TOITURE 40
Training,
a Major Challenge
The roofing trade, traditional yet constantly evolving, now stands at the crossroads of several challenges. Techniques and materials are becoming more modern, energy performance requirements are intensifying, and construction sites are growing increasingly complex. In this context, training is no longer simply a required step: it has become the key to ensuring the quality and durability of work carried out on the roofs of tomorrow. Yet the profession faces a stark reality: a shortage of skilled labor. Attracting new generations and maintaining a high level of expertise in the field have become top priorities.
Fortunately, training programs are becoming more diverse. Traditional vocational diplomas such as the CAP and BP remain the foundation of learning, complemented by work-study programs in apprenticeship centers (CFA) and Greta institutes, which combine theory and hands-on experience. Specialized institutions such as the École Supérieure de Couverture in Angers, the Éco-Campus du Bâtiment – Grand Paris, and the École du Toit, successfully developed by Asturienne, provide highly practical training directly aligned with the needs of today’s construction sites. The Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France also remain essential references, offering a demanding and comprehensive traveling apprenticeship where rigor, craftsmanship, and the transmission of skills come together.
Moreover, training is no longer limited to young people entering the trade. Career changes are on the rise: craftspeople from other sectors, qualified unemployed individuals, and employees seeking a new path in life are finding in roofing an opportunity to join a dynamic, technical, and sustainable profession. Initiatives to welcome these profiles are multiplying: tailored programs, funding through personal training accounts (CPF), on-site mentoring, and intensive sessions focused on fundamental techniques or recent innovations. Finally, efforts to energize training also rely on continuing education: refining skills related to new materials, mastering integrated photovoltaic systems, and understanding advanced waterproofing and insulation issues are now essential to remain competitive and secure construction projects. Manufacturers, professional federations, and training organizations play a central role in this momentum by offering practical modules tailored to real-world conditions.
Training, improving skills, passing on knowledge, supporting career transitions… all of these are levers to strengthen the profession’s attractiveness, ensure the quality of workmanship, and sustain a trade that shapes the identity of our landscapes.
Brice Alexandre Roboam