5 Minutes With… Luke Roberts

5 Minutes With… is the Trussed Rafter Association’s interview series that shines a light on the people shaping the timber engineering industry, from designers and manufacturers to business leaders and innovators. Each interview offers a quick but meaningful insight into their career journeys, proudest moments, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

When a simple job advert typo led Luke Roberts into the world of timber engineering, he had no idea it would spark a lifelong career filled with creativity, teamwork, and continuous learning.

From award-winning achievements to heartfelt reflections, Luke shares the moments that shaped his journey, and the advice he’d give to anyone starting out in this dynamic, ever-evolving industry.

What first brought your attention to a career in timber engineering? (sales, management, designing, or manufacturing?)

Honestly, I left university looking for a job in design and applied for a trainee role at a local company. I thought the advert said ‘1 Beam Designer’, it wasn’t until the interview that I realised it actually said ‘I-Beam Designer’!

That happy misunderstanding led me into the world of timber engineering, where I spent a lot of time designing engineered flooring systems. But I quickly discovered that to build a career in this industry, you need to understand more than just design; in fact, sales, manufacturing, and management all play a part. That’s what makes timber engineering so interesting: it’s a career that constantly challenges you to grow in every direction.

What has been your proudest moment in your career to date?

Back in 2017, I was honoured to win the TTJ Career Development Award for Over 25s – and yes, I was absolutely chuffed.

But what made it truly special wasn’t just the award itself. It was having my colleagues and my wife there with me to celebrate. That moment sticks with me because it reminded me that none of my career achievements would have been possible without their support.

It was a shared win and a proud milestone in a journey built on teamwork, encouragement, and belief.

What advice would you give someone who is starting out in your profession?

Do what I did – ask questions, be curious, and seek out people who know more than you do in design, sales, and manufacturing.

Learn from them, absorb everything you can. But most importantly, invest time in developing your people skills. That’s the most valuable asset you’ll ever have in your career, and it’s something I’m still learning every day.

If you could change just one thing about the construction industry, what would it be and why?

If I could change one thing about the construction industry, it would be the way material call-offs are managed. The current process often wastes valuable time and energy across the supply chain. It creates uncertainty, disrupts production planning, and leads to significant resource loss every week as delivery dates slip.

A more streamlined, collaborative approach would make a huge difference, to improving efficiency, reducing waste, and helping everyone deliver with confidence.

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

There are plenty of important and inspiring people I’d love to sit down with and talk about a wide range of topics. But if I could choose just one person to have dinner with, it would be my mum.

She sadly passed away a few years ago, and the chance to share one more evening with her would mean more than any conversation with a famous figure. That moment would be everything.