Decades of experience and a people-centred approach form the foundations of NRA Roofing’s growth and success
Equipped with over four decades of experience and expertise, family-owned NRA Roofing & Flooring Services (NRA) has been providing innovative roofing solutions to the private and public sectors since 1980. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the UK’s largest privately-owned roofing contractors, offering a wide scope of services, including pitched slating and tiling, heritage lead, hot melt, asphalt, liquid roofing, heritage lead, single ply membranes, and green, brown and blue roofs.
NRA also owns two smaller businesses – Safe Access Scaffolding Ltd (based in the Midlands) and NRA Construct Ltd. Whilst all three businesses function separately with their own respective clientele, they operate harmoniously, meaning that most of the work can be completed in house providing each with greater control, flexibility and reliability.
“Since starting the business in 1980, our now-retired Chairman, Keith Fletcher, built the business up steadily over a number of years. This pace of growth was increased when his two sons joined the business, Daniel Fletcher first and then later on James Fletcher,” begins Eugene Mcloughlin, Commercial Director at NRA. 
Eugene joined NRA in 2014 as the only non-family equity director from his previous role as a chartered building surveyor. Bringing forth his extensive construction expertise and professional consultancy experience, he has embraced NRA’s family ethos as the business continues upon its remarkable growth trajectory.
“One of our key strengths and differentiators from other similar businesses is that, because we are still family owned, we care and are passionate about our longstanding positive reputation,” Eugene shares. “Our growth over the last 40 years has been the result of building our business through our people-focused approach that originates from the family ethos.
“NRA people are our biggest asset. Everyone joining NRA has the same passionate approach to what we do and is encouraged to deliver to the best of their ability every day.”
Positive environment
Through various workplace initiatives, NRA is keen to foster a positive working environment for all of its employees. The business actively supports the wellbeing of its staff with open communication, a range of health and safety programmes, and by advocating healthy work-life balances with hybrid working opportunities.
“As part of our approach, we proactively engage with our people to lower stress levels and cultivate employee satisfaction,” Eugene details. “We have various assistance programmes for our staff to actively encourage them to engage if they have any health issues, physical or mental. NRA is a strong advocate for mental health awareness, and we have a number of mental health first aiders in the business who are always on hand to discuss and listen when required.”
To protect the physical health of its team, NRA has invested in in-depth health and safety training, and has appointed two qualified health and safety managers in house, who constantly assess the business’ day-to-day challenges and procedures to ensure maximum compliance and injury prevention.
Over the years, NRA has experienced meteoric expansion, and Eugene attributes this to several key factors: “The growth of the company has been more about positioning ourselves where we see growth in particular sectors,” he explains. “Education has been the main factor with the establishment of the Academy system in schools, which provides capital funding to deal with the huge backlog of defective school buildings. NRA has replaced the roofs on hundreds of schools the full length and breadth of the country.
“The growth of senior living has also seen a significant number of new care homes and retirement villages, and NRA has become a key supply chain partner for a number of major contractors majoring in this sector.
“More latterly, the sustainability agenda has been a key factor with NRA becoming a specialist in all types of green roofs as well as PV systems and all of the associated roofing works to facilitate the installations,” Eugene adds.
New headquarters 
Alongside this significant growth, NRA has taken on many exciting projects, one of which was the construction of its own new headquarters in its hometown of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, back in 2021. The new sustainable energy-efficient building offers increased office areas and warehouse space to accommodate further growth in both staff numbers and business volume. This extension will allow NRA to continue serving its valued, long-standing customer base with the capabilities to take on new clients.
“NRA always tries to be the roofing contractor of choice, and therefore we aways try and build long term relationships with our clients, customers, suppliers and sub-contractors,” says Eugene.
Additionally, NRA is a proud member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRFC) and values the deep collaboration and support that comes with being a member of the organisation.
“The obvious benefit is being part of an organisation which champions the cause of all roofing contractors and provides a unified voice on all significant issues facing businesses such as ours,” Eugene explains. “This can include lobbying the government with representation at senior levels to steer and provide input on forthcoming legislation. Other benefits include a platform for celebrating success in our industry and working towards best practice in a number of areas of excellence.”
As the end of the year edges closer, NRA is looking forward to taking on new projects over the coming months. Although ‘growth’ isn’t a major target for the business for 2025, it is keen to consolidate its position in the market and continue its high level of service and delivery, further heightening the client experience for all.