POLYFLOR has expanded its partnership with F Ball and Co to provide additional training courses for flooring installation apprentices throughout 2025.
The apprentice training initiative from Polyflor commenced in Spring 2023 with the first of its four-day, standalone courses, which continued at regular intervals until late 2024.
The courses serviced first-year (Level 1) apprentices hired by the company’s numerous flooring contractor customers. Their training focused on all aspects of vinyl sheet installation, including setting out, adhering to the sheet, and heat-welding seam joints.
F Ball and Co, known for its flooring adhesives and subfloor preparation products, supported this skills-focused initiative.
The course location alternated between Polyflor training academy (PTA) in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, and the F Ball Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Cheddleton, Staffordshire.
Following its initial success, the training schedule for 2025 will further its support to budding apprentices.
This year’s Level 1 programme began at CoE in February. Three further courses will follow:
- 9-12 June, PTA
- 29 September-2 October, CoE
- 8-11 December, PTA
In addition, the schedule will now accommodate second-year (Level 2) apprentices, offering enhanced learning for those who’ve previously completed their Level 1 course. This further training will focus on finishing details such as coving-and-capping.
Currently, two Level 2 courses will take place on the following dates:
- 28 April-1 May, PTA
- 10-13 November, CoE
All courses remain fully subsidised by Polyflor and F Ball and Co running between Monday-Thursday, with spaces strictly limited.
Similarly, Chris Landon (training and installations manager, Polyflor) will continue to lead all training alongside Tim Green (head of training, F Ball and Co).
As with its initial conception, the training initiative seeks to help flooring contractors connect with additional construction sector apprentices.
Attendees will also reportedly benefit from an early introduction to products from Polyflor and F Ball and Co, said to be renowned as established market leaders in the UK. Furthermore, they aim to address growing labour shortage concerns in the UK construction industry by engaging with future flooring installation professionals from a young age.
It’s also hoped the courses will assist
in replenishing the ongoing deficit of contract flooring installers, which was, according to a report by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), exacerbated by Brexit, changes to industry standards, and other macroeconomic factors.
More broadly, according to an updated report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the current UK skills shortage has been depleted further since 2023. Previously 217,000, the construction industry now requires 224,900 extra workers to meet planned output by 2027.
Regrettably, few technical colleges in the UK currently operate floorlaying courses as part of their standard curriculum. The CITB classification of flooring as a furnishing trade (rather than a construction trade) arguably furthers this issue.
Employers can take advantage of government’s apprenticeship levy. However, hiring apprentices remains a high cost and significant responsibility for flooring contractors.
Amid difficult industry conditions, Polyflor endeavours to support and invest in the future generation of flooring professionals.
‘Apprentices will become the lifeblood of our UK contract flooring industry,’ says John Buchanan, international technical manager, Polyflor.
‘As market leaders in the UK flooring industry, Polyflor and F Ball and Co wanted to do something positive to help ease the current crisis by supporting those contract flooring customers willing to hire apprentices.’
Feedback from the apprentices in attendance at recent courses has remained positive:
Lucien Thomas, Darren Thomas Flooring: ‘Working as an apprentice will now be easier thanks to the practice and information gained from this course.’
Jake Kiley, Next Level Flooring: ‘I have learned a lot. The course instructors have helped massively, and I now feel more confident.’
Kieron Taylor, Hyde Flooring Company: ‘Very friendly, patient instructors. Great demonstrations with plenty of time to make mistakes and have another go.’
www.polyflor.com
www.f-ball.co.uk