To promote health and wellbeing across the tiling industry, TTA has recently announced its support for the Lighthouse Charity. The recent October Golf Day raised funds for this cause. TTA has also appointed Stephen Wagstaff as its first mental health ambassador.
Paul Luff, chairman of TTA, said: “After several hard-hitting conversations at various industry events earlier in the year, I believed that we as an association needed to be proactive and look for ways to offer guidance and support to our members. It was at one of these events where I spoke with Steve Wagstaff and I got to hear his inspirational story. He was also very keen to pursue the cause, agreeing to become TTA’s mental health ambassador, and after a few conversations with different charities and TTA’s General Purposes & Marketing Committee I suggested supporting the Lighthouse Charity to TTA Board. I’m happy to say they unanimously gave the green light and fully supported the proposal.
“While continuing to provide support to Children Today, who we have supported for 20 years, TTA is starting to use fundraising opportunities like our Golf Days to support the Lighthouse Charity’s efforts to tackle the mental health crisis and financial struggles in the construction industry.”
Stephen Wagstaff, managing director of Pro-Tilers UK Wall & Floor, will be running the London Marathon on April 27 2025 for the Lighthouse Charity, alongside Amazing Grace Spaces, another cause close to his heart that provides support for residents at risk of homelessness, operating locally in the Blackpool region.
After a difficult 14 years of heroin abuse, homelessness and antisocial behaviour, in his late twenties Stephen managed to redirect his quick thinking and risk-taking into positive skills that benefit his work and life. Starting in landscaping, Stephen helped in the tiling of a SPAR shop and developed a new passion for tiling that he turned into a fresh start, describing over 25 years in recovery as a “second life”.
Now, Stephen runs a highly successful tiling contractor company with a list of accomplishments to his name. Pro-Tilers UK Wall & Floor is a well-established family-run business, based in North West England and working throughout the UK, specialising in large format tiles. The contractors have been awarded Best Domestic Project at the prestigious TTA Awards for the last three consecutive years, as well as having achieved Excellence in Tile Contracting in 2020, 2021 and 2024. Stephen also personally won Tile Fixer of the Year in 2019.
More than these titles, Stephen is grateful for the team and family surrounding him. He is a firm believer that talking isn’t something to be ashamed of, making space for his workers to openly discuss their problems or mistakes without judgement. Stephen is well respected in return, earning the nickname “Wag” by his colleagues. Stephen’s family helps to keep him well-balanced, including four children – Aimee, Bradley, Aaron and Harvey – as well as two cocker spaniels, Bella and Lola, and his wife Andrea, whom Stephen gratefully describes as his “rock”.
Stephen’s support for TTA and Lighthouse Charity continues to give back to the community. His hard-working spirit and enduring optimism despite his hardships is a reminder to value life and its opportunities, which organisations such as Lighthouse work tirelessly to improve.
Find out more about TTA’s charity support and events at www.tiles.org.uk.