News

M&S use FITA to assess floor layers
(Originally posted: Thursday 7th January 2010)

Following consultation in the summer of 2009, we are delighted to announce that leading high street retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) decided to use FITA to carry out assessments on installers who will fit floors in their premises for their ongoing programme in 2010.

 

Part of their wider Flooring Improvement Programme which also requires all companies employed to be CFA members M&S Construction Standards Manager Matt Edgell made the following comments regarding the objectives and experience of working with both FITA and the CFA:

 

“As part of a significant drive in 2009 to identify and eliminate a large number of poor quality flooring installation in its stores, M&S established a team whose challenge was to remove the identified issues.  This challenge led to the development of a ten point Flooring Improvement Programme fully supported by the flooring industry itself.

 

As part of our improvement programme we wanted to establish a baseline of competency that all floor layers working in M&S Stores achieved.  This is the area that the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) were able to assist.  Working with FITA, we developed a four module assessment programme that utilised their centrally located, fully equipped training centre.  On our behalf FITA were able to assess the competency of and to demonstrate best practice to a group of 44 pre-selected floor layers in a 5 week period in November and December 2009.  We have been impressed by FITA's ability to successfully co-ordinate and manage this assessment programme taking into account the flexibility required when dealing with floor layers from multiple organisations throughout the UK. 

 

Overall our experience of working with the CFA and FITA has been incredibly positive and we look forward to reaping the rewards of the relationship with an improved quality of installed floor.”


New Sponsors
(Originally posted: Monday 10th March 2008)

We would like to welcome new sponsors Bostik Ltd to our list of Official Sponsors. 

Thank you to our new sponsors and also our long standing supporters.


FITA Welcomes New Chief Training Consultant
(Originally posted: Monday 10th March 2008)

FITA appoints new Chief Training Consultant

FITA is delighted to announce that Steve Ramsden has been appointed as Chief Training Consultant of the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA).

Steve first became interested in carpet fitting in his teenage years. His father was a carpet fitter with his own business and Steve used to help out during weekends and evenings and on leaving school went straight into trade with his father.

Steve eventually became self employed and spent many years sub contracting on commercial and domestic installations. During the 1980’s he worked in Atlanta, USA for 18 months but unfortunately did not like it so decided to come back to the UK.

In 1996 Steve joined the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF) and took part in the Carpet Fitter of the Year competition for the first time, coming a very respectable second. In 1997 he decided to enter the competition again and this time was the triumphant winner. After winning the competition Steve continued to be involved in Carpet Fitter of the Year as a judge and in recent years has been heavily involved in the European Fitting Competition, organising and building the competition platforms and also taking on the role of Great Britain judge.

During 1997 Steve was approached to become involved in training through the NICF and this work has taken up more and more of Steve’s time in recent years. The training is now provided through FITA, co-founded by the CFA and NICF, which offers courses for beginners through to the seasoned professionals.

It is Steve’s hope that through training we will be able to equip fitters with the knowledge and technical ability to install floor covering to the highest standard and thus ensuring that our industry will become recognised for the specialist trade it is.


New Sub Floor Preparation course
(Originally posted: Monday 10th March 2008)

We are pleased to announce that we have added a 2 day Sub Floor Preparation course to our programme.

Full details of the course can be obtained from the FITA office - 0115 950 6836.


A new website for FITA
(Originally posted: Thursday 10th January 2008)

We now have a new website which will allow us to ensure our visitors always receive the most up to date information. The web design and development team at Kyodo have provided a custom built content management solution offering us full control of our site content.

Kyodo provide high-quality bespoke websites to suit most budgets. They often range from small start-up jobs to more ambitious commercial projects, whilst always striving to offer a personal yet professional service.

You can find Kyodo by visiting www.kyodo.co.uk.