Lightweight steel roofing company Metrotile UK has appointed Glenn Everest to lead its training operations as sales of its products continue to climb.
Glenn, pictured, who boasts more than 40 years’ experience in fitting lightweight steel roof tile systems, will train roofers in the skills required to install the Chippenham-based firm’s variety of products. 
He started installing steel roofs as a 16-year-old trainee in his native New Zealand, where they are used on the majority of housing projects.
Now, as the benefits of lightweight steel roofing become more widely known in the UK and training requirements increase, Metrotile UK has decided to take him on full time.
Glenn has been sporadically working with Metrotile as a freelance technical consultant since the company was set up by managing director John Cunningham in 2000.
John said: “Glenn’s been working with us for a while, helping out with technical inquiries and visiting sites, as well as installing our systems.
“It’s safe to say there’s no one like him – no one who knows more about installing lightweight steel roofing, either in the UK or probably even the world.
“So as more and more roofing companies choose to use our products – for the environmental, quality, security and cost benefits – Glenn’s spending so much time helping our customers that it makes sense to offer him a full-time position with us.
“I am delighted he has accepted the role and we are proud to have him as part of the team.”
He said lightweight steel roofing was “on the cusp of something spectacular”, as it began to break into the mainstream against traditional clay, concrete and slate roofs.
“So having Glenn on board, to help us manage what I know will be an increased requirement over the coming years, is an exciting appointment,” he added.
Metrotile UK’s annual turnover has increased by 30% over the past two years to £7.1m with growth largely from new markets as homeowners, architects, specifiers and contractors begin to demand more sustainable products,
Metrotile UK’s range of lightweight steel roofing systems are made in a factory in Belgium, are 100% recyclable and weigh around a seventh of traditional alternatives such as clay and concrete. They are also much cheaper to transport and come with a 40-year guarantee.
Glenn said: “These roofing systems are the norm in New Zealand and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be much more popular in the UK. Even the rain isn’t any noisier on these roofs than clay or slate!
“In general, using a lightweight steel roof has major impacts on the whole construction process, making it faster, safer, less expensive and more sustainable.
“The way things are going, it’s only a matter of time before Metrotile becomes much more widely-used around the UK so it’s exciting to be a full-time part of the team.”
Metrotile UK is part of an international group that has been in operation for more than 30 years and sells its products in 60 countries worldwide.
