Members of the OPR team spent the day at the Engine Shed in Stirling recently giving hands-on roofing experience to young people as part of Heritage Careers Week.
Experts in a variety of fields showcased practical skills with workshops demonstrating traditional building materials, skills and the innovative techniques used within the Heritage Sector.
OPR founder Mark Thornton and some of the roofing team showed young people how to dress (cut) a slate and attach it to a roofing rig designed to simulate a real roof.
OPR MD Fiona Thornton said: “We were delighted to get involved in the Practical Skills Workshops for Heritage Careers Week after being contacted by our trade body the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) to take part.
“The young people spent time with each of the different sector experts and Mark and the team enjoyed showing them how to dress a slate, which is quite a skilled technique, before giving them the chance to try doing it for themselves.
“It was a successful and enjoyable event and the young people taking part learned a lot of new skills from all the different practitioners of heritage crafts throughout the day.”
Workshops were delivered by a range of experts, from senior practitioners to current trainees and apprentices, and over the course of the day participants joined six taster workshops giving them the chance to try each of the crafts and skills and develop their knowledge.
The workshops covered Stonemasonry, Roofing, Heritage Science, Digital Documentation, Ironwork and Lime Plastering.
The aim of the day was to give young people an opportunity to learn all about the key skills needed to develop or advance a career in the Heritage Sector.