The ongoing skills and labour shortage is arguably the biggest challenge facing the UK flooring industry. It leads to project delays, additional costs and potentially compromised service for consumers, ultimately preventing businesses taking on work and realising their full potential. This is why, as outlined in my first column for CFJ as CFA president, I have made it a top priority of my tenure to do what I can to address the issue.

Writing for CFJ this month, CFA CEO Richard Catt highlights the current contract flooring industry skills gap of around 18%, equating to more than 12,000 installers, and the numbers show a worsening trend, increasing from 11% five years ago. It isn’t a new problem, and it mirrors a wider crisis within the UK construction sector.

But why do we have a skills shortage? Put simply, people are leaving the trade, often to retire, at a faster rate than they are being replaced by new entrants.

This leads us to more difficult questions: why aren’t more people choosing a career in the flooring industry? And what do we need to do to change this?

Part of the problem is doubtless the drive for more school leavers to go to university and get a degree, with the promise of higher-than-average salaries (often unrealised) and eschew traditional ‘unsexy’ trades for the ‘glamour’ of a ‘graduate career’. This is exacerbated by numbers of apprenticeships stagnating, with the average number of apprentices per company less than one.

The solution then, in part, is addressing these perceptions and communicating the benefits of a career in the flooring industry. They include, but are not limited to: a job for life that is unlikely to be replaced by AI anytime soon, good pay in-line with other in-demand trades, all without the burden of student debt. As we know, flooring isn’t just a job, it’s a rewarding, varied career, with pathways to management, business ownership, and even industry leadership.

Another part of the equation is continuing to provide accessible training to help individuals become qualified, skilled, and competent installers, including apprenticeships. The CFA has been instrumental in boosting apprenticeship opportunities through its training arm FITA and increasing funding for apprenticeships in England and enabled CITB Inchinnan in Scotland to continue to deliver apprenticeships in Scotland. I’ll be talking about the role of training and apprenticeships in more detail in future columns.

This vision underpins CFA’s recently launched, updated version of its Future Fitters guide. This comprehensive industry resource is designed to be the ultimate tool for anyone considering a career in flooring, while simultaneously empowering employers and training providers to actively secure our future workforce.

It offers practical advice on everything from advertising roles to apprenticeship options and mentoring opportunities for experienced professionals looking to give something back. It aims to signpost clear entry points for everyone whether a school leaver, a career changer, or someone re-entering the workforce.

The CFA has strengthened engagement with schools and young people through STEM events and FITA “Open Doors” days, initiatives designed to spark curiosity about the flooring industry and challenge perceptions about careers in construction.

One suggestion for tackling the skills gap that we are championing is improving diversity in the workforce. Women have traditionally been underrepresented in a male-dominated industry. It is ludicrous to think about tackling the skills shortage while discounting as much as 50% of the population. The Future Fitters guide directly addresses this, featuring case studies and practical suggestions for attracting and supporting women in flooring.

Crucially, the flooring industry needs to come together to solve the issue. Manufacturers, distributors, educators and contractors need to work collectively to support new training initiatives and identify, recruit, and nurture new talent. It is encouraging to see growing collaboration across the sector already. We still have a way to go to close the skills gap.

The CFA is a leading trade association representing the Flooring Industry. If you would like an application pack or further information on the benefits of membership, please contact the CFA offices.
0115 941 1126
info@cfa.org.uk
www.cfa.org.uk