Shaun Wadsworth explains why The Contract Flooring Industry Training Guide 2023 is the best place for training guidance in the flooring sector.
STARTING the new year in familiar fashion I am pleased to inform CFJ readers that included in this month’s copy of CFJ is the CFA 2023 Contract Flooring Industry Training Guide. This guide provides a full and comprehensive reference point for employers with training needs, covering all areas in the flooring sector. The guide is also available digitally, so you can download it through the CFA website www.cfa.org.uk or read online at www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk.
As in the previous Training Guide, this year’s content covers core training areas such as floorlaying apprenticeships. This includes key information, funding and recruitment help for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and how to access it. You can find information on NVQs for experienced workers and where to access them.
It’s important employers have access to this kind of information to make calculated and informed decisions on a wide range of topics, training being one of them. The CFA provides bespoke advice to its members on training as one of the many member benefits available and is fairly unique in co-founding its own training organisation, Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), to deliver formal training to the industry.
The past 12 months have seen a significant increase in the demand for training, whether that’s attracting new talent into the industry, upskilling current workforces or developing the amount of industry-driven training taking place. The issue is there’s currently not enough provision to meet the demand, something CFA have tracked for a while now and we feel strongly we need a better plan to recruit more people into our sector as floorlayers.
This is obviously reflected in the skills and labour market, which has direct correlation with training for the industry. The CFA estimates through information provided by its members that the gap in skills and labour for floorlayers was at 16% in 2021 and has increased to 18% over the past 12 months.
There seems to be broad agreement in the commercial flooring industry that we need a better plan to recruit more people into our sector and particularly into the role of floorlayers. That said, there’s also some need for good contracts managers, estimators and even the next generation of business leaders.
In response to this challenge the CFA launched Future Fitters and its accompanying guide in April of this year with various articles from ceo Richard Catt and myself gracing the CFJ pages ever since.
Future Fitters aims to identify and increase the number of floor fitters (of all ages) entering the UK commercial and domestic floorlaying industry. We aim to do this with support and training to provide a pathway for individuals to become skilled, competent and qualified installers, and information in this year’s Training Guide is critical to that.
The Training Guide is also a great source of a wider range of training related information:
Looking for additional training? There is a huge list of manufacturers’ training opportunities in the training guide, with over 30 specialist training courses including contact information and there is also the comprehensive list of short courses offered by the training arm of the CFA – The Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) for both the commercial and domestic markets.
Need some help funding training? There are various sources of grants, funding and free training available to support employers through manufacturers, government funding and organisations such as CITB. All contact details of the key businesses and organisations are provided in this section including information, advice and guidance on funding and grants for help in business improvements and bespoke training opportunities.
Require an NVQ? The guide boasts an extensive list of all training providers and contact details of those that offer the right qualifications within the flooring industry for your needs. This also saves you time in scouting around for the information yourself.
Need a carded workforce? We have all the information you need with detailed explanation on the application process for a CSCS card including what type of card you can apply for, based on the qualification(s) you hold.
Want to know more about Build UK’s Training Standard? This Standard was designed in consultation with the Construction Leadership Council. The Training Standard content explains the training, qualification and CSCS Card requirements (including partner schemes) for working on construction sites operated by Build UK members.
Want to organise some health and safety training? To actively support floorlaying companies in complying with the Build UK Training Standard, we have listed CITB training courses which will meet managers’ and supervisors’ needs and may attract attendance grants if you are in-scope to CITB.
Struggling with recruitment? For those of you who are looking at recruiting future employees it includes information skills and labour recruitment including dedicated help such as Talentview Construction and The Talent Retention Scheme.
Do you have some outstanding apprentices? The annual CFA Flooring Apprentice of the Year competition returns for 2023 and is currently open for entries. This competition promotes the importance of apprenticeships and is sponsored by leading manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, CFJ and CFA. All are committed to supporting training and development of a highly skilled and competent workforce. Read all about last year’s winner and find out how to enter your own apprentices.
Hopefully this gives everyone an overview of the content in this year’s Training Guide and provides plenty of information about potential areas of interest. Got a question regarding something in the guide? Do you want to be included in the guide next year? Or just have a training enquiry in general? Feel free to get in touch I would be happy to help.
0115 9506836
shaun@fita.co.uk
www.fita.co.uk
Shaun Wadsworth is CFA and FITA training manager
