Official Launch – The UK’s First City & Guilds Assured Restoration Training Programmes
Highlights from Our Landmark Launch Event
On Tuesday 18th June, we had the pleasure of hosting the official launch of the UK’s first City & Guilds Assured Restoration Training Programmes at Rainbow Restoration’s Central Office. The event marked a significant milestone for our organisation and the wider industry – bringing together insurance professionals, industry leaders, franchisees and technicians to celebrate this pioneering achievement.
City & Guilds is an internationally recognised authority in vocational education and skills development. Through its rigorous independent assessment process, it ensures that training programmes meet the highest standards. Rainbow Restoration is proud to be the first restoration company in the UK to receive City & Guilds Assured status – a formal recognition of both the quality of our training delivery and the expertise behind it.
Our training programme enables technicians to follow structured pathways that lead to formal recognition through digital credentials. The City & Guilds Assured mark reflects the effort, skill and professionalism invested by our in-house team and showcased at our purpose-built training facilities.
A Warm Welcome and a Radiant Start
Greeted by glorious sunshine and a celebratory atmosphere, our guests arrived to a characteristically warm Rainbow welcome from Customer Experience Manager, Kay Crampton and Key Account Manager, Jack Taylor. Reserved parking, professional signage and bespoke feather flags and banners bearing the new Assured logo set the tone for what was to be an inspiring day.
As a token of appreciation, each attendee received a locally sourced mini rainbow cactus, a symbol of resilience and growth, boxed and branded with a QR code linking directly to more information about the programmes. A personal touch came in the form of delicious cupcakes, generously baked by the wife of Technical Manager Adam Hewitt.
Opening Speeches and Our Assured Journey
Managing Director Mark McMullen and Head of Technical Services Ron Rookledge officially opened the event with a welcome speech that shared the story behind our journey to becoming City & Guilds Assured.
They spoke of the importance of formal education, investing in future talent, and elevating industry standards for suppliers, technicians, insurers and restoration claims administration professionals alike.
We were honoured to be joined by guest speaker Jonathan Price, Business Development Manager at City & Guilds, who spoke about the prestige of the Assured framework, the benchmarks that must be met and the significance of Rainbow’s achievement – delivering high praise for the commitment and rigour demonstrated by our technical training team.
Training Pathways and Real-World Impact
Adam Hewitt presented an in-depth overview of our training programme, covering the pathways available, practical requirements and the benefits for technicians, employers and the insurance sector as a whole. The message was clear: structured learning leads to better outcomes, increased accountability and higher standards across the board.
Meet Our First Accredited Technician
One of the highlights of the day was recognising David Kirkwood, a technician from Rainbow Restoration Glasgow-East (operated by long-standing franchisee, Noreen Hughes), as the first ever certified Restoration Professional. David was presented with his official certificate during the launch, a proud moment for both him and the wider network.
David Kirkwood being presented his certificate by Jonathan Price and Ron Rookledge
Industry Vision and Technical Showcase
Ron Rookledge returned to the stage to discuss Rainbow Restoration’s broader vision and how this new training initiative will benefit the industry long-term. His remarks were followed by the premiere of our new promotional video, which highlighted the programme in action and the powerful impact it’s set to have on the industry.
Following the speeches, guests were taken on a guided tour of the Rainbow Restoration Academy, led by Ron, Adam Hewitt and Technical Manager Lee Harrington. Divided into three small groups, attendees explored our live-training environments – including rooms simulating fire and smoke damage, flooding, mould remediation and leak detection, designed to offer hands-on, scenario-based training.
Lunch, Networking and a Shared Sense of Purpose
After the technical showcase, guests enjoyed lunch in the sunshine and a slice of the seaside – courtesy of our posh fish and chip van vendor serving freshly battered Grimsby cod. Attendees had plenty of time to relax, connect and discuss the programme’s potential while enjoying the food and atmosphere.
Closing Remarks and Looking Ahead
In the final session of the day, Ron Rookledge delivered closing remarks, thanking everyone for attending and sharing an update on what’s next: future programme intakes, ongoing rollout and our commitment to continuous improvement. He also announced that the Restoration Professional and Restoration Claims Professional programmes are now open to both insurers and suppliers, a powerful next step in raising industry standards.
Before departing, each guest took home their rainbow cactus, a sustainable and meaningful reminder of the event and the strength of our shared commitment to excellence.
A Momentous Day, A Promising Future
As the event drew to a close, many guests stayed behind to continue conversations with our technical team, explore collaborative opportunities and reflect on the significance of the day. The energy and support in the room was palpable.
We are truly grateful for the overwhelming response and proud that the event ran smoothly – a fitting tribute to such an important moment for Rainbow Restoration and the future of restoration training in the UK.
If you’d like to learn more about our Restoration Training pathways – the first in our industry to be externally evaluated and awarded City & Guilds Assured status – please visit our dedicated page for City and Guilds or contact our team at [email protected].