Beating the “crisis” of the installation skills gap

“With the demand for herringbone laying patterns, bespoke installations and new rigid core formats being introduced, it’s important for floor fitters to have the opportunity to further develop their skills as there are so many opportunities with luxury vinyl flooring,” he said.

Having launched its new state of the art Karndean Training Academy last autumn, Karndean introduced eight spacious, purpose-built installation bays, dedicated 10m2 subfloor preparation area and open plan lecture space for group theory sessions. The Academy offers three-day fitting courses designed to accommodate all levels, from basic, intermediate to advanced, as well as one-day workshops and is expecting to train over 400 installers per year.

“Whilst the past 12 months within the training sector has been tough, FITA is finally able to say that apprenticeship delivery is now taking place at the training centre in Loughborough,” says FITA training manager, Shaun Wadsworth.

In conjunction with Webs Training Ltd, FITA’s training options now include apprenticeship delivery in the East Midlands for apprentices, developing skills, knowledge and behaviours with the support of their employers. The apprentices will spend blocks of time at FITA over the next 3 years, working with their employers to build the necessary attributes a floorlayer would need to complete their apprenticeship.

“This would be impossible without the support from industry manufacturers providing a wide range of tools, materials and equipment to help in delivery,” says Shaun.

“This is the first step in a new route for FITA and something we are keen to grow, so if you would like more information about employing, supporting or becoming an apprentice in the floorlaying sector then please get in touch,” he said.

ITFA - the International Textile Flooring Academy - was launched
in 2018 as an online training and information resource for the
carpet industry.

The online training courses are suitable for anyone working within the industry – retail, manufacturing, representatives and installers – and are based around multiple choice questionnaires. An ITFA Certificate is available on successful completion.

Current courses include: fibre-to-floor, an understanding the full cycle of wool and synthetic carpet construction; Fit-Me, an essential introduction to carpet installation; the Manufacture of Wool Carpets; The Manufacture of Handmade Rugs; and Practical Dyeing, an
online course and introduction to fibre and yarn dyeing, dye chemistry and methods.

The Woolsafe Academy is an international organization providing training courses, technical literature, manuals, professional standards and expert advice to all those involved in the manufacture, sales, ownership and maintenance of carpets and rugs

The Academy offers a large number of classroom and online courses centred around carpet care, cleaning and stain removal and is currently developing a course specifically for retailers which will be popular with our readers and we’ll keep you posted about its availability.

Meanwhile, a popular course is Inspector’s Carpet Complaint Investigation Online Course which is an on-line training course providing detailed information regarding the investigation of carpet complaints and it covers more than 40 types of complaint and gives a basic understanding of suitable test methods.

F. Ball has invested significantly in redesigning and reconfiguring the company’s training and demonstration facility at its Staffordshire headquarters, with restyled course content delivering more dynamic, hands-on learning experiences.

“In-line with our aim of promoting the highest standards of professionalism in the flooring industry, including helping flooring contractors meet ever higher customer expectations with increasing ease and efficiency, the new state-of-the-art facility has been re-branded as the F. Ball Centre of Excellence,” says Darren Kenyon, sales director.

The courses are completely free and delivered by F. Ball experts. These include specialist programmes for both apprentices and seasoned professionals, covering all aspects of subfloor preparation and floorcovering installation, with practical demonstrations and exercises using a range of high-performance F. Ball products.

See also Floorcovering installation mastery
– a special training feature from F. Ball & Co Ltd - click here

The Academy for Excellence in Flooring’s foundation level courses are the perfect introduction for anyone starting out in the industry, opening a fast-track route to the Academy’s famed Master installer programme.
For installers and apprentices yet to explore a route to professional qualifications, the Academy for Excellence in Flooring’s Foundation Installer: Laminate & Wood and Foundation Installer: Vinyl courses are the perfect way to kick-off a new career in floor installation.

Taking place over two-days at the Academy’s well-equipped training facility in Manchester, the courses cover various aspects of subfloor preparation and installation giving fitters the basic knowledge and confidence to install a wood, laminate or vinyl floor.

A one-to-one mentoring programme ensures success for every candidate, regardless of previous knowledge or experience, so even the freshest industry recruit will leave feeling enthusiastic and excited about their new career. Importantly, it is also the only entry-level course that opens up a fast-track route to the famed Master Installer badge.

Lee Thompson, technical and procurement manager for the Academy, explains: “For many entering the industry, even under watchful experienced installers, the right path to future career security and success can be confusing. Here at the Academy, we appreciate that and have developed a course directly connected to career progression.”

Polyflor has a reputation for delivering excellent training in vinyl flooring laying with a smart, purpose-built training academy at the company’s headquarters in Manchester which has just re-opened after the easing of lockdown.

Whether you’re an experienced floor layer or an apprentice, the Polyflor academy hones your installation skills with comprehensive 2-day training courses covering LVT, loose lay, and cap and covings and a 4-day course for commercial sheet vinyl installation.

All Polyflor installation courses are delivered by either Tim Green or Anthony Sturgess, both of whom have extensive floor laying expertise reinforced by Tim’s experience in college teaching and Anthony’s previous career managing his own flooring company.

“We get really great feedback from installers looking to improve their skillset and the courses are very popular, especially the LVT sessions,” says Tim Green of Polyflor.