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Plymouth Argyle FC has launched their new kit for the 2023/24 season today, and we’re thrilled to see the Retain Limited logo on the back of their playing shorts. We announced that we had become a principal sponsor of Argyle back in April, and today is the day we have all been waiting for.

Those of you who are familiar with the Retain branding will notice that the logo on the shorts looks a bit different. The Retain logo is in gold, perfectly aligning with our gold approach and the gold standard in everything we do as a three-in-one contractor in the construction and renewable energy industries.

The colour gold is well acquainted at Retain as we have been year-on-year winners of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Gold Award since 2016. This accolade reaffirms our ongoing commitment to providing first-class health and safety procedures throughout the Retain Limited group of companies.

Furthermore, we have recently applied for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, which encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. We were awarded the ERS Silver Award in October 2022 and are proud to be an active Armed Forces Covenant member.

Jamie Gibbs, Founder and Director of Retain Limited, said: “The new playing kit looks fantastic, and we’re delighted to support Plymouth Argyle for the next three seasons as a principal sponsor.

“I have watched the club go from strength to strength over the last few years, and to see Argyle back in the Sky Bet Championship, with the Retain logo on their shorts, is a wonderful feeling for my team and I.

“I would like to take the opportunity to wish Steven Schumacher and his team all the best for the new season ahead of their first friendly tomorrow night against Hearts in Spain.”

Please click here to view the new Plymouth Argyle kit.

The 2023 Armed Forces Day takes place tomorrow (Saturday, 24 June), an annual event that sits very close to our hearts at Retain Limited.

Every year, the Armed Forces Day national event puts the host town or city in the spotlight, drawing national media and public interest. This year’s national event will be held in Falmouth (Cornwall) after Scarborough (North Yorkshire) hosted last year’s event.

Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come along and show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from presently serving troops to reservists, veterans, cadets and their families.

The Plymouth Armed Forces Day, in association with Babcock, promises to be an exciting day for everyone, with Plymouth Hoe being the venue. There will be activities for all the family to enjoy and get involved in, from exploring military vehicles and equipment to tackling the Royal Marines challenging activities and the Army’s weapon displays.

Explore the dynamic displays in the Royal Navy Village and chat with the RAF recruitment teams to learn more about the wide range of careers, from aircrew to chef! Look out for the brilliant displays from the emergency services too, who will be on-hand to speak with you, offer advice, and explain how and when they use their emergency equipment.

The Veterans Village will host many interesting and interactive displays, plus a wide range of charities and organisations offering information, support and advice, including training and recruitment opportunities for ex-military personnel.

The event starts at 10:00am and families can enjoy an exciting arena programme, bands, parades, live music and the awesome junior field gun tournaments running throughout the day. The day will finish late into the evening with a free concert offering an outstanding line-up of brilliant performances to dance and sing along to, with the stunning backdrop of Plymouth Sound.

There are many ways for people, communities and organisations nationwide to show their support and get involved with many other events planned throughout the UK. We hope you can attend these events and show appreciation and respect to the armed forces community.

Anxiety is the theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all have, but it can sometimes get out of control and affect us physically and mentally, leading to mental health problems.

Many things can lead to anxiety, such as exam pressures, starting a new job (or losing one), relationships or other significant life events. We can also get anxious about money-related issues and the inability to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or putting food on the table. But anxiety can be made easier to manage and become less of a burden.

Focusing on the topic of anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people’s awareness and understanding of what anxiety really is. The Mental Health Foundation aims to provide information on what can help prevent it from becoming an issue.

Alexa Knight, Director of England at the Mental Health Foundation, commented: “We’ve chosen anxiety as the Mental Health Awareness Week theme this year to kickstart a nationwide conversation, encouraging people to share their own experiences and any helpful ideas on how they manage anxiety.”

Together, the Mental Health Foundation have stated they will keep up the pressure to demand change – ensuring that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society.

Help is always available, and there are many things that we can all do to protect our mental health by effectively managing anxiety. However, what works for one person will be different to another person.

