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APPRENTICESHIPS IN ENGLAND
From the beginning of August 2024, the flooring

industry in England began to benefit from a

significant increase in funding for the floorlayer
apprenticeship standard, with the Department for
Education (DfE) having raised the current funding floorlayers entering the industry helping to combat
band per apprentice from £13,000 to £17,000. This the long-faced challenges related to skills shortages
increase is a major step in increasing skilled labour and an ageing workforce, all of which highlighted in
within our sector and represents nearly two years previous articles and through CFA campaigns such
of challenging work and lobbying by the Contract as Future Fitters.
Flooring Association (CFA). CFA, its members and CFA intend to use this increase as a springboard
wider stakeholders who have all been advocating for to approach new training providers not currently
better support for training and skills development in delivering floorlaying, in a bid to ensure employers
the industry for a long time. see a greater return on their investment by cutting
After recognising the need for additional training the need to send their apprentices long distances
provision in England to address skills shortages to receive formal training. The increase in funding

in the flooring sector, the CFA formed a working will help level the playing field between flooring and
group in 2022 composed of employers, training other trades within construction, many of which

providers, and wider stakeholders. Their primary have already benefited from higher apprenticeship
goal was to update the previous apprenticeship funding.
standard and address the gap between the actual By ensuring the floorlayer apprenticeship is properly
costs of delivering quality apprenticeship training funded, the sector can continue to grow, innovate,
and the funding that was available at the time. and attract new talent and the CFA's successful
Through the support and guidance of Nicola campaign to raise the apprenticeship funding cap
Jordan, Senior Product Manager at the Institute for marks a turning point for the flooring sector. This
Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) achievement underlines the importance of engaging
and the dedicated working group chaired by CFA with structured training and apprenticeship
and FITA council member Alan Gayle (AG Flooring schemes to secure the future of the industry. By
Ltd) the group were able to completely review the investing in the next generation of floorlayers, our
apprenticeship standard against current industry sector can look forward to a more skilled, dynamic,
expectation, refine apprenticeship assessment and sustainable future.

methods and present a compelling case to DfE that For employers and stakeholders in the flooring
their previous £13,000 funding cap was insufficient sector, now is the time to capitalise on this

to cover the full costs of training a floorlayer and opportunity, engage with training providers and your
therefore should be increased. Trade Association, and invest in apprenticeships
The increase in funding to £17,000 per that will help future proof your business.

apprentice will significantly improve the quality It is vital to highlight and thank the working group
and accessibility of training available to future members that committed the time and effort from
floorlayers. For employers, this change is an their own busy schedules to support the CFA in this
important reminder of the value of engaging with project, and without whom this would have been a
apprenticeship schemes. With more funding much more complicated task.
available, it opens the door for additional provision Thanks to Alan Gayle (AG Flooring Ltd), Louise
in areas of England currently not serviced and Walters (Designer Contracts Ltd), Carl Harper
existing training providers can now bolster their (Westcotes Flooring Ltd), Rachael Pemberton-
programmes, ensuring that apprentices are well- Baghurst (Designer Contracts Ltd), Dean Bisby
equipped with the skills and experience necessary (Floortrain), David Russell (CP Assessments), Steve
to meet industry demands upon completion. For the Hattersley (Construction EPA), John Sanderson
wider sector, this funding boost has the potential (Chief Assessments), Matthew Bourne (Floorskills)
to transform the quality and number of skilled and Michael Bell (Derwentside College)
raining Guide
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20 CFA Contract Flooring Industry Training Guide 2024 Visit: www.cfa.org.uk Tel: 0115 941 1126
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Contract Flooring Industr
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