Page 45 - CFJ_Feb26

CFA CEO COMMENT

Richard Catt

Wise words - A conversation with a floorlayer

Richard reflects on training, skills shortages and why valuing
trades is vital to the flooring industry’s future

VER the years, I have spoken to many children and young adults about a career met over my career) picking out the
Ocontract flooring business owners in flooring. So, I have learnt quite a lot salient points of their wisdom with a
and floor layers. Early in my career I over almost 40 years about training, the little sprinkle of my own anecdotes from
worked on lots of commercial flooring skills and labour issue and what makes school’s visits.
projects as a technical representative the flooring industry tick, first through ‘My name’s Dave. I’m 58, a commercial
for a manufacturer. More recently I have manufacturing and then leading the CFA. floorlayer, and I’ve been at it since I left
been speaking to a range of people about school.
the challenges of bringing new people Forty years I’ve spent prepping
into our industry, an issue the CFA have subfloors, fitting vinyl in hospitals, laying
been working on for many years. safety flooring in busy corridors, making
For me, that work has included being sure every surface was sound, safe, level,
part of the management team running serviceable and looks good too. I take real
FITA for almost 20 years. I’ve helped pride in that last bit, although pressures
design and develop apprenticeship onsite don’t always make it easy. And
schemes and commercial floorlaying you know what, not once has anyone
courses. In 2021, we realised a long- asked me where I went to university.
term ambition for FITA to deliver Mostly, they just want to know if I can get
apprenticeships, and we now have sixty their classroom or ward finished before
apprentices on our books. Monday.’
In 2022 I was part of the team that Even then, I’ve always found it quite Last March, I was invited to my niece
launched our ‘Future Fitter’ campaign to difficult to succinctly explain why, in the Penny’s school for their career’s day.
offer some structured guidance about the 21st century, we have a shortage of You know the type of thing; doctors,
key components to grow the workforce floorlayers. solicitors, an IT chap talking about ‘digital
in the flooring sector. Very recently we Our Future Fitter Guide does a good transformation’, I was the only one there
published our guidance to members job, but the quick answer is lack of with a high vis jacket, knee pads and a
on what competency looks like in the investment. However, the issue has hard hat sticking out my bag.
flooring sector. many dimensions, and the following is an When it was my turn, I said to the kids,
I am a STEM ambassador and have imagined conversation with a floorlayer ‘I’ve never been to a lecture, and I don’t
visited numerous schools talking to (representing all the floorlayers I have have a degree. 

CFA, Unit 22, Eldon Business Park, Eldon Road, Chilwell, Nottingham NG9 6DZ 0115 941 1126 | info@cfa.org.uk | www.cfa.org.uk

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