CFA Guest Column
CFA chairman Richard Catt on the organisation’s vision and priorities for the year ahead.
As the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) looks ahead to the 2025-2026 membership year, our focus remains firmly on supporting our members and addressing the evolving challenges within the flooring industry. With membership numbers expected to see growth following increases across 2024 – 2025, we believe members have some good support to look forward to.
Whilst the focus of the CFA is of course the contract market, there is a well recorded current downturn in the residential market, which impact some of our members. Anecdotally, the contract market continues to be more buoyant, albeit as there are so many subsectors in which we work, that is still a generalisation. Our primary focus lies in supporting our contractor members and as things have slowed in some client sectors, a listing on the CFA directory and work that this attracts, is a key benefit.
Here’s what lies ahead for CFA and its members in the coming year:
We aim to continue to work on the skills and labour shortage, chipping away at this industry issue that limits activity across the supply chain. The “Future Fitter” campaign remains a cornerstone of our strategy to tackle the industry’s skills gap, and we therefore plan to update and re-launch the Future Fitter brochure, emphasising diversity and specifically highlighting opportunities for women in floor laying. Complementing this, we’ll continue supporting initiatives such as STEM Ambassadors, GoConstruct, and regional training delivery partnerships. Open Doors events, including one hosted at FITA, will offer hands-on experiences to inspire new talent.
Championed by CFA President Alan McEwan, our site conditions campaigns and the “Responsible No” initiative will continue to call for elements such as heat on site when required and clear workspaces. Members have access to a toolkit of support material that helps achieve these critical site condition elements including site posters and email banners, which feedback suggests help to build understanding. Poor site conditions, late starts, and inadequate investment from main contractors have long plagued our members. By engaging with competency frameworks promoted by umbrella organisations like the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), we aim to drive meaningful change in main contractor practices as well as embrace the principles of competency for the floor sector too.
Indeed, competency will be a critical focus area for 2025, and we predict will become more and more part of everyday discussion and activity in the short to medium term. CFA plans to expand its competency support materials, offering a guidance document to help members navigate best practices. While we monitor developments in organisational competency frameworks, our approach is strategic, ensuring we remain adaptable to industry shifts and that any input for the flooring sector is proportionate. The focus of many of the recommendations in the Building Safety Act 2022 have their roots embedded in high rise, high risk, fire safety related products and their installation. Those are not core characterisation of flooring, but we are nevertheless required through legislation to contribute to the principles of avoiding another Grenfell and embrace competency as a concept.
CFA will continue to lobby for members, challenging unfair payment practices and retention policies imposed by main contractors. Our dispute resolution service and legal helplines proving valuable resources to support this. These are both free to contractor members.
Technical support remains a priority, with plans to publish new guidance on laminate flooring installation in 2025, having of course introduced an update to moisture measurement (and the in-depth probe method) in 2024. Much of this work happens through our manufacturers and distributors committee that is incredibly well supported and a backbone of CFA technical development. The committee also benefits from regular presentations across the year on a range of subject areas from industry experts.
Our three core audiences; existing members, prospective members, and the broader construction industry, will remain central to our marketing strategy. Through partnerships with Smart Marketing Works and CFJ, we will deliver key publications such as the Sustainability Guide, Members’ Handbook, and Training Guide. Floorscape, our digital news platform, will continue to provide timely updates and additional content. See also www.floorscape.org.uk
Supported by the publication of our Sustainability Guide in June, the topic will remain a vital thread running through our projects and initiatives. Indeed, the swell of activity around sustainability seems unavoidable and whilst huge in complexity, CFA see it is as a vital area of engagement. We are keen to support all projects that move collaboration and development of products and installation techniques within a circular economy forward. It still feels like an emerging field, but one that we need to embrace to respond to client demands, commercial competitiveness, because government is increasingly agitating to legislate against Net zero targets, and finally for the good of the planet and future generations.
Training delivery at FITA will be bolstered by the digitisation of course materials and the access to supporting video content for those who attend courses. The Kirkcaldy site (kindly supported by Forbo Flooring UK) will continue to operate as a cost-effective hub for training courses in Scotland, supporting our efforts to expand the skills pool across the sector. Apprenticeships in England will also remain a focus and by the end of 2026 FITA aims to have sixty apprentices on programmes or with direct delivery support.
CFA will be running four social and networking events in 2025 including golf and horse racing days north and south. Early 2026 will see us run a CFA Ball in Glasgow that Alan McEwan is really looking forward to hosting. Two business orientated member and networking events will also be delivered alongside consultants CPD. Much of the above and specific dates will be covered in the CFA’s monthly email update to members, where tickets availability and specific arrangements are confirmed.
The CFA’s roadmap for 2025-2026 reflects our steadfast commitment to supporting our members while adapting to a rapidly changing industry landscape. From championing diversity and tackling labour shortages to advocating for fair practices and enhancing competency, we aim to empower our members and drive positive change across the flooring sector.
The CFA is a leading trade association representing the Flooring Industry. If you would like an application pack or further information on the benefits of membership, please contact the CFA offices on 0115 941 1126, email or apply online at www.cfa.org.uk.