Things that might be helpful include being active, getting outdoors amongst nature, practising breathing techniques, obtaining support to tackle money worries or eating well. Talking to a friend or family member, or spending time with your loved ones, is often an excellent first step to get on the right track.

The Mental Health Foundation has reviewed the evidence for what works to manage anxiety and brought together their top recommendations, which can be found here. If anxiety severely affects your everyday life, you should contact your GP as soon as possible, who can offer additional support and help.

No one should struggle alone.

We are delighted to announce that we have become a principal partner of Plymouth Argyle Football Club for the forthcoming 2023/24 season.

Retain Limited, a new addition to the Argyle partnership portfolio, will see their logo adorn the back of the men’s first team’s playing shorts in a three-year deal.

Retain Limited is a well-established, three-in-one contractor for industrial and commercial roofing, scaffolding installation and maintenance, and commercial solar PV design and installation. Each one of the three services Retain provide has its own individual expert team with extensive experience and industry qualifications in their chosen field.

Argyle’s Head of Commercial, James Greenacre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Retain Limited to our group of partners for the 2023/24 season and beyond. Retain is a great fit for Argyle; they are well-established here in Plymouth and share our visions and values. 

“We look forward to collaborating with them in the years ahead, with the three-year term showing a firm level of commitment from both parties.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be involved with Argyle, and we can’t wait to work with Retain and develop this partnership over the coming seasons.”

Retain Limited, based at Forresters Business Park in Estover, Plymouth, is a brand with a growing reputation. Many of their employees, including company Founder and Director Jamie Gibbs, have previously served in the Royal Marines, and the firm endeavours to provide employment opportunities to help other Royal Marines re-adjust to the lifestyle of a UK civilian. They are also proud to work closely with the Royal Marines Charity (RMA).

Jamie Gibbs commented on the agreement: “We are incredibly excited to begin this new partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

“My team and I recognise the hard work and success that has gone into the club over recent years, both on and off the pitch and within our local community.

“The club is enjoying an incredible season, there is a tremendous buzz around the city, and the atmosphere at Home Park is always electric, thanks to the passionate Green Army.

“We are hugely proud and thrilled to be a part of Plymouth Argyle over the next three years and beyond.”

The 2022 National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Health, Safety and Environment Awards judging is now complete, and we’re delighted to announce that we have struck gold – again!

This is the seventh consecutive year that we have won the Gold Award from the NFRC’s annual health and safety awards which reaffirms our ongoing commitment to delivering first-class health and safety policies throughout the Retain Limited group of companies.

The NFRC received a total of 116 entries for this year’s awards. Participating companies achieved either a gold or silver award, which indicates the quality of the submissions they received.

NFRC members receiving awards are recognised as leaders in health, safety and environment management, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring the highest possible health and safety standards for their workers.

In addition, the NFRC state that some of their members went above and beyond with a detailed explanation of not only how they manage health and safety risks but also how they engage their workers in that process to drive culture change in the management of workplace risks.

We are also delighted to confirm that Retain Roofing was highlighted as one of the companies that went above and beyond the high standard that already exists throughout the submissions.

Jamie Gibbs, Founder and Director of Retain Limited, commented: “To win the Gold Award again is a massive testament to the team, both on and off the building site, and fully demonstrates the importance of health and safety in the make-up of our companies.

“Despite our year-on-year success in these awards that the NFRC brilliantly puts together, we are not guaranteed any kind of accolade.

“I would therefore like to thank Nick Pearce (Health and Safety Coordinator) and the on-site teams who have worked hard and shown fantastic dedication to achieve this award.”

To learn more about our award-winning health and safety policies and three-in-one contractor services of industrial and commercial roofing, scaffolding, and commercial solar PV, please get in touch with us at 0800 027 2244 or email us here.

Knowledge based on experience.

