A disillusioned Lichfield finance worker is hoping to save the roof above people’s heads instead of threatening to take it away.
Dean Freeth, who worked for the ill-fated Lehman Brothers, has set up a roofing business with his dad Carl.
The idea came after the collapse of the US investment giant last September. Although Dean’s job as a debt collector in Buckinghamshire was safe, he felt the finance industry was doing nothing to help homeowners who were saddled with debt.
He explained:
“It was awful. I wasn’t happy what they were doing to people. People had been given stupid amounts on their mortgage and there was no way I could help them.”
The 22-year-old has returned to his home town of Lichfield and bought a franchise of Rooferman with his father, who used to run a maintenance company.
The national Rooferman franchise was created by Yorkshire-based Ploughcroft building services to help workers set up their own business in the crisis-hit construction industry. The company was recently awarded Business Link Yorkshire’s Bucking the Trend gold award for its response to the recession.
Dean and Carl have completed a five-week training period at the company’s NVQ training centre, learning roof repairs and maintenance, health and safety and new technologies such as solar paneling. Equipped with tools and a liveried van, they are ready to undertake roofing repairs across the West Midlands, Lichfield and Birmingham area.
Dean admitted he couldn’t wait to get started. He added:
“I’m taking control of my own destiny. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m looking forward to working with Dad.”
Carl, 49, said he was looking forward to running his own business again:
“I like the back-up and training facilities and there’s a lot less risk being part of a franchise.”
Welcoming Carl and Dean, Ploughcroft managing director Chris Hopkins said it was important to retain skills in the construction industry so that it could build its way out of recession.
“We are delighted that Carl and Dean have joined Rooferman and wish them every success.”
Carl and Dean can be contacted on 01543 409429 or by e-mailing lichfield@rooferman.co.uk.
