The Hearn Group | Local Community

Editorial September 2009

Roofing apprentice on top of his trade

The Hearn Group Success Story Continues

A roofing apprentice from Dorchester has made his mark nationally as one of the industry’s top trainees, with a place in the final of a UK competition.

Kane Wakefield, who works for Hearn Roofing, came out on top in a regional competition which tested the skills of the best apprentices in the South West and South Wales.

He is now one of just nine apprentices from all over the UK in the roof slating and tiling section of the SkillBuild finals, which take place over three days in Glasgow in early October.

SkillBuild is the construction trade’s biggest skills competition, searching for the best young builders in a number of different trades.

As part of his training Kane is studying for an NVQ qualification, going to college in Exeter on day release.

He said: “My lecturer was asked to nominate the people he thought would do best in the competition, and he put up my name.

“The competition is a practical test of the quality of your work. I just went into it and gave it my best.

“Getting through to the final is fantastic, because I’m quite proud of what I do.”

Kane, 19, who lives at St George’s Road in Dorchester, has been with Hearn Roofing since he left school.

He said “I knew this was the sort of thing I wanted to do for a living, and I asked Shaun Hearn if there was any chance of a job. He said yes, and that was me started.

“I really like this sort of work, and one day I’d like to run my own firm.”

Hearn Roofing has seven apprentices. Contracts Manager Kevin Crane said: “In our business we consider it really important that people get a good training, and things like Kane’s success confirm that we’re getting it right.”