration with the other roofing association and bodies representing the roofing sector in ongoing changes in regulations, particularly relating to the Hackitt Review. Ensuring that organisations including MHCLG, NHBC, BBA,
CPA, Build UK and the insurance sector understand the role single ply plays in the flat roof waterproofing. It is critical that SPRA is seen as an industry leading association with first class guidance and standards driving up performance of each group involved in single ply.
My hope is that as we progress out of the effects of Covid-19, SPRA will be able to expand the already strong focus on training, improving single ply skill levels throughout the flat roofing sector. With the primary objective of attracting the next generation into the many facets of single ply waterproofing. We are fortunate that construction and single ply have faired the effects of Covid-19 better than others. Expanding the SPRA membership categories and criteria to include more of the market and supply chain can only further lift the reputation of single ply in the UK construction sector.
To conclude I would recommend any members considering putting themselves forward in future SPRA Council elections to give it a go, I am continuing to enjoy learning and particularly seeing points from other perspectives. “When you stop learning you stop growing.” Kenneth H. Blanchard Quote
John McMullan, General Manager Firestone Building Products UK & Ireland