CFA Annual Review (And How to Make a Million)

Now almost at the end of the CFA membership year, CFA CEO Richard Catt takes the opportunity to summarise achievements across 2024–2025.

This article is written shamelessly in advance of members receiving their renewal notices at the beginning of April, and potentially as an introduction to the benefits of CFA membership for anyone who is thinking of joining. I have previously mentioned that our annual contractor membership return provides valuable insight into the sector’s health, highlighting issues such as workforce development, site conditions and the enduring demands from main contractors.

A key area of focus during this last membership year has been to continue our work addressing the industry’s skills gap. While the need for additional fitters has slightly decreased from 20% to 18%, the shortage remains critical. Our Future Fitter campaign (due to be updated in 2025) continues to play a pivotal role in attracting and training new talent. Encouragingly, 42% of members now employ at least one apprentice, but there’s still work to do to ensure the sector’s future workforce is secure. Ongoing site challenges remain a priority. Poor access, cluttered work areas, inadequate welfare, no heating and general poor site conditions persist, with the CFA’s “responsible no” campaign empowering contractors to challenge unsatisfactory working environments.

This aligns with wider industry shifts following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report, which has prompted the CFA to make plans to engage with the competency work mandated within the Building Safety Act 2022.

Payment practices continue to strain members, with total overdue invoices within member businesses totalling £27 million and retentions amounting to £17.5 million. The CFA’s legal helpline, dispute resolution service and independent site report offering provide essential support to members navigating these financial pressures. Direct training through FITA has continued to be successful, not least of which has been the addition of another apprenticeship cohort in October this year, taking us to 40 young people in the programme, with a further cohort also planned for March and numerous businesses supported. We have also successfully lobbied to increase apprenticeship funding and through our efforts this has been raised from £13K a year to £17K a year.

As I reflect on the 2024–2025 membership year, I can’t help but mention that we celebrated our 50th anniversary, which culminated in a themed party in Chester in October 2024. This reflected all that is good about CFA events and how we facilitate networking as well as on this occasion celebrating our milestone. The room looked amazing, and more than 120 guests enjoyed a brilliant night. I will personally never forget Steve Kean as Elvis. Events are a cornerstone of what the CFA represents, and I believe play an important part in making us effective. People doing business with people.

But on a more serious note, the CFA’s commitment to supporting members and driving positive change remains steadfast and is also echoed in the new moisture guidance note published during the year. Another milestone was the addition of our news channel www.floorscape.org.uk, which we use to provide even more of the valuable CFA, regulatory, technical and good practice industry information to the flooring sector, architects, designers and the construction sector beyond. Not to mention, a clear view of our vetted, quality supply chain through the CFA directory.

The CFA offers so much in terms of benefits it is difficult to cover them all, but the key ones that members continually tell us they find useful are as follows:

• FREE use of the CFA logo on your stationery, vehicles, premises and website
• FREE CFA website directory and handbook listing
• FREE credit checks — up to 20 per month
• FREE dispute resolution services — site inspection for installation complaints (T&Cs apply)
• FREE guidance notes and industry templates — for example, moisture disclaimer and method statements
• FREE technical and business support helplines — including all aspect of training and apprenticeships
• FREE CFA publications — Training