{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/642d2bf81c2e260011ec1fdd/6af48a71da42f9ee6af87379?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"How Do We Close the Flooring Skills Gap? with Shaun Wadsworth","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/642d2bf81c2e260011ec1fdd/1794411080572-19845144-fbb4-49f0-8ee5-195d90842434.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Live from the Flooring Forum at The Flooring Show 2026 in Harrogate, Shaun Wadsworth, Deputy CEO of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), joins The UK Flooring Podcast to talk about where the trade can find more fitters and how businesses can keep the people they train.</p><p>For a self-employed fitter, a day on a course is a day off the tools. Shaun explains what can make that time worthwhile, even if you’ve been fitting floors for years. He also shares what contractors can do from day one to give apprentices a reason to stay, from giving them more responsibility on site to talking openly about what they could earn once they qualify.</p><p><strong>What you’ll learn in this episode</strong></p><ul><li>What the CFA does for commercial flooring contractors and how FITA supports training.</li><li>Why travel, lost earnings and limited access to local courses can make training a hard sell.</li><li>How career changers, including people leaving the armed forces, could help fill the skills gap.</li><li>Why Shaun expects fitters to be asked for more evidence of their competence on commercial jobs.</li><li>How to give an apprentice a clear path beyond mixing compound and sweeping up.</li></ul><p><strong>Memorable quote</strong></p><p>“Why should I train someone if they’re just going to run off once they’re qualified?”</p><p>Shaun Wadsworth, on a question he hears from contractors.</p><p><strong>Guest links</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://www.cfa.org.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Contract Flooring Association</a> · <a href=\"https://fita.co.uk/Flooring-Apprenticeships/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FITA floorlaying apprenticeships</a></p><p><strong>Where to find The UK Flooring Podcast</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://theukflooringpodcast.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Website</a> · <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@cockerillco6141\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube</a> · <a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/59DLhGPVKNtVoS656EYtxq\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Spotify</a> · <a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-uk-flooring-podcast/id1606720642\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Podcasts</a> · <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/theukflooringpodcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a> · <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/theukflooringpodcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook</a></p><p>Produced by Cockerill &amp; Co.</p>","author_name":"Cockerillandco"}