Page 40 - CFJ_Feb26

FITTER OF THE YEAR | OVERVIEW

Five finalists, one thrilling showdown
THE FINALISTS
Richard Renouf takes us through the start of last year’s thrilling Fitter of the
Year competition at The Flooring Show

By DAVID STRYDOM If you want to participate in this
THE floorlayer of the year competition is run competition, you can register your interest
by the NICF to identify the best floorlayer with the NICF here: www.nicfltd.org.uk/FOTY-
from all the entries received. The competition Competition/
alternates between carpets (2024) and LVT The challenge at this year’s final contained
(2025). Entries are open to any floorlayer and four different LVT elements. The first was
Hayden Barr a hexagonal shaped area to be installed
last year’s process started with a questionnaire with a Kraus Herringbone click tile provided
covering British Standards requirements and by Roberts QEP. The second was to install
best industry practices for installing LVT. Textures Elements basketweave, splitting
The top 12 entrants are invited to fit a the area in half so one side was done as
competition platform which is then assessed straight lay and the other on a 45deg angle in
by a panel of judges. The top five semi- mahogany and white ash. The third element
finalists from this group are invited to was to install herringbone with a border
compete at The Flooring Show in Harrogate. using a new dry-back SPC product from KC-
This year for the first time the semi-finals CP in a beautiful honey oak colour. The fourth
were held at the Installer Show at the NEC in element was the feature step which was also
June so the finalists already had experience fitted with the honey oak in the matching
Neil Mackay of doing their work under the scrutiny of plank option and a Bendybull profile supplied
show attendees as well as the judges. by Stairrods UK. 

Dan Jones

1. Wes Brocklesby setting out his basketweave pattern by centring the pattern, on the platform. Most of the fi tters started by
laying out the straight basketweave and here Wes is working out the centre and alignment of this side of the platform.

Dean White

Wesley Brocklesby
2. Neil McKay at the next stage of the process where
he’s actually dry fi tting the basketweave design and 3. Dean White’s mascot, which was 3D printed and
starting to get ready to trim the tiles at the edge. which he brought to watch over his efforts.

40 CFJ February 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
@CFJMagazine