Area sales manager Rod Glen has joined lightweight steel roofing firm Metrotile UK, with the aim of helping to continue the company’s 30 per cent growth from 2014 into 2015.
More than half of Metrotile UK’s growth last year, 18.3 per cent in all, came in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England, under the eye of Glasgow-based regional director Mark Kelly.
Mr Kelly’s performance contributed to sales of 1.16 million tiles nationally by the end of last year, with record turnover figures of £7.1 million with forecasted nett profits of £679,000.
Scotland is targeted as an area of major continued expansion and Mr Glen, based in Stirling, will manage the company’s sales throughout the country.
He said that crucial to future success in Scotland will be forging relationships with architects and other building professionals, to grow awareness within the construction industry of the benefits of lightweight steel roof tiles as an alternative to clay.
It promises to be a busy year for the married father-of-three who lives in Cambusbarron, as he has just started writing his first book – a crime novel set in the east end of Glasgow.
Before working in specification sales for more than 20 years, Mr Glen was previously a tradesman in Canada and South Africa, having served an apprenticeship in the Clyde Shipyards.
“I’m looking forward to my new role,” he said, “and I feel very excited and very positive about it.
“I’ve been charged with setting up CPDs for architects, helping them learn about new products in the industry. I was talking to a major architectural practice in Glasgow today and we’re already looking to host a Metrotile presentation later this month.
“Metrotile is expanding greatly at the moment and what we want to do is really raise awareness of our lightweight steel products as an alternative to clay tiles. We want to be someone that architects can turn to for information and to ask questions, and be someone that they can put trust in.”
Metrotile UK provides a variety of tiles for commercial and domestic premises, with notable projects in Scotland including 3,000sqm of roofing materials for stable blocks and chalets at the Ingliston Equestrian Centre near Glasgow, as well as the Fair Isle Bird Observatory.
Mr Kelly said the benefits of lightweight steel tiles for a variety of users, from local authorities and housing associations, to factory builders and roofing contractors, include added safety in the construction process, as well as sustainability benefits, speed of fixing, reduced whole life costs an anti-vandalism measures.
He said: “We sell a wide range of tiles suitable for many different purposes, with an enhanced range of profiles due to be introduced into the market and the benefits – in terms of lower construction costs and lessened environmental impact – are significant.
“The thing about lightweight steel tiles is that they require much less structural support – perfect for lighter structures and low-pitch roofs, highly versatile but remaining aesthetically pleasing.
“At Metrotile we embrace modern methods of construction, such as fully finished roofs that can be lifted into place, as well as offsite fabrication.
“So it’s proving to be a great time for Metrotile and having Rod Glen joining me is a really exciting move for us, as it will allow me to focus on areas further afield while he concentrates on Scotland. Rod is very experienced in this industry and I am confident he will do a great job for us.”
Metrotile UK Ltd is part of an international success story that has been in operation for over 30 years. Its systems and accessories can be seen upon rooftops in over 60 countries worldwide.
Practical, economical and sustainable, the tiles are up to seven times lighter than traditional roof materials such as clay and slate, yet they offer unmatched protection and security as well as a 40 year guarantee on all products in the range.
The products are manufactured in Belgium and shipped regularly to the UK, as well as other locations around the world.
Mr Kelly said: “Apart from our continued growth across our various markets, we are also really keen to forge relationships with developers. Our product has massive cost-saving potential for developments due to the shallower foundations which buildings with lightweight roofs require.
“Indeed, we believe Metrotile roofs can create a change of practice on timber frame construction, in terms of being pre-constructed and quickly lifted into place, rather than being assembled once the frame is erected and exposed to the elements.”