OUR TEAM

We believe that quality craftsmanship starts with good training and the team we employ are in-house trained.

Our experienced team members pass on their knowledge to the younger generation who are hopefully the future for the thatching industry.

Rod Miller

Rod established R V Miller Ltd in 1966 after completing his thatching apprenticeship during the 1960′s with a thatching contractor in Wiltshire.

John Tozer

John is a Company Director of R V Miller Ltd. He completed his apprenticeship in 1994 and has experience of thatching in Germany, France and South Africa.

Richard Nicholson

Richard joined the firm as a thatching apprentice in 1977 and is our most experienced thatcher

Robert Smiley

Robert started his thatching Apprenticeship with R V Miller Ltd in 2012

Thatching Apprenticeships

R V Miller Ltd support the National Society of Master Thatchers Apprenticeship scheme. During this scheme another NSMT Thatcher periodically mentors and assesses a trainee’s progress. Each year a cup is awarded the NSMT AGM & Conference to the most improved apprentice.

Our apprentices have previously won this award as well as the NSMT Presidents Cup for Best Apprentice and are either following NSMT apprenticeships or have completed them.

QEST SCHOLARSHIP & APPRENTICESHIP FUNDING

Applications open 12 July-16 August

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) awards scholarship and apprenticeship funding of up to £18,000 to talented and aspiring craftspeople working in a broad range of traditional and contemporary skills, from farriery and thatching to jewellery design, glassblowing and millinery. Our next application round is open 12 July – 16 August 2021 and we are looking for more talented applicants.
Since it was founded in 1990, QEST has awarded over £5million to 625 individuals working in over 130 different crafts. We define craft broadly and welcome applications from all areas including rural skills, contemporary craft, conservation, luthiery and much more. A directory of all our alumni can be seen on our website, along with more details on how to apply – www.qest.org.uk. We have two application rounds each year – in January and July.

Interested makers can attend a Zoom ‘How To’ session to find out more about the application process and for helpful tips on filling out the application forms. These sessions will take place as follows: