Roger Stead joined Selwood Housing as a plumber in the Response and Voids team in September 2024.
As part of our commitment to upskill frontline staff and enable them to become multi-skilled operatives, Roger recently attended a four-day plastering workshop.
Why did you join Selwood?
I had my own plumbing business for 15 years but it started getting stressful in the last couple of years with prices going up. I was working all hours under the sun and not getting anything for it. Now it’s nice to get in and know what I’ve got to do for the day. I’ve got security aswell. Since I’ve been at Selwood I actually enjoy going to work.
What do you like most about your role?
It’s nice helping people. That’s one of the things I’ve always enjoyed doing. It’s just the way I’ve been brought up. I was brought up on a council estate, so I know exactly what it’s like and what people have to go through. And I get some really lovely comments from people.
What made you want to try plastering?
I’d passed my probation and Tim Court, my supervisor, asked me if there were any courses I wanted to do. Everything I’ve ever done has always been self-taught, but I’ve never been able to master plastering. I’ve just started it, sworn a lot and then given up. Then I paid a friend to come to do some plastering at my house and he just laughed at me because I’d made such a mess trying to do it myself.
So I thought I’d give the workshop a go. I thought ‘it can end in tears, or I can get actually plastered in plaster’ but it actually went really well. From the first day I managed to get plaster on the wall and did a good finish and everything. So it was really good, I really enjoyed it. My wife has now booked me in to do the back bedroom!
So what’s next for you at Selwood?
I’ve just accepted another position in Selwood’s bathroom team! I’ve always wanted to push myself and I’m looking into training to be a surveyor aswell. So onwards and upwards really.
To find out more about career opportunities at Selwood Housing and to view current vacancies, head to our careers pages.
