Page 64 - CFJ_Jul26

ADVICE & INFORMATION

Alan McEwan

End of term review

As his two-year tenure as CFA president comes to an end, Alan looks back
and reflects on what’s been achieved

HEN I stepped into the role of CFA For too long, flooring teams have been championed throughout my columns:
Wpresident two years ago, I used my treated as an afterthought, expected to ensuring that businesses truly
first column in these pages to set out deliver flawless results while navigating understand and exploit the full spectrum
a clear roadmap. My overarching goals chaotic, poorly prepared sites and of CFA membership benefits. Displaying
were straightforward but ambitious: to compressed timescales. the CFA logo brings commercial
elevate industry standards, champion Through the launch of our Clear Our credibility, serving as a badge of soft
the everyday interests of flooring Workspace campaign, we sought to regulation that assures clients of
professionals, and ensure our sector change this dynamic. Normalising the professionalism and adherence to an
had a voice in the wider construction concept of the responsible ‘no’, we industry code of conduct, but the value
industry. aimed to give contractors the confidence extends far beyond this.
As my tenure draws to a close, writing to pause a project until environmental We have worked hard to remind
this final column is an opportunity for and structural conditions meet British members of the practical, day-to-
reflection. Looking back at that initial Standards, protecting both the installer day resources available to them,
checklist has allowed me to see how and the installation. from free credit-checking facilities to
progress has been made in areas that help safeguard against financial risk
matter most. to specialist legal and employment
Tackling the talent pipeline helplines, dispute resolution services
The single biggest issue I wanted to and ready-made documentation
address was the widening skills gap, templates.
representing an existential risk to Final thanks
the growth and sustainability of our The progress we’ve made over my
businesses. tenure is entirely down to the people
Over the last two years, we rolled working tirelessly behind the scenes. I
out the revised Future Fitters guide to want to express my deepest gratitude
give contractors tangible strategies to to CEO Richard Catt, training manager
attract more young people, including a Shaun Wadsworth, the CFA council and
much-needed push to welcome more the dedicated committee members who
women into a traditionally male- drive our legislative and educational
dominated sector. We have also taken agendas every single day.
steps towards flooring being recognised To our members, thank you for
as a highly technical, skilled discipline your trust, your feedback and your
in England and Wales, by achieving the commitment to raising standards. And
upgrade of the qualification from a level to those still standing on the sidelines:
2 to a level 3 NVQ, bringing this in line now’s the time to join. The challenges
with Scotland. This push for site-level facing our sector, whether navigating
Seeing the sector unite around this professionalism became even more the fallout of major supply chain
has been incredibly rewarding. From critical as we navigated the sweeping disruptions or fighting for fair payment
celebrating the exceptional standard legislative changes of the Building terms, cannot be solved in isolation. The
of talent at our annual Apprentice of Safety Act. The publication of the CFA strength of the CFA lies in its collective
the Year awards, to watching cross- Competence Guide was designed to voice, which allows us to influence
industry initiatives take root, such as the address this exact pressure point. regulatory and policy decisions right up
Floorsight scheme launched by F Ball Breaking compliance down into clear, to government level.
alongside with FITA and WEBS training manageable steps for installer, technical It’s been an honour. I look forward to
and supported by the CFA. We still have and organisational competence, we’ve continuing to support the trade from the
a journey ahead, but the pipeline is being ensured our members can robustly back benches, and I wish my successor,
restored. evidence their professionalism during Matt Brown of Uzin, the best of luck in
Safer, fairer environments tendering and pre-construction audits. steering our brilliant industry forward. 
My second priority was to champion Maximising the value of membership www.f-ball.co.uk
the wellbeing and interests of flooring Underpinning all of these initiatives is Alan McEwan of F Ball and Co is the outgoing
contractors. an objective that I have consistently CFA president

64 CFJ July 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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