FDM – Training & Development( FDM by UAP Ltd) is celebrating a landmark year of growth and operation with national recognition across construction, glazing and fenestration. FDM’ s year closed with three major award wins including Fire Solution of the Year at the 2025 London Construction Awards, Training and Development Initiative of the Year at the G25 Awards, and Training Company of the Year at the 2025 National Fenestration Awards.

Beyond awards, FDM has taken a leadership role in standards and skills development. It convened a national roundtable on fire door competence chaired by Nicola John. Dame Judith Hackitt attended as a guest speaker and contributed to the foreword to FDM’ s subsequent report, which described the organisation as“ an exemplar of good practice”. The discussion focused on translating the Building Safety Act’ s intent into day-to-day behaviours across the entire fire door lifecycle.

FDM also launched the GQA Level 3 Diploma in Inspection of Fire Resistant Doorsets and the GQA Level 3 Diploma in Installation of Fire Resistant Doorsets, both developed with awarding body GQA Qualifications and the National Skills Centre. The Inspection diploma is a 65-credit qualification comprising 12 units and 313 guided learning hours, certifying individuals to carry out non-invasive inspections with clear emphasis on legislative compliance and practical assessment in live or simulated environments. The Installation diploma comprises 11 core units, four optional units and 226 guided learning hours,

certifying installers as competent to install fire resistant doorsets in line with current legislation and best practise.

Extending access to high-quality training nationwide, FDM has partnered with the FPA to open a satellite academy at the FPA’ s site in Banbury, Oxfordshire from January 2026. The site will host a selection of FDM’ s specialist courses including Responsible Persons, Fire Door Procurement, Fire Door Installation and Fire Door Awareness, with FDM also delivering its Level 3 Diploma under licence at the facility. The partnership will see reciprocal delivery between Bury and Banbury to widen pathways into competence.

Launched in 2024 as the UK’ s first hands-on training academy dedicated solely to fire doors, FDM has trained more than 1,200 professionals in 18 months and holds GQA accreditation and CITB approval.

Nicola John, Managing Director at FDM – Training & Development, said:“ The industry is backing what matters: practical competence that keeps people safe. From regulators to contractors, there has been a clear momentum this year behind skills, accountability and confidence across the fire door sector. We’ ll continue working with partners to turn regulatory intent into consistent, on-site practice.”

Looking ahead to 2026, FDM will continue to expand its national footprint and portfolio of vocational qualifications to meet evolving regulatory and industry requirements.

www. fdmltd. co. uk

I’ m not approaching the solid roof market as a career commentator or long-standing industry spokesperson. I come at it from a slightly different angle, from a newer generation involved directly in manufacturing, operations, and day-to-day decision-making, watching how products are specified, sold, installed, and ultimately lived with.

From that perspective, one thing stands out clearly: the market has moved on, but much of the conversation around solid roofs hasn’ t.

When solid roofs first gained traction, they were positioned as a straightforward upgrade, stylised as warmer, heavier, more permanent than polycarbonate. That was true at the time. But today’ s systems are far more complex and reducing them to simplistic comparisons no longer reflects how they perform in the real world.

A lot of discussion still centres on headline figures or material choices alone. Thermal performance is important, but it isn’ t the full story. Structural design, condensation risk, junction detailing, and how a roof is manufactured and installed all influence long term performance. Looking at any one factor in isolation often leads to poor comparisons and, in turn, poor decisions.

Another area where I think the industry sometimes misses the mark is building control. It’ s often talked about as a hurdle, when it should be a baseline. Systems that are properly designed, structurally calculated, and supported with the right documentation generally don’ t struggle with compliance. Where problems arise, it’ s usually because products are brought to market without enough validation, leaving installers to manage uncertainty on site.

Commercial pressure is also reshaping how installers think. Margins

The market has moved on, but much of the conversation around solid roofs hasn’ t

are tighter, lead times matter more, and callbacks are more damaging than ever. From what I see, installers are becoming more selective, not just on price, but on predictability, technical backup, and how confidently a system can be installed without surprises. That shift feels significant.

I wouldn’ t describe myself as an industry expert, but being close to manufacturing gives you a clear view of where friction occurs and, more importantly where it doesn’ t. The strongest systems tend to be those designed as complete solutions, not assembled from loosely connected components or propped up by outdated messaging.

The solid roof sector is maturing. As it does, the industry conversation needs to mature with it by moving away from oversimplification and towards clarity, evidence, and accountability. From where I’ m standing, that’ s where the real progress will come from.

www. warmerroof. com