FITA News

FITA is moving office the week commencing Monday 27 November 2023 and every effort is being taken to minimise disruption during moving week.

Our new address is:

Unit 22 (Ground Floor) Eldon Business Park
Eldon Road
Chilwell
Nottingham
NG9 6DZ

All other contact information remains unchanged.

24-11-2023 11:00

FITA is delighted to announce Roomvo as Premier Sponsors. Thank you for your support!

To find out more about the benefits this brings to fitters and estimators click here https://hello.roomvo.com/fita

06-06-2022 15:32

Training within our sector is limited to DfE regulated apprenticeships and qualifications only.

Following the reopening of schools and colleges on 8 March, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that on‐site training can only resume for students in the following further education (FE) settings if a provider follows the operational guidance:

• Sixth form colleges
• General FE colleges
• Independent Training Providers (ITPs) ‐ defined as organisations that receive Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) formula funding for the provision of 16 to 19 education
• Designated institutions
• Adult and Community Learning Providers (ACLPs)
• Special post‐16 institutions.

Building on guidance provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Build UK has advised that training within our sector must currently be limited to DfE regulated apprenticeships and qualifications.

Unfortunately, this means that privately funded face-to-face training should not be permitted at this time. This includes commercial training courses held at a training facility or on-site and delivered by commercial providers and manufacturer led training.

Based on this update, the training arm of the NICF and CFA, FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association) will remain closed for all privately and commercially funded training courses although the planned apprenticeship delivery will continue as per the guidance. Delegate and visitor safety is paramount for FITA as a training organisation and for the industry bodies that support it. It naturally has been our driving force since the beginning of the pandemic and whilst this is disappointing that commercial training cannot continue at FITA, it is clearly stated in the guidance that non-essential training in this form cannot resume at this time.

There has not been any further [specific] guidance issued about resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace. Companies will need to determine if any training required can be undertaken remotely or is essential at this time, as they may be required to explain how they are complying with the current ‘stay at home’ restrictions.

Apprenticeship providers should also read the current apprenticeships guidance, which confirms that FE apprentices may now return to training and assessment in educational settings, and how this should be managed.

We have been advised that the next part of the government lockdown roadmap that applies to training in construction is the 17 May. CFA, NICF and FITA will naturally review the situation and any further specific guidance received leading up to this date in the firm hope that we can fully return to training in our sector. It currently seems unlikely that wider training will be permitted before the 17 May.

15-03-2021 13:48

Based on current Government recommendations, at present we have no plans to cancel any of our scheduled training courses at Loughborough. However, all courses scheduled to be held in Kirkaldy have been cancelled for the immediate future as our hosts Forbo are understandably limiting non critical visits to their site. We will continue to provide updates through our normal channels to include our website, social media feeds and direct email. CFA members will receive similar bulletins plus our monthly email update.

We would be grateful if members attending any training courses could observe the following measures to minimise any risks:

• Refrain from shaking hands and other unnecessary contact
• Wash your hands with soap and hot water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards

For the latest guidance on coronavirus please visit;

https://www.gov.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

18-03-2020 14:45

The FITA Office is now closed for Christmas and will re-open on 2 January 2020.

23-12-2019

26-11-2019

FITA will once again be demonstrating best practice in flooring installation at the Flooring Show, Harrogate from 15 to 17 Sept 2019.
Come along to Halls B and C – check out the timetables below for Subfloor Preparation and Floor Finishes.

07-09-2019

FITA is delighted to welcome Junckers Ltd as Premier Sponsors.  Thank you for your support.

16-04-2018