Train to gain in flooring

The skills gap in UK flooring is holding back growth for many businesses – in installation, for example there are 30% fewer skilled fitters in the trade than there were 20 years ago.

But the industry is rising to the challenge with several new initiatives to drive training forward faster. And the rollercoaster, post-lockdown

market conditions may have an impact.



“While the pandemic had huge implications, the flooring industry has, by and large, weathered it well and many installers have never been busier,” says Lee Thompson of the Quick-Step Academy for Excellence in Flooring.

“As the cost-of-living soars, it’s likely that this will have an

impact and we may well see periods when there’s time

to seriously consider skilling up,”

“During these busy times, quite naturally, training takes something of a back seat. However, as the cost-of-living soars, it’s likely that this will have an impact and we may well see periods when there’s time to seriously consider skilling up,” he says.

The Master Installer courses at the Academy give this opportunity, plus the chance to gain a competitive edge. With the Master Installer badge, installers are given an exclusive listing on the Quick-Step website – seeing 13,000 enquiries in 2021 – and the opportunity to offer a lifetime workmanship warranty backed by Quick-Step. Passing the course, installers will also come away knowing how to work faster and smarter.

“A more compelling service for customers and knowledge that makes

a real difference to working practices – it’s a great blend for success,”

adds Lee.

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.

“Woolsafe offers a large number of classroom and online courses centred around carpet care, cleaning and stain removal...”

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.

Last year, F. Ball and Co. Ltd. launched the F. Ball Centre of Excellence, which was created by transforming the training and demonstration facility at the company’s Staffordshire headquarters at the same time as overhauling course content to offer more dynamic, hands-on learning experiences.

Courses are completely free to attend and cover all aspects of subfloor preparation and floorcovering installation, with practical demonstrations and exercises using a range of high-performance F. Ball products.

F. Ball has recently appointed a new head of training to lead the

company’s industry-leading training provision facilitated by the F. Ball

Centre of Excellence.

Tim Green brings nearly 20 years’ experience in the flooring trade to

the role, including managing his own flooring business and six years

teaching floorcovering installation to apprentices at an FE college.

Most recently, he was in charge of training at a leading floorcovering manufacturer.

“F. Ball has transformed its the training and

demonstration facility and overhauled course content to

offer more dynamic, hands-on learning experiences.”

At the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), one of the great successes post-pandemic has been the opportunity to develop new courses and support the requirement for floor layer training in the UK. “We knew that there would still be a strong requirement and desire for training, but the response to FITA courses over the past 12 months has been staggering, seeing more people through the doors of FITA Loughborough than in any previous year, something which makes us both proud and grateful,” says Shaun Wadsworth of FITA.

Associated Weavers Academy – Halifax HQ



While floor sector training focuses on installation, skilling up for retail sales teams is equally essential for business success.

“We are convinced that sales people who know more, sell more,” says Gavin Pugh, MD of Associated Weavers, and the company will be launching the AW Academy at their Halifax HQ in September to develop the skills of retail sales staff.

“Training programmes will be available for carpets and LVT
and cover some of the technical credentials of the products, highlighting the benets and installation techniques. ”

Training programmes will be available for carpets and LVT and

cover some of the technical credentials of the products,

highlighting the benefits and installation techniques. Then, AW

will share its vision of the customer experience and cover the

efficient use of in-store sales tools and the importance of colours

and brands.

“We are on a mission,” says Gavin, “turning the sales staff of our

partners into carpet and flooring champions. The courses will be

intensive and insightful but it will also be fun-to-do training!”

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.

“Poly or has a reputation for delivering excellent training in vinyl flooring laying with a smart, purpose-built training academy.”

Whether you’re an experienced floor layer or an apprentice, the Polyflor academy hones your installation skills with 2-day training courses as an introduction to LVT and 3-day courses for advanced LVT training and for Cap & cove techniques. A 4-day course covers commercial sheet vinyl installation.

All Polyflor installation courses are delivered by Anthony Sturgess who has extensive floor laying and technical experience, and has been in the trade for over 26 years. Anthony possesses teaching experience at an FE college, a teaching qualification, and has delivered training courses at Polyflor for many years. Anthony believes that learning should be enjoyable yet beneficial.

“The Bostik Academy offers a mix of blended learning,
including hands on practical training as well as interactive
seminars and live stream webinars, providing the
 flexibility to create a bespoke session to fulfil a
team’s specific needs.”

Flooring contractors need to seek out the ideal type of training for them and their team, which will of course vary. The Bostik technical team has experience of delivering training both on and off the company’s premises, but the new, purpose-built Bostik Academy training centre provides even more opportunities for members of the flooring industry to benefit from the team’s expertise.

The Bostik Academy offers a mix of blended learning, including hands on practical training as well as interactive seminars and live stream webinars, providing the flexibility to create a bespoke session to fulfil a team’s specific needs.

The new, state-of-the-art facility, located at the company’s Stafford

headquarters, features a sleek, modern lecture theatre for theoretical

training, which can then be put into practice in a separate room featuring custom-built flooring bays, plus the technology and equipment for practical demonstrations. An online platform enables contractors to consolidate their learning on an ongoing basis, with a wide range of user-friendly resources available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

AW ACADEMY • info@awe.be • www.associated-weavers.co.uk

BOSTIK • +44 (0)1785 272625 • www.bostik-academy.co.uk

F. BALL • 01538 361633 • www.f-ball.com/training

FITA • 0115 950 6836 • www.fita.co.uk

POLYFLOR • 0161 767 1111 • www.polyflor.com 

WOOLSAFE • 01943 850817 • www.woolsafe.org