Before opening his business, Camille Jacquot, 31, was a journeyman, then a trainer. The title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France helped him by giving him legitimacy.

How did you choose this career?

My father had an earthmoving company and instilled in my brothers and me a love of work, the ability to use our heads and hands. I've always worked outdoors. I come from a family of five children; one of my brothers is a carpenter, another a mason. They both earned their diplomas from the Compagnons du Devoir (Compagnons of Duty). When I finished middle school, I wasn't sure what to do. One of my teachers didn't want me to pursue a manual trade, as it would spoil my potential for higher education. But I chose, like my brothers, a manual trade: roofing!

The first winter was quite harsh, but I liked the fact that the materials and techniques were always different, and that we never did the same thing.

How did you get started?
At the age of 15, I began a two-year apprenticeship with the Compagnons de Muizon, near Reims. And at 17, I set off on the Tour de France. The roofing trade is very regionalized, so you choose a city, a region, for the very specific techniques taught there.
We are housed in Compagnons' Houses, we give our arrival date and are told: "You start tomorrow..." We are housed, fed, sometimes laundered, we work on Saturdays, there are evening classes as part of a training program to improve, and Sundays are free. Everything is done to help us progress. We are paid by the companies. Board must be paid by the Compagnons. After the Tour de France, we are well paid; but during it, not so well. There is an exchange of knowledge; for six months, we learn the techniques, then we leave. We are apprentices but we still do the work... Some employers wanted to give me a raise, on the condition that I stay... But we want to continue the journey and become a companion!

Where did you travel?
I first left my Champagne-Ardenne region for Saumur, to work for the Dupuis company, where I worked mainly with slate. Then, in Albi, at the Zinc Color company, I worked on Roman tiles, with a lot of zinc work and interior cladding (bars, ceiling cladding, etc.) in all types of metals: aluminum, zinc, steel, etc. I shared the little experience I had with slate in a region where it was rare to work with it, and I was able to improve my zinc work.
I then moved to Vannes, to work for Le Neveu, where I worked extensively with slate, on historical monuments—particularly Vannes Cathedral—where I learned a tremendous amount thanks to the knowledge and support of my business manager. In Saint-Étienne, at the Besqueu company, I worked with many materials: slate, tile, metal, with great speed of execution and a military organization. It was tough, but there again I learned a lot.

In Switzerland, at the B.Schnider company, I worked for a year on stapling techniques. The methodologies are different from those in France. It was well paid... but we were paid less than the Swiss! In Strasbourg, at the Couvreurs rhénans, I worked for a year and created my masterpiece to become a journeyman: a castle with one of the towers in purple slate as its centerpiece, as well as the 14 finials. Once finished, our work is corrected by other journeymen. At the same time, I entered competitions such as WorldSkills and the world roofing championship.

Then you became a journeyman...
So I became a journeyman. I moved to Rennes to work for the Galliot company and passed on my knowledge by leading a group of young people, seven students, from apprentices to aspirants. I worked on quite a few projects, working with slate and copper. Then, in Nantes, I looked after a group of ten people, evenings and weekends, with varying levels of experience, which led me to become a trainer three years later.
In England, in Leicester, with the Norman and Underwood company, I worked with lead on numerous historic monuments. I was a team leader and was able to learn English directly on site. And that was the end of my tour of France.
I also went to Lorient and Lille as a trainer. Passing on my energy and my professional knowledge is one of the most important and enriching things I've ever experienced.

Why did you take the MOF (Professional Craftsmanship) exam?
I've always wanted to take it! But to do so, I needed to be in the right conditions. Companies weren't always willing to give me the keys to the workshop to carry out such work, and I wanted to be able to enjoy it, without access or availability constraints. I took the exam in 2021. At the time, I was a trainer with the Compagnons du Devoir in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, where I was able to take advantage of the location and favorable context.

What was the subject?
It was a gable model with a convex roof supporting an arched dormer and an imperial roof, with a slate turret as a penetration, on which a capuchin dormer was placed. The cladding was made of zinc and another made of chestnut shingles. 90% of the traditional materials are present in this model.

What were you looking for with this competition?
I wanted to share my experience. Bringing together everything I had learned in a model was a way to push myself and showcase the technique and beauty of my craft. This competition inspires younger people. Success brings peace of mind, in addition to the pride of the friends and family who supported me. Without them, this competition would not have been completed. Furthermore, the title opens doors, particularly for starting a business or carrying out projects. People trust us more easily because we are seen as more legitimate—which is a shame for those who have the skills, but must demonstrate their abilities every day. You have to be exemplary and humble. You're rewarded, but it's a heavy burden! The time commitment is certainly enormous, but I had a blast with this project. This allowed me to open the company Forma-Act (Formation-Action) with Baptiste Petit [see Toiture Magazine No. 38] and Paul Vandenbroucke. We train companies on their construction sites through personalized support in building envelopes, metal roofing, cladding, sheet metal work, and small-scale roofing (slate, flat tile, and small molds, etc.).

Interview by Hugues Chauffray

Photo credits: Camille Jacquot

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