Listed below are our most recent news posts. You can also view our News Archive, containing posts from 2020 until present.
We are delighted to publish a new member only document our Guidance Note on Moisture Measurement – In-Situ Probe Method. This is now available via the members area of the CFA website www.cfa.org.uk.
Following concerns raised by industry regarding moisture testing using the sleeve/probe method, work began on the guidance note in December 2022 with the formation of a working group. Whilst the changes proposed were relatively simple, the technical research to support them was discussed in detail, as was the format, and some additional critical parameters. The final document was approved for publication in June 2024.
Richard Catt (CFA CEO) commented: “This is a really important update that ensures a better understanding of the moisture condition of a subfloor. I am delighted that the CFA has been able to facilitate and deliver this work for industry.”
The CFA would like to take this opportunity to thank all those members who have been involved in the project for their hard work and support.
Following consultation with the industry, CITB is currently reviewing feedback received on the draft Levy Proposals for 2026 ? 2029, which set out two options with different Levy exemption and reduction thresholds.
The formal Consensus process will now take place as follows:
As a ‘Prescribed Organisation’, Build UK is required to formally consult its in?scope members on the Levy Proposal during Consensus, and they will be sharing further information with nominated Levy representatives shortly.
A final reminder that employers registered with CITB who have not yet submitted their completed Levy Return 2024 have until 30 November to do so, otherwise they will lose eligibility for all 2024/25 grant claims, including apprenticeships, qualifications and short courses.
We would like to remind members that there are now just six weeks to go until all CSCS cards obtained via Industry Accreditation expire on 31 December and that they should have a plan in place to move workers onto the relevant card as soon as possible. CSCS has issued guidance on replacing Blue, Gold and Black Industry Accreditation cards, and there are increased CITB grant rates available for workers achieving certain S/NVQs to replace cards.
CSCS does not issue cards for non?construction occupations and any workers who are no longer undertaking a recognised construction occupation on site do not require a CSCS card.
CSCS has also announced that the initial validity of a Labourer card will be reduced from five to two years from 1 February 2025 to encourage more new entrants to start on the appropriate Red card with a recognised training pathway. Any operatives who continue in a labouring role will be able to renew their card for five years by providing evidence that they are employed as a labourer.
We have been made aware of a spam email being sent to CFA members and wish to bring it to your attention.
The particular email that has come to our attention has been distributed from penny09.harris@gmail.com, although there may be other alternative emails in circulation from this company - please see the graphic at the bottom of this notification.
We can confirm that the CFA is NOT working with or in partnership with this sender or the related business. We want to reassure you that we do not generally share the CFA membership list with any third parties and should we ever enter into any partnerships with a third party for a project, we would ensure that members were made aware of this in advance.
The CFA always takes action when members receive spam or spurious emails and can confirm that we have issued the sender of the spam/scam a cease and desist instruction.
PLEASE IGNORE AND DELETE THE EMAIL FROM YOUR SYSTEM, as well as any follow-up versions. We would ask that you make sure that relevant personnel within your company are made aware that these are not genuine emails.
You can register spam emails with the ICO: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-emails/report-spam-emails/ or with Action Fraud.
The CLC has published a statement calling on the industry and its advisors to use standard forms of contract with no amendments ‘except where necessary in the context of project?specific risks’. Highlighting that risk transfer through the supply chain should be ‘proportionate’, the statement supports Build UK’s recommendation on contract terms, which identifies six onerous terms that should not be used.
Source: Build UK 7.11.24
Construction has been identified by the Home Office as a high?risk sector for modern slavery due to its complex supply chains, multiple levels of sub?contracting and high turnover of labour on projects, and there are a number of initiatives led by Build UK members designed to help employers ensure workers are recruited responsibly and work free from exploitation:
Stronger Together, the campaign led by CIOB, offers a wide range of free resources, including a toolkit to help identify and prevent modern slavery within your operations and supply chain.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School has published a new operational toolkit, developed by Action Sustainability, which contains free resources such as posters, toolbox talks and videos, to help those involved in site setup and management tackle the exploitation of workers on site.
Berkeley Group, Galliford Try, Laing O’Rourke and Skanska have worked with anti?slavery charity Unseen to release a video raising awareness of the signs of modern slavery on site.