From operating heavy duty machinery to working at dangerous heights, the construction industry face continuous high levels of risk each day. This means that commitment to excellent health and safety management and procedures is critical to ensure the well-being of workers and the community, as well as the sustainability of the organisation and its operations. Here at Retain Roofing, we pride ourselves on offering a premium service to all our clients with an elite approach to health and safety. As part of of our ongoing commitment, we are pleased to announce that we have recently added CHAS Accredited to the list of health and safety certifications and awards that we are proud to have achieved since we first established in 2008…

What does CHAS Accredited mean? 

CHAS (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a type of accreditation that verifies a company’s excellent standard of health and safety. As co-founder of SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) and the Common Assessment Standard, CHAS is trusted by multiple industries, including the construction industry, to set comprehensive compliance benchmarks that make the world a safer place. Being CHAS accredited means Retain Roofing can demonstrate compliance and demonstrate our risk management policies to match an elite standard of assessment from industry-leading accreditation schemes. 

What other Health & Safety Accreditations do we have? 

NRFC Gold Award Winners 

We are the proud winners of the National Federation of Roofing Contractor’s (NFRC) Gold Award for Health and Safety year after year. The NRFC is the UK’s largest roofing trade association and ensures that all its members provide only the highest standards of safety  and workmanship through a strict code of practice, vetting procedures and site inspections. 

Gold Level-3 members of Constructionline

Being Gold Level-3 members of Constructionline  means we have proven to have defined health and safety measures including occupational health arrangements and procedures for staff health and well-being; measures to protect the public and restrict unauthorised access; and procedures to protect against the risk of fatigue. 

Approved members of Alcumus

Alcumus helps dedicated companies to manage and avoid risks that endanger workers, operations and the planet. Alcumus help us to anticipate and mitigate risks, achieve ethical best practices and grow sustainably with compliance and transparency. 

Members of Avetta 

Avetta is the world’s largest supply chain risk compliance network which helps us to create safe operating environments for site-workers through industry leading supplier evaluation and audits. 

Safeguarding our trusted reputation…

We have a proven track record of successfully delivering industrial and commercial roofing projects of all scales and sizes to a superior finish using only high quality materials that are supplied from the nation’s leading manufacturers. Our extensive experience, as well as our array of qualifications and awards mean we are trusted by a diversity of companies across the nation to install a range of different roofing solutions.

If you are interested in learning more about our industrial and commercial roofing services, including asbestos removal, drone surveys and maintenance services, or would like to take advantage of our no obligation free quotation, please get in touch with a professional member of our team today who will be happy to answer any questions you have: 0800 027 2244

Retain Roofing is part of the Retain Limited group of companies. As well as an industrial and commercial roofing service, Retain Limited also offer solar PV design and installation and scaffolding solutions. Please ask a member of our team if you are interested in any of our other services or submit an enquiry form on our website.

“We are committed to continuing to raise the bar for health and safety practices to protect our site-workers, clients and the wider community.” 

— Jamie Gibbs, founder and director of Retain Limited

On the 6^th April 2022 there will be a new update for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) regulations that will affect the way you distribute PPE to people who work for you.

At Retain Limited, we go above and beyond to ensure the safety of all people who work for us and with us.

Previously, the PPE regulations only affected limb (a) workers. These are the people that are officially employed by you, an employee. They will have an employment contract with a specific number of hours to work, a regular salary or wage and will have holiday and sick leave allowance.

The new PPE regulations now affect limb (b) workers. These are people who aren’t directly employed by you and are not self-employed. They may be an agency worker, freelancer or casual worker. They won’t receive the same benefits as your regular employees.

The new PPE regulations will not affect self-employed workers. Self-employed workers usually run their own business and are responsible for it, work flexibly and provide their own equipment and tools.

Alongside PPE, it is paramount to conduct regular risk assessments to make sure that all safety risks are reduced to a minimum. PPE works alongside your other health and safety measures, supplementing the overall safety of the work environment. Head over to this Peninsula blog to find out ways to assess your PPE needs.

To learn more about our services or to enquire about anything else, please contact the Retain Limited team on 0800 027 2244 or fill in our online contact form to request a call back.

