TAKE THE LEAD
Flooring contractors must consider training as an ongoing part of the job that lasts a lifetime – not only to keep up with new developments but also to gain a competitive edge, says Bostik.
The number of flooring and tiling installers in the UK has shrunk by a third since the mid-2000s, making it more important than ever for the industry to not just recruit new people, but also to retain that talent.
Words like ‘trainees’ or ‘learners’ might seem off-putting – we associate them with youthful inductions to the world of work, when actually we need to consider training as an ongoing part of our careers. There should be no end to learning – if we keep doing what we have always done, nothing changes and nothing can improve.
It’s great when you meet seasoned professionals who grasp this and are still eager to understand new developments in the flooring industry. Whether it’s new techniques, products or regulations, the industry changes and adapts, but sometimes it’s challenging to keep up with the latest developments when doing the day-to-day job. Training is part of the job yet, unfortunately, when the work is pouring in and there seems to be a constant backlog of demand, companies can be reluctant to sacrifice time that could be spent on site for time in a classroom.
However, one key reason why people leave any industry is that they don’t feel able to progress. This makes it vital for companies to invest in their employees and provide incentives for them to continue to upskill. Whether they’ve been in the industry five years or 25 years, the right sort of training can ensure people are able to learn, understand and improve.
When it comes to manufacturers’ product training, it’s vital that trainees can get hands-on experience of using the products they are being trained on. They shouldn’t just be watching demonstrations – to get the most out of a course trainees need to be given opportunities to learn, try, fail, understand why and how, try again, and finally succeed,
32 | TRAINING
enabling them to walk away brimming with confidence. Manufacturers all want to see their products being used in the best possible way on site and therefore would rather see trainees fail in that training room so they can get it right once they’re on a client’s project – where they are likely to be up against the clock and a budget.
THE BOSTIK ACADEMY Bostik’s new state-of-the-art training facility, located at the company’s Stafford headquarters, features a sleek, modern room for theoretical training, which is then put into practice in a separate room featuring custom-built flooring bays, plus the technology and equipment for practical demonstrations. The Bostik Academy offers a mix of blended learning, interactive seminars and the ability to host livestream webinars. An online learning platform enables attendees to consolidate their learning afterwards. This means that as well as on-the- day training, trainees will benefit from an ongoing experience with reliable, user-friendly resources.
The company’s technical team already has experience of delivering training both on and off Bostik’s premises, but the new facility will improve the opportunities for members of the flooring industry to benefit from the team’s expertise.
Flooring contractors need to seek out the ideal type of training for their team, which will of course vary. Training can offer immediate results as employees gain more confidence in performing complex tasks, resulting in less need for supervision and the ability for teams to complete installations faster. The right training is also a valuable, long- term investment for a business and will give companies a competitive advantage in a tough market.
www.bostik-profloor.co.uk
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