A Caddington-based roofer who came to a family’s rescue when they fell victim to cowboy builders has been named a ‘Local Hero’ at this year’s National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) UK Roofing Awards, sponsored by SIG Roofing.
Ben Large and his team from BPL Roofing Ltd leapt into action after spotting a Facebook postdetailing a disastrous project. The family in question were quoted £48,000 for a ground and first floor extension to an existing property, but, after handing over £38,000, the building work stopped. With the builder suddenly impossible to contact, the family were left with missing windows, half-built walls and piles of rubble throughout their home.
Even more seriously, the builder’s shortcuts had compromised the family’s safety. An independent review carried out by Building Control found that the weight of the roof was resting on just one single wall – meaning it could potentially have collapsed at any minute.
Ben Large takes up the story: “I’ve worked in the roofing industry for quite a number of years, but this was one of the worst examples of shoddy workmanship I’ve ever seen. People put a lot of trust in roofers, and it’s horrible to see this trust abused.
“After the case was brought to our attention via social media, I knew we had to help out. Because of the poor quality work from the previous builders, the entire roof had to be reinforced. Once this was completed, we set to work – ultimately completing the job within two days, free-of-charge.
“Helping this family out was just the right thing to do, but being named as a ‘Local Hero’ by the UK Roofing Awards means the world to me.”
Stuart Base, marketing director at SIG Roofing, added: “No one better personifies the qualities needed for a Local Hero than Ben. His commitment to best practice in roofing is truly inspirational, and I’m delighted to see him honoured at a national level.
“Sponsoring the UK Roofing Awards is incredibly important to SIG Roofing, and we’re particularly proud of being able to shine a spotlight on previously unsung heroes from across the industry. I’d like to extend my congratulations to Ben and all of the shortlisted finalists for achieving such an extraordinary achievement.”
The NFRC UK Roofing Awards celebrates examples of best practice from across the roofing industry. This year’s event was held on May 10th at the InterContinental London – The O2.
SIG Roofing is the UK’s leading specialist supplier of pitched, flat and industrial roofing solutions, with over 100 branches located across the UK.
For more information about BPL Roofing Ltd, please visit: https://bplroofing.co.uk
For further information, please visit www.sigroofing.co.uk or follow @sigroofing on twitter.