We have struck gold for the 6^th year in a row in the NFRC Health and Safety in Roofing Awards

The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) is one of the largest, well-respected and reputable roofing trade associations in the UK. They promote quality contractors and products and ensure that its members are leading by example within the roofing industry.

As a member of the NFRC, it is our responsibility to ensure that we adhere to the high standards set out by ourselves, NFRC and the Government. This includes quality of work, materials we use, health and safety and the training of our employees. It is the backbone of our business and is part of our core principles.

There are numerous laws and legislations that are relevant to health and safety within the construction industry that we adhere closely to:

Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

Work at Height Regulations (2005)

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (2015)

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (1998)

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998)

The NFRC have said “We received a total of 116 entries, with participating companies either achieving a gold or silver award, which is a testament to the quality of the submissions. In addition to this, some members went above and beyond with a detailed explanation of not only how they manage health and safety risks, but also how they engage their workers in that process to drive culture change in the management of workplace risks. The judges felt it only right to give these companies a special mention in the Member Bulletin.”

Roofing Today were kind enough to feature us on their site, with some words from our Project Co-Ordinator and our Director. Read here!

Congratulations to the team for continuing to work hard to achieve this award and going above and beyond expectations!

To learn more about our professional and personal approach to all things health and safety or to enquire about anything else, please contact the Retain Limited team on 0800 027 2244 or fill in our online contact form to request a call back.

Knowledge based on experience.

It’s no secret that the Retain Limited Group are extremely proud to work closely with the RMA, an association that has grown professionally over the last few years but originally established via personal connections in the early days from our very own Management Team.

The RMA are a fantastic charitable organisation who aim to provide a lifetime of support to the Royal Marines Family, by whatever means required.

With many of our own employees previously serving in the Royal Marines, including Founder and Director Jamie Gibbs, we endeavour to not only provide employment opportunities to help other Royal Marines re-adjust into the lifestyle of a UK civilian, but also educate, train and create bespoke career pathways, tailored to their individual skillsets, to enable and encourage a successful and fulfilling life post-service. 

Take a look at the video in the link below to see Retain Limited and our former Royal Marines speaking about our association with the RMA, and their current career plans. 

The recent news that the construction industry is facing significant issues with supply and demand for both building materials and skilled labour comes as no surprise to Retain Limited founder and director, Jamie Gibbs.

Gibbs founded Retain back in 2008 and has experienced sustainable growth throughout this time but these well documented issues have proved to be a real challenge for the day to day running of his company.

“What we are currently witnessing across the construction industry is predominantly a knock-on effect from the problems facing the logistics industry.” Gibbs said.

“The logistics industry was already struggling to meet demands after the Brexit fall-out and the COVID-19 pandemic has added further disruption with ongoing sea and road freight issues.

“This has resulted in much higher costs for building materials across the board and this has made managing our supplies and projects even harder. I believe this is more extreme for smaller companies who rely on regular stock deliveries at builders’ merchants which simply isn’t there at the moment.

“The larger construction companies that have greater purchasing power are able to bulk buy and stockpile the materials they need which is at a detriment to everyone else who is trying to finish an existing project or even start a new one.

“It’s a classic economic example of demand exceeding supply where prices go through the roof as we’ve previously experienced in other industries such as farming and more recently housing.”

It has recently been reported by Glenigan (for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors) that the second quarter of the year continued to follow suit as the first with sustained growth in workloads and new projects given the green light by local planning authorities.

Many industrial and commercial roofing contractors, including Retain, have also reported difficulties in recruiting skilled labour to physically get on site and do the work they have on their books.

Throw in the supplies shortage and the rising cost of materials and there is growing pressure on companies operating in the construction industry to complete projects on time which will add further delay to the sectors recovery since the pandemic hit our shores some 18 months ago.

Gibbs added: “If these shortage problems aren’t addressed and resolved soon it will only result in a further squeeze on the everyday costs and margins for roofing contractors which makes it difficult to plan ahead with confidence.”