FEATURE
STRONG FOUNDATIONS
Tomorrow’s Contract Floors visits F. Ball’s Centre of Excellence to learn more about Floorsight, the company’s new apprenticeship programme developed with industry partners to train the next generation of skilled flooring professionals.
F. Ball and Co. Ltd. has joined forces with the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) and WEBS Training to launch Floorsight – a new two-year apprenticeship programme that creates clear career pathways for young people entering the flooring trade.
Developed to address the ongoing skills gap within the contract flooring sector, Floorsight combines hands-on learning with specialist technical training. The initiative is aimed at both supporting flooring contractors and inspiring the next generation to see flooring as a rewarding, long-term career.
“Floorsight builds upon F. Ball’s ethos to invest in the future,” explains Lisa Shirley, marketing communications manager at F. Ball. “It’s an extension of our free training offering. When we recognise a shortage in the industry, we respond and create practical solutions to tackle it.”
TRAINING FOR TOMORROW’S EXPERTS
Apprentices benefit from a mix of on-the-job learning and specialist training, delivered in week-long blocks at F. Ball’s state-of-the-art training facility. Sessions are led by experts from the company’s Training and Technical Service Departments, supported by FITA and floorcovering manufacturers.
F. Ball is also supplying apprentices with tools, workwear, and laptops for the duration of the two-year programme.
Tim Green, F. Ball’s training manager, says: “Our apprenticeship programme is unique in that we have two trainers – myself and
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Adam Chapman from FITA. We use FITA’s scheme of work but can adapt it to our learners, keeping it as practical as possible. We teach that method first; then, accuracy is important.”
The first Floorsight cohort welcomes nine apprentices, eight of whom are placed with partnering flooring contractors. One apprentice, Rhys Parfitt, will remain based at F. Ball’s Centre of Excellence, helping to deliver courses and demonstrations. As part of his training, he’ll also spend time out in the field with contractors to see first-hand the challenges they face on site gain and gain more experience.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
Recruitment was managed by WEBS Training, which sourced apprentices through Indeed and other apprenticeship platforms. WEBS also secures government funding for the scheme, helping to overcome one of the main challenges facing flooring firms – the time and paperwork associated with taking on apprentices.
“While the government is helping to fund the apprentices, we’re focused on imparting skills and breaking down the barriers that contractors face,” says Lisa Shirley.
BUILDING SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE
Apprentices will develop a portfolio to showcase their skills and progress, both at the Centre of Excellence and out on-site. An independent assessor will review their work in the field to ensure standards are met and learning outcomes achieved.
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk
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