BRADLEY CHILTON
Why apprenticeships matter more than ever
I RUN an independent family flooring business trading since 1981 with showrooms across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and a fourth one, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, which opened on 10 August.
This is our fourth consecutive year taking on apprentices, and the reason we feel strongly about it is the state of the trade: the trade’s skilled fitters are heading towards retirement and there aren’t enough young people coming through behind them.
In our case, we’re working hard to change that. Our two newest recruits, Jaya and Harvey, plus Rowan, who’s just finished his apprenticeship with a distinction, are part of us doing our bit. Jaya’s comment that ‘everyone’s been amazing and made me feel welcome’ is music to our ears.
The point worth making to the industry is a structural one. Most firms can’t train apprentices because they rely on subcontract fitters paid by the job, who can’t afford to carry and teach someone who isn’t productive. We employ our own fitting team, which is the only reason training is viable for us — our apprentices learn on the job alongside experienced fitters. If the trade keeps leaning on subcontracting, training doesn’t happen, and the skills gap widens.
We’ve got a real issue with skilled labour, and it’s something that isn’t talked about enough.
Over the past few years, we’ve grown the retail side of our business. We now have four sites, having recently picked up the keys to our latest store. But as we’ve grown, one thing has become obvious: where will the next generation of fitters come from?
The reality is we have an ageing workforce. Many business owners in our industry are approaching retirement age, and many understandably have one eye on their exit plans. If you’re looking to retire in the next few years, it’s difficult to justify investing time and money training somebody who may take several years to become fully productive.
Historically, independent retailers trained many of the installers entering the industry. Today, fewer and fewer are doing it. At the same time, many of the larger retail groups rely on subcontractors, and while that model works commercially, subcontractors often don’t have the capacity to employ apprentices.
So we’re left with one question: who is training the next generation of skilled labour?
Because if nobody is, we have a problem.
The installers we rely on today won’t be around forever. Many are approaching retirement, some are reducing their workload, and sadly we’ve even lost some highly skilled fitters over recent years. Unless we start bringing people through now, we’re heading towards a situation where there won’t be enough skilled labour to meet demand.
That’s not just an issue for flooring businesses. It’s an issue for construction as a whole. Governments talk about building more houses, investing in infrastructure and delivering major projects, but none of that happens without skilled tradespeople.
At Carpet Style, we’ve tried to take a different approach.
For the past four years, we’ve run an apprenticeship programme. This September we took on our seventh and eighth apprentices. We’re very proud of them, including Jaya. We work with a local organisation that helps with recruitment, presenting us with a shortlist of candidates before inviting them in for trial days. From there, we work closely with FITA to provide structured training.
Every three months our apprentices spend time at FITA, with the rest of their learning taking place onsite alongside our most experienced installers. It’s a combination that works well because they’re learning the theory and practical realities of the job.
One thing I feel strongly about is qualifications.
We have some fantastic fitters in our industry who’ve never had the opportunity to gain formal qualifications. That’s nobody’s fault; it’s simply how the industry developed. But it does create challenges today. Many younger installers are now coming through with recognised qualifications, NVQs and the ability to gain the CSCS cards required for access to many sites.
Meanwhile, experienced fitters often have to go through separate assessment routes because they never had the chance to obtain those qualifications in the first place.
I often visit construction sites and can’t help but feel flooring sometimes lets itself down compared with other trades. Electricians, plumbers and other specialist contractors often have clearer qualification routes, stronger professional standards and a greater perception of professionalism.
As an industry, we need to close that gap, and for me, apprenticeships are the obvious place to start.
Of course, there are challenges. Small businesses will tell you that training apprentices is difficult. They’ll say government doesn’t do enough. They’ll worry that after two years of investment the apprentice will leave.
But I think we have to look at the bigger picture.
If we’re honest, many of those concerns can be addressed by creating businesses people actually want to stay with. Give young people a clear pathway. Show them what they can earn after three years, five years or 10 years. Demonstrate that flooring isn’t just a job but a career.
People stay where they see a future. I also believe we owe something back to this industry. All of us who’ve built businesses and careers in flooring have benefited from the people who came before us. We have a responsibility to help the next generation do the same.
That means supporting apprenticeships. It means getting into schools and careers fairs. It means talking positively about what we do.
Ask most teenagers about becoming an electrician, plumber or joiner and they’ll have some understanding of those careers. Ask them about floorlaying and many won’t even know it’s an option.
That’s the challenge. The opportunities in flooring are tremendous. The earning potential is there. Career progression is there. The demand is certainly there.
What isn’t there is enough awareness.
If we want a stronger, more professional and more sustainable flooring industry, then we need to start investing in apprentices today. Not next year. Not when it’s easier. Now.
Because if we don’t train the next generation, nobody else will.
Brad Chilton is a director at Carpet Style
