For the past 10 years both the Contract Flooring Association and Contract Flooring Journal have strived to promote the very best in floorlaying through the Flooring Apprentice of the Year Competition. This has consistently been a fantastic way for employers, FE colleges, and training providers to give their apprentice(s) the recognition they deserve by entering them into this highly sought-after competition and I’m pleased to announce it is back for 2022.
As always, this competition is backed by superb support from its sponsors, providing the entrants with a chance to win a minimum of £1,000 in cash, as well as thousands of pounds worth of high-quality products, training days, tools and equipment for the winning apprentice. This fantastic prize list will be presented at a prize-giving ceremony at the FITA Training Centre in Loughborough in May 2022. The lucky apprentice will also have the honour of attending the CFJ/CFA Awards 2022 at Coombe Abbey in September 2022 to officially receive their award along with the flooring industry’s top flooring contractors and manufacturers.
The level of support shown for our apprentices each year is something that we are continually amazed by and also something that the flooring industry should be immensely proud of. It demonstrates just how committed manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, CFJ and the CFA are to supporting training and to the development of a highly skilled and competent workforce.
Floor laying, along with other construction trades, clearly has an ageing workforce and it is imperative that the young adults can see the benefits of joining the flooring sector. C
ompetitions like this promote the very best the industry has to offer and serve as a reminder of what good quality training can lead to. I hope the competition also shows just how invaluable training like apprenticeships really is. That is why we believe a competition like this is crucial for advertising the sector to the next generation of floorlayer.
Competition entries can be made directly though the CFA website at www.cfa.org from January 4 – March 31, 2022. Entering the competition is easy but relies specifically on the apprentice, employer and the training provider to submit information, supporting comments and evidence of projects or activity that show just how good the nominee is.
To enter the competition the nominee must be attending an industry recognised off-the-job floorlaying apprenticeship programme at an FE College or with a private training provider to learn the knowledge and skills of the trade.
Last year’s winner Jack Gray – an apprentice at Veitchi Flooring in Glasgow – was announced winner of the competition in 2021 and received high praise from the flooring industry during the CFJ/CFA Awards 2021. The Flooring Apprentice of the Year award is made possible through the generosity of the sponsors, who are able to show that they value apprenticeships and believe in the importance of training within the industry.
The competition entries were judged by a panel of flooring industry experts. Jack put together an excellent application, along with superb recommendations from both his employer and his tutor that lead the judges to their decision. Jack was able to provide a wealth of photos and experiences in the form of a virtual case study which the judges were highly impressed with and they came to a unanimous decision that Jack was the worthy winner.
In addition to the title of Flooring Apprentice of The Year, Jack received prizes worth over £4,000. His specialist flooring tool kit comprised named workwear, training courses, tool bags, a range of hand and power tools, adhesives and subfloor preparation products, electronic measuring equipment and a range of accessories including custom knee pads.
The prize also included cheques to the value of £1,000 and high street vouchers.
Jack was delighted to win the competition stating: “I feel very privileged to have won this award. I am also very proud as it is an award that I could never have imagined winning due to there being such tough competition to actually win it. Veitchi Flooring is a brilliant company to work for and I work with a lot of good people, so this award makes all the hard work over the last 3 years feel extremely worth it. “
Jack attends the City of Glasgow College for his off-the-job training and tutor Mark Purdie could only praise him on his attitude to training stating: “Jack has shown a high level of interest in learning the skills needed for a career in floorlaying. He works well on his own initiative and communicates well when involved with teamwork. He is a very loyal employee and speaks highly of his company and his work colleagues and is a very reliable and safe worker. He realises the financial benefits a highly trained and experienced floorlayer can acquire and therefore he will strive to have a long and successful career in the Flooring Sector.”
John Brown, Jack’s employer said: “Jack is a credit to Veitchi Flooring and the wider Veitchi Group. In 2017 we identified the requirement to increase our investment in apprentices including the construction of our inhouse trade school, giving apprentices a physical space to practise and hone their skills. Veitchi Flooring is extremely proud of Jack’s achievement and know the level of competition this year was fierce. Our industry relies 100% on the effort we place in training the next generation, Jack is a shining example this, well done Jack!”
So, if you employ a superb apprentice who is adding value to your business, with masses of potential, ingenuity, and talent, then why not work with them to submit an entry and celebrate their success. It’s great receiving recognition for a good job from time to time, so if you have someone who is putting 100% effort into their training and producing consistently excellent results then this competition is a great way of saying thanks for the hard work. Engaging in competitions also helps to promote your own business as research shows that the public think better of companies that train apprentices.
Also, if you work within a college or training provider and you have spotted a talented individual, please let the employer know so that you can all work together to submit an entry.
The fantastic support provided by sponsors is vitally important to maintaining and stimulating interest in high quality apprenticeships, especially as there are a lot of changes taking place with apprenticeships at the moment. We would like to thank sincerely all the sponsors below on behalf of the CFA and CFJ, for getting behind the life blood of our industry over the past 10 years and providing a range of high-quality prizes greatly helping those deserved winners on their future within the industry.
Finally, if you would like to discuss entering the competition or you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact me.
0115 941 1126
Shaun@fita.co.uk
www.fita.co.uk
