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WHAT IS FUTURE FITTERS?
At its heart, Future Fitters is designed to do continues at CITB Inchinnan, safeguarding
three things: opportunities for young people north of the border.
• Attract new entrants into our industry by We’ve also strengthened our engagement with
highlighting the many opportunities in schools and young people through STEM events
commercial and domestic floor laying. and “Open Doors” days, initiatives designed

• Provide clear, accessible training pathways to to spark curiosity about the flooring industry

help individuals become qualified, skilled, and and challenge perceptions about careers in
competent installers. construction.
• Support employers in identifying, recruiting, Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects has
and nurturing new talent. been the growing collaboration across the sector.
The guide offers practical advice on everything Manufacturers, distributors, and contractors
from advertising roles to apprenticeship options alike have come together to support new training
and mentoring opportunities for experienced initiatives and share ideas about how we can
professionals looking to give something back. work collectively to close the skills gap.
The guide also recognises the achievements In the updated guide, there are new case studies
made since the original guide. highlighting the careers of women in flooring
CFA have lobbied successfully to increase and outlining the untapped potential within the
apprenticeship funding in England from £13,000 other 50% of the population. Flooring requires
to £17,000 per textile and resilient floorlayer precision, attention to detail, and problem-
apprentice and from £13,000 to £20,000 per solving skills, attributes not limited to any one

wood-based floorlayer apprentice, a significant gender, age, or background.
incentive for businesses to invest in the next When all is said and done, the achievements
generation. listed within the Future Fitter guide should
Through our training arm, FITA, apprenticeship be celebrated, but the four key areas of focus
delivery has expanded rapidly. From a standing (albeit bolstered by some of the success
start in 2021, we now engage with a rolling achieved) remain the same if we are to really
50 apprentices. And in Scotland, we played a impact the skills and labour shortage in the UK
pivotal role in ensuring apprenticeship delivery flooring industry.

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38 C C CFA Contract Flooring Industry Training Guide 2026 Visit: www.cfa.org.uk Tel: 0115 941 1126
raining Guide
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