Page 48 - CFJ_Dec25

CFA NEWS

CFA supports industry wide concerns over proposed
apprenticeship duration and assessment reforms

he Contract Flooring Association (CFA) qualification, CFA fears this will erode London
Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
10 Downing Street
Thas formally added its support to employer trust in the apprenticeship SW1A 2AA
the open industry-letter spear-headed route, create skills gaps in the supply Dear Prime Minister
by the British Woodworking Federation chain, compromise reputation and we set the standards, accredit professionals, and support employers and members in building
We, the undersigned, represent a coalition of organisations and membership and professional
(BWF) opposing the recently proposed stimulate a race to the bottom, as skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (SKEB) of the workforce to deliver this objective.
bodies across the construction and built environment sectors of the UK economy. Together,
the workforce capabilities that underpin the UK’s economic and social prosperity.
apprenticeship reforms by Skills England providers are incentivised to create lighter the recent announcement from Skills England that apprenticeship reforms are set to reduce
The Governments pledge to build 1.5million new homes over the next 5 years will rely on the
and the UK Government. These reforms touch assessments to secure better pass the pathway to required training. The proposed reforms include shortening the minimum
This relies on having suitably trained individuals working in the construction sector. However,
the apprenticeship requirements is cause for concern as it will result in severely weakening
include a significant reduction in the rates and cost efficiencies. generate economic growth.
duration of an apprenticeship to just 8 months as well as mandating a new end point
assessment (EPA) that favours a shorter, high-level assessment plan over the current final,
impartial stage of an apprenticeship. These proposed government led changes, we believe,
minimum apprenticeship duration period There is also a danger that this ambitious timeline which is not suitable for the industry at level 2. This view is endorsed by
will spell disaster for the construction industry and undermine the Government’s ambition to
in England and removal of key elements undermines the government’s initiatives Ignoring industry voices
The Department for Education has unfortunately continued to ignore a key construction
representative in the pilot scheme, British Woodworking Federation (BWF), and set an
many within the construction sector, which is working post Grenfell to increase the SKEB of
of the End Point Assessments (EPA), towards embedding better routes As one of five “test pilots” subjected to Skills England’s “ambitious timeline”, the BWF has
the construction industry to negate any such occurrence in the future on all buildings.
including external verification. to competence following changes apprenticeship under these new plans. An effective consultation process should allow for
seen, first hand, the negative impact these reforms will have; casting doubt on the
competence of an individual who undertakes the Site Carpentry and Joinery Level 2
Whilst CFA supports ongoing efforts to the Building Safety Act. For CFA, Department for Education”.
formal discussion and the opportunity for all impacted stakeholders to provide feedback.
However, this consultation process has been clumsily managed and forced upon industry with
to modernise apprenticeship pathways, our members and the wider sector, When the new assessment plan is released, it will not be reflective of employers and industry
unrealistic timelines imposed. At every step of the process, the feedback provided by
employers, awarding organisations, training providers and trade bodies has either been
ignored or pushed aside by Skills England, with the line “we are following principles set by the
we believe the proposed changes pose current apprenticeship standards and needs – undermining employer confidence and resulting in fewer apprentices taken on by
real risks to the quality, competence and qualifications (all recently updated
safety of the construction sector and the and approved by industry) have been
commercial flooring sector in the future. considered as a strong foundation for our flooring
flooring
Shortening the minimum duration of an competence work. sector, recognising that
sector, recognising that
apprenticeship to as little as eight months CFA will continue to work with member our clients’ trust and the safety of built
could fail to provide sufficient hands-on companies, training providers, awarding environments depend on it.
experience and breadth of competence organisations and industry bodies to By standing with the letter signed to
for a flooring installer’s role. Moving to an ensure that the commercial flooring the Prime Minister and industry leaders,
end point assessment model that allows sector remains underpinned by robust, CFA is signalling that the flooring sector
partial or sampled knowledge, skills and employer-led training and assessment is fully engaged, prepared to speak up,
behaviours (KSBs) to determine overall pathways. and committed to preserving quality in a
competence undermines the rigour of Alongside 22 other leading trade bodies,
the apprenticeship route. In a high-risk CFA has urged the Government and Skills changing regulatory environment.
environment like commercial flooring England to pause the implementation of To read the letter and see all
(large projects, complex finishes, safety these reforms, engage meaningfully with contributors, please see the link below.
critical flooring) this raises concerns about sector employers (including specialist CFA would like to thank and acknowledge
inconsistent standards, quality control and trades such as flooring), and ensure that the hard work of the BWF in leading this
risk to employers and end-clients if an any change strengthens, not weakens important piece of lobbying work.
apprentice is not correctly assessed. competence, safety and quality. www.bwf.org.uk/wp-content/
If apprentices qualify without having CFA reaffirms its commitment to the uploads/Construction-Coalition-Letter-
demonstrated the full occupational highest standards of training, assessment Apprenticeship-Reforms_Letter-to-the-
competence required at the point of and competency in the commercial Government_Final_20_10_2025.pdf
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48 CFJ December 2025 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
@CFJMagazine