Unseen operates a confidential modern slavery and exploitation helpline to report any concerns, which can be contacted on 08000 121 700 or online.
We have been made aware of 3 spam emails being sent to CFA members and wish to bring them to your attention.
The particular emails that have come to our attention have been distributed from morgan@successmentor.services, isabella@datasuccess-leadpro.live and giana@esectionsleads.live although there may be other alternative emails in circulation from these companies - please see the graphics at the bottom of this notification.
We can confirm that the CFA is NOT working with or in partnership with these senders or the related businesses. We want to reassure you that we do not generally share the CFA membership list with any third parties and should we ever enter into any partnerships with a third party for a project, we would ensure that members were made aware of this in advance.
The CFA always takes action when members receive spam or spurious emails and can confirm that we have issued the senders of the spam/scam a cease and desist instruction.
PLEASE IGNORE AND DELETE THESE EMAILS FROM YOUR SYSTEM, as well as any follow-up versions. We would ask that you make sure that relevant personnel within your company are made aware that these are not genuine emails.
You can register spam emails with the ICO: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-emails/report-spam-emails/ or with Action Fraud.
The CFA would like to welcome Goldline Flooring Ltd, a new Associate Contractor Member from Whetstone in London.
The latest report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), Cost Drivers of Major Infrastructure Projects in the UK, has identified ‘four interrelated factors’ that prevent the consistent delivery of major infrastructure projects on time and budget:
Acknowledging that “successive Governments have not provided a clear strategic direction and a stable policy environment which can promote industry confidence to invest in its supply chain”, the report sets out actions to improve the budgeting, specification, design and delivery of infrastructure projects, which could reduce outturn costs across a portfolio of enhancement projects by 10% to 25%.
The Government has also announced a new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) to ‘get a grip’ on delays to infrastructure delivery. The new body, which will be operational by spring 2025, will combine the functions of the NIC and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority within one organisation and oversee the Government’s 10?year infrastructure strategy in conjunction with industry, while driving more effective delivery across the country.
(1).png)
We have today learnt that after being withdrawn as a result of the General Election, the draft legislation to amend the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations to introduce new metrics on retentions has now been re?laid by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Large companies will be required to publish the following information as part of their payment reports every six months:
These amendments to the Regulations apply to each financial year of a company beginning on or after 1 April 2025, and DBT has confirmed that for companies with a financial year beginning on 1 January, their first reports containing the new metrics will be for the period 1 ? 30 June 2026 and need to be submitted by 30 July 2026. New metrics on the value of invoices paid and disputed invoices will come into force from 1 January 2025.
Richard Catt, CFA CEO, commented on this announcement: "We welcome the proposed regulatory improvements, having long advocated for stronger protections for our members. We hope the new metrics will curb unnecessary retention by larger companies and lead to better payment practices for specialist contractors once enacted."
We have been made aware of a spam email being sent to CFA members and wish to bring it to your attention.
The particular email that has come to our attention has been distributed from lily@leadfocus.in, although there may be other alternative emails in circulation from this company - please see the graphic at the bottom of this notification.
We can confirm that the CFA is NOT working with or in partnership with this sender or the related business. We want to reassure you that we do not generally share the CFA membership list with any third parties and should we ever enter into any partnerships with a third party for a project, we would ensure that members were made aware of this in advance.
The CFA always takes action when members receive spam or spurious emails and can confirm that we have issued the sender of the spam/scam a cease and desist instruction.
PLEASE IGNORE AND DELETE THE EMAIL FROM YOUR SYSTEM, as well as any follow-up versions. We would ask that you make sure that relevant personnel within your company are made aware that these are not genuine emails.
You can register spam emails with the ICO: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-emails/report-spam-emails/ or with Action Fraud.
The release of the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry marks a defining moment for the UK construction industry. The tragedy that unfolded in June 2017, claiming the lives of 72 people, remains a painful reminder of the critical shortcomings in both safety standards and industry culture. The report
delves deep into the systemic failures, offering a comprehensive critique of the practices that led to this disaster and the immediate responses. While the inquiry spans thousands of pages, its impact resonates far beyond the detailed documentation and the Grenfell project. The uncomfortable truth is that the type of failures it identifies are more familiar than we would ideally like to admit.
For the Contract Flooring Association, this is a crucial moment to reflect and respond.
Part 1: The Phase 2 Grenfell Report, Its Relevance to the Contract Flooring Sector and the CFA
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC), Build UK, and the Construction Products Association (CPA) have all been vocal in their response to the report, stressing the necessity of reform and the urgent need
for the industry to take collective responsibility. The overarching sentiment is clear: Grenfell was an avoidable tragedy, and the culture of complacency, cutting corners, and lack of accountability must be eradicated from the industry.
Suzannah Nichol of Build UK highlights the need for a cultural shift in the way construction is carried out, stating, “Ultimately, we have to change the business environment in which the industry operates, so those who commit to building safely can thrive and those who don’t are flushed out.”
She emphasises the importance of moving beyond mere regulatory compliance to foster an environment where safety and quality are prioritised from the outset.
The CPA echoed similar sentiments, noting that the inquiry’s findings underline a failure of both culture and competence across the construction industry. The CPA acknowledges the need to work closely with government, regulators, and industry stakeholders to drive the necessary reforms, while the CLC stresses the need for continuous work on building safety.
Paul Morrell (the former Chief Construction Advisor to Government), in his Construction News article, provided an insightful analysis of the report. He noted that while many of the report’s findings were unsurprising for those paying close attention, the focus on “failures that are likely to be repeated widely across the construction industry” is particularly troubling. These include issues such as the casual approach to contracts, insufficient monitoring of subcontractors’ work, and a lack of clarity over design responsibilities.
For the CFA, while our sector may not deal directly with fire safety critical products in high-rise buildings, there are significant lessons to be learned. The Grenfell Inquiry report is widely acknowledged as speaking to a broader need for competence across all trades, not just those directly linked to fire safety. The issues raised regarding accountability, supervision, and competence are equally relevant to contract flooring.
The report presents a challenging but necessary mirror for all construction sectors, including contract flooring. We are very much a part of the broader construction ecosystem, and our campaigns for improved site conditions are constant reminders of where the supply chain we work in can do better. Some of the competency issues we face, like compressed timescales, poor site supervision, and bullying tactics to meet deadlines that can lead to mental health issues — are challenges that may not affect fire safety, but they do affect quality, can cause costly failures, and can change people's lives. Shutting a school or hospital ward to effect repairs and business failures due to delayed payment are not as headline grabbing as a tragedy of the scale of Grenfell but are no less meaningful to those involved or affected.
We must take this momentum to address these head-on to ensure our sector does better moving forward. Wouldn’t it be dreadful if changes to Acts of Parliament driven by Grenfell, statements by business leaders with pledges of action, new regulations, job roles, standards and controls, (with at the risk of mentioning it, associated cost), did not translate to measurable change at site level? Interestingly those obvious measures for the contract flooring industry must include jobs consistently starting on time, being given the time required and agreed to complete works, good site conditions that include heating on site, adequate light, a clear workspace and better communication.
I don’t think it would be too pessimistic to suggest that if our sector doesn’t see some changes in those areas, we cannot be confident that competence and that necessary cultural change has filtered through at a project level.
The CFA recently adopted the phrase “the responsible no” to describe situations where we felt flooring contractors needed to express the need to pause in delivering a contract, because to continue would be irresponsible. This now takes on an even greater meaning.
Part 2: How the CFA Will Respond
In response to the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the CFA is committed to proactive engagement with the wider construction industry while ensuring our members are equipped to meet the highest standards. Our response will be guided by proportionality, recognising that while we do not install products directly connected to fire safety in high-rise, high-risk building projects, we must still ensure that competence and quality are at the heart of everything we do.
At the core of our response will be a focus on three key areas:
Organisational Competence for Contractors: The CFA will look closely at how organisational competence can be demonstrated and measured. Build UK’s Competence Assessment Standard (CAS) is a valuable starting point. It’s essential that contractors can demonstrate their commitment to best practices through pre-qualification, including financial, health and safety, quality, equality, diversity and inclusion, environmental, corporate professional standing and information management. The CAS offers a practical and cost-effective way to do this.
Technical Competence of Organisations: We must ensure that businesses in the contract flooring sector have the necessary technical knowledge to manage installations effectively. This goes beyond wider organisational or even on-site competence; it requires a thorough understanding of how to design or support specification and execute flooring installations that meet both safety and quality standards. Build UK’s emerging “Gold Standard” initiative will likely play a role in shaping how we define and assess technical competence across the sector.
Installer Competence: The CFA has already committed to developing competency frameworks for installers, based on National Occupational Standards (NOS). These frameworks will help define the experience required at all levels of flooring installation and provide a roadmap for continuous improvement. In addition, we will explore the best way to record and update installer records to ensure that installers across the sector are competent and can prove this through appropriate record keeping.
As we move forward, the CFA will focus on developing standards that are both achievable and practical for our members to deliver. We understand the challenges that many contractors face, particularly regarding site conditions and the pressures imposed by main contractors. However, the responsibility to improve lies with all of us, and we must embrace the opportunity to enhance competency and elevate our sector.
While the contract flooring industry may not be on the front lines of fire safety or the infrastructure that affects this, the lessons from Grenfell are still deeply relevant. The CFA is committed to playing its part in driving improvements in competence, quality, and some of the relevant measures of this for us such as site conditions. We aim to ensure that our sector is a responsible and capable player in the wider construction industry. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry and latest report is a reminder that every part of the industry must take ownership of its role in acting responsibly towards quality and building safety — and the CFA is ready to step up to the challenge.
The CFA would like to welcome Thameside Flooring Services, a New Associate Contractor Member from Berkshire.
The Government has announced new measures to tackle late payment, with the aim of supporting small businesses and “unlocking their barriers to growth”. It plans to ‘step up’ enforcement of the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations and introduce new legislation requiring large businesses to include this information in their annual reports. The guidance to the Regulations has also been updated to include the new reporting requirements on value of invoices paid and disputed invoices, which come into force from 1 January 2025. Build UK has identified some potential inconsistencies in the updated guidance and is working with the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that the required information will be reported correctly.
At a meeting with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds last week, attended by Build UK Chair Julie White, it was confirmed that a new Fair Payment Code will be introduced this autumn, replacing the Prompt Payment Code. This will include a number of payment standards for companies to sign up to, and they will be awarded gold, silver or bronze status depending on how quickly they pay their suppliers including small businesses.
Source: Build UK 26.9.24
Six UK subsidiaries of the country’s sixth largest contractor ISG, with a £2.2 billion turnover, applied to enter administration late afternoon on Thursday 19th September 2024.
The collapse is the biggest corporate construction failure since Carillion subsided six years. Thousands of jobs are now at risk and the industry supply chain can expect to see a significant knock-on effect.
In recent months ISG has made “significant efforts” to rescue its UK operations, says ISG CEO Zoe Price, amidst speculation of financial struggles. The Group cites legacy issues relating to the large loss-making contracts secured in between 2018 and 2020 (primarily in the residential, logistics & distribution sectors as well as some data centre projects) as the principal reason for its failure.
Offices are now closed and sites are shut as the administration process begins. It is not yet confirmed which administrators will be appointed to the case.
The firms that filed notices are: ISG Construction Limited, ISG Engineering Services Limited, ISG Retail Limited, ISG UK Retail Limited, ISG Jackson Limited and ISG Central Services Limited.
The successful ISG Fitout limited, which made a £24m profit and turned over more than £500m in last reported accounts, has not been included in the court applications.
The CFA would like to welcome Extreme Flooring Limited, a new Contractor Member from West Sussex.
The CFA would like to welcome Nova Flooring Limited, a new Associate Contractor Member from Cardiff.
The CFA would like to welcome Herts Flooring and Interiors Ltd, a new Contractor Member from Hemel Hempstead.
We have today been notified by the CLC (Construction Leadership Council) that the The Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness has made a statement regarding CE Marking for construction products.
The statement announces an extension of the recognition of CE marking for construction products in Great Britain.
This extension, as well as the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, is conditional on a commitment from the Government to system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime. The full announcement can be viewed here.
In summary this means that:
• CE marking will be accepted past 30 June 2025 for construction products.
• The Government has committed to system wide construction product regulatory reform.
• UKCA marking will remain a valid and accepted regulatory mark.
• The Government will explore the long-term future of CE/UKCA marking as part of this regulatory reform.
• Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.
• The Government will engage with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to strengthen the conformity assessment market.
The Statement also makes announcements in relation to National Classes fire testing standards.
Source: CLC (2.9.2024)
The CFA would like to welcome New Homes Flooring (South) Ltd, a New Associate Contractor Member from Reading in Berkshire.
The CFA would like to welcome Ponceblanc Echantillonnage, a new Member Other from France.
CITB has confirmed it will begin engaging with the industry in September on the Levy arrangements for 2026 - 2029, ahead of the formal Consensus process which will take place in spring 2025. The initial engagement will seek feedback on draft Levy proposals, as well as the skills and training outcomes that CITB has delivered for the industry over the past three years. This feedback will be used to provide guidance and recommendations to the CITB Board, which will finalise the Levy proposals for in-scope employers to vote on during Consensus. For the Levy to continue for another three years, the Secretary of State will have to be satisfied that it is necessary to encourage adequate training in the industry.
As a ‘Prescribed Organisation’, Build UK is responsible for consulting with its in-scope members on the Levy proposals during the Consensus process, and we will shortly be in contact to confirm the details of your nominated Levy representative.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has confirmed that the draft legislation to amend the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations to introduce new metrics on retentions has been withdrawn. This is as a result of the General Election, which means there is now insufficient time for the legislation to be completed before the intended commencement date of 1 October 2024, and DBT is working with the new Ministers to confirm a revised date. New metrics on the value of invoices paid and disputed invoices will still come into force as planned from 1 January 2025.
Public bodies in Scotland are now required to publish a retention policy statement on their website by 31 August 2024, in accordance with CPN 1/2024 published last month. The statement, which must be reviewed on an annual basis, should cover the public body’s strategic approach to retentions and the factors which determine their use.
The CFA’s recently launched Clear Our Workspace campaign toolkit is available for members to view and download from the CFA website member area.
This initiative is designed specifically to address a significant challenge faced by our contractor members - maintaining clear and accessible workspaces on multi-trade sites.
Central to this campaign is the CFA principle of the “responsible no”, supporting members in occasionally making the tough decision to delay installation if site conditions are not suitable.
Building on the success of our first site conditions campaign “Winter Warning” (developed to helps members to achieve adequate heating on sites during the colder months) the new “Clear Our Workspace” campaign tackles another critical area: clear workspaces and uncontaminated subfloors. Every UK flooring contractor knows the frustration of working in environments where multiple trades overlap, leading to cluttered workspaces and contaminated subfloors. Such conditions not only hinder productivity but also jeopardise the quality and integrity of flooring installations. This latest campaign offers a comprehensive response to this widespread issue.
The Clear Our Workspace toolkit has several key resources to help raise awareness and foster better collaboration from main contractors and other trades on-site. Among these resources are a site poster, which can be printed and displayed on notice boards ensuring that all trades are aware of the requirements for a successful flooring installation.
The full kit includes the site poster/flyer, an email footer for members to add to their emails to highlight the importance of clear workspaces, and section 2 of the CFA Guide to Contract Flooring that applies. We have also created some tea/coffee coasters for members to use as giveaways for clients to help raise awareness. Members can obtain these by emailing info@cfa.org.uk or calling 0115 941 1126 - please note supplies are limited and so will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
We are delighted to publish our digital 2024/2025 Guide to Sustainability. This annual publication highlights key information, products, services and case studies, and is fast becoming more and more important as a reference document for our sector. It aims to help anyone with a current flooring project (with sustainability at its heart) to deliver best practice. At the same time, it provides some thought leadership pieces around the future of sustainability in the commercial flooring sector.
Returning to its roots as a guide, there is a very practical article on ways that contractors can improve their green credentials outside of installing sustainable products. A whole list of accessible actions and improvements that make both environmental and business sense. Doing the right thing, whilst at the same time making a flooring contractor more attractive as a supply chain partner to work with.
Included in the Guide is an update on the CISUFLO project https://www.cisuflo.eu/. Our work has really begun to gain momentum and we are supporting trials of a circular broadloom carpet. It’s an incredibly interesting project that has many threads including design for circular products and tagging materials so that they can be identified at the end of life and recycled. Tagging concepts have included bar codes and other electronic tags read by scanning the floor with something such as an RFID reader that will provide data such as the manufacturer, design and how they can be recycled. A product passport if you like.
All of the content has a wide reach and audience and we would like to thank everyone who contributed.
Here we have our full archive of previous news posts available to view in date-order.
