THE VIEW FROM FERFA The inside track on CITB funded FeRFA Apprenticeships and the Skills & Training Fund.
FeRFA is celebrating 50 years as the recognised voice of the resin flooring industry this year.
The Association was founded in 1969 as the Federation of Resin Formulators and Applicators, hence FeRFA. It represented all types of companies involved in making or using what were then novel epoxy resin systems for a wide range of construction applications, including flooring, concrete repair, grouting and crack injection. In 1998, FeRFA became a dedicated resin flooring association and was renamed the Resin Flooring Association under the original FeRFA acronym.
FeRFA has been successfully running apprenticeship schemes since 2006 enabling employers to raise the skills level within their companies and provide a route for unskilled employees to gain an industry-wide recognised qualification and the CSCS blue Skilled Worker card.
FeRFA has three apprenticeship schemes – all of which are run at least annually:
• In Situ Flooring: Resin • In Situ Flooring: Screeds • Prepare and Profile Substrates
The schemes are delivered in modules by a mix of formal instruction off the job, alongside supervised on-the-job training at employer level with a final assessment by an industry approved Assessor. The onsite employer supervision is conducted by a suitably competent person and there is a candidate record book to evidence all training received.
All courses lead to an NVQ Level 2 Diploma and CSCS blue Skilled Worker Card. Apprentices can apply for a CSCS red Trainee card following registration and successful completion of the Health, Safety & Environmental touch screen test.
Courses take 18 months to complete and modules are held over two (and sometimes three) days at regular intervals throughout the first 14 months of the scheme. During the remaining months the candidates continue with their learning on the job, gaining in experience until the final assessment period.
Training takes places at a variety of locations around the country, including the training facilities of FeRFA manufacturer and associate members giving apprentices the opportunity to mix and apply different materials.
On achievement of the NVQL2, apprentices are invited to attend the annual FeRFA Awards Dinner to be presented with their diplomas in a Graduation ceremony.
The CITB has a range of grants and funding that are available for eligible registered CITB employers. As an extra incentive to small employers, they also offer a Skills and Training Fund, which supports construction training aligned with the CITB’s grant scheme. This funding also supports training interventions in management and leadership.
The Fund is open to CITB-registered employers with up to 99 PAYE staff and employers can apply once every 12 months. The amount of funding an employer can apply for is related to how many direct employees they have:
Employers with 1 to 49 PAYE staff can receive up to £5,000 Employers with 50 to 74 PAYE staff can receive up to £7,500 Employers with 75 to 99 PAYE staff can receive up to £10,000
Application forms can be downloaded from the CITB website here.
https://www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-funding/
All Forms are reviewed at the end of each month and funds are paid up front to employers.
For further information and advice about the FeRFA apprenticeships, please contact the FeRFA office on 07484 075254 or email here.
secretariat@ferfa.org.uk
To discuss Grants and Funding through the CITB, please contact Dave Rowlands, CITB Advisor on 07887 984 897 or email here.
david.rowlands@
citb.co.uk www.ferfa.org.uk
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