Finding the fittest fitter starts now
February 2, 2024
The Fitter of the Year 2024 competition has officially launched with the climax in live finals at the Flooring Show Harrogate in September.
The popular competition organised by the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF) will focus on carpet installation for 2024. The winner will receive a cheque for £2,000 and winner's trophy, some great prizes including a selection of tools, and one year's free NICF Master Fitter membership.
The deadline for entries in April 30 and you do not need to be an NICF member to enter this competition.
Ten fitters will be shortlisted for practical trials at the FITA Training Centre, Loughborough, in June and then five will be selected to go through to the finals.
Looking to the future, the NICF has confirmed that Fitter of the Year – LVT will return in 2025 and will alternate with the Carpet on an ongoing basis thereafter.
The Stocklists magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the The Fitter of the Year competition.
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BUSINESS NEWS
The British Furniture Confederation (BFC), the public affairs umbrella body of furniture and beds, furnishings and flooring sector trade associations, has unveiled its new Plan for Growth. The document is said to support BFC’s advocacy across four key pillars: skills and education; trade and exports; standards and regulations; and the environment and circular economy. It has been developed over the past few months, the organisation says, evolving from a combination of position papers written by the associations’ executives and a comprehensive survey of their collective members.
Consumer card spending grew 1.0% year-on-year in February – lower than January’s 1.9% increase and less than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.9%, according to recent figures reported by Barclays. In anticipation of higher bills, consumers are said to be cutting back on essential outgoings, but still prioritising discretionary purchases, contributing to an uptick in optimism in the health of personal and household finances.
Kellars, which describes itself as the largest independent flooring wholesaler in the UK, saw another year of “substantial growth” to July 2024, according to its strategic report for the period. With six depots across the UK and a team of more than 100, the company has reportedly grown at a “rapid rate,” with the year leading up to July 2024 seeing a dramatic rise.
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