NEWS
International Youth Day | 12 August. Celebrating young talent across Revival, MA Group and our restoration network.
On International Youth Day, we are celebrating the young people already shaping the future of restoration. Our sector faces skills shortages, an ageing workforce and rising demand for specialist expertise. That makes attracting, developing and retaining the next generation of surveyors, technicians, restorers, drying specialists and leaders more important than ever.
Young talent brings fresh thinking, digital confidence, curiosity and purpose. They are helping build a restoration industry that is more innovative, sustainable and customer focused.
Sienna first entered the industry in 2021/22 through a year-long work experience placement with MA Group while completing her Cambridge Technical Certificate in Business. She has since progressed from Claims Technician to Account Executive and more recently Client Account Manager.
Her journey shows what is possible when opportunity, support and ambition come together. Sienna is working towards her Cert CII qualification and aspires to move into senior account management or leadership, mentoring others while continuing to deliver exceptional client service.
“Focus on people first, processes second. Claims are ultimately about people experiencing a loss, accident, or difficult situation. Technical knowledge can be learned, but the ability to listen, communicate clearly, and build trust will set you apart.”
George joined the industry as a new starter and quickly embraced a steep learning curve. He now has the technical and administrative confidence to oversee work from first instruction through to completion, from small leak detections to major fire cases.
His development has included leak detection training, fine art restoration training, Revival National Conferences and networking events.
George’s achievements include the Barry White Award for Examination Excellence, Revival Technician of the Year and BDMA Young Achiever of the Year. He also contributed to Revival Sheffield’s wider award-winning success.
“What I enjoy most about working in disaster restoration is making a tangible difference to the customers we’re helping.”
Looking ahead, George is aiming to pass the BDMA Senior Technician exams, complete industry-specific volunteering or pro bono work, and one day run a Revival branch.
William Tansley is running his own Revival branch at just 26 years old, but restoration has been part of his story for much longer. He entered the industry through the family business, making William the third generation to build a career in restoration.
Starting out as a building site labourer, he learned how homes are built and gained a clear understanding of different construction techniques. From there, he moved into fire and flood restoration, before taking the step into operating his own Revival branch.
William is focused on developing his own skills as well as those of his workforce. Through the BDMA and Revival funded training, he has gained valuable learning and experience.
His success has recently been recognised through his nomination for BDMA Young Achiever of the Year, as well as his award for Branch of the Quarter.
“Take it slow and learn your craft. In five years, I want me and my team still here, growing our branch, maintaining the same high quality and making a difference.”
At Revival and across our wider network, we want young people to see restoration as a career with purpose, progression and belonging. That means investing in technical training, mentoring, leadership pathways, qualifications and cross-functional experience.
Our Know Your Skills, Grow Your Skills scheme, combined with our new learning platform, helps colleagues understand their options, build confidence and access clearer routes into technical knowledge, compliance, leadership skills and ongoing professional growth.
Young professionals are also helping us adopt technology with confidence. Our digital innovations, CLARA, MARV and TREVOR, are changing how we work: smarter, faster and more consistently for customers.
What comes through strongly from our young colleagues is that restoration is technical, but it is also deeply human. Sienna talks about putting people first and building trust when customers are facing difficult situations. George is motivated by making a tangible difference to the customers we support. William takes pride in doing the job properly, seeing the end result at the policyholder’s side, and knowing his team is making a difference.
Their views sit at the heart of this message: restoration is about skill, care, purpose and protecting communities when they need us most.
“Our industry faces an exciting future, but only if we continue to invest in the next generation. The young people across our business and supply chain are already transforming how we work, innovate and serve our customers. Today, we’re proud to celebrate their achievements and the difference they make every day.”
On International Youth Day, we are proud to thank Sienna, George, William and all the people across our business and network who are helping to build the future of restoration.
Get in touch to find out more about careers and opportunities across MA Group, Revival and Virtus.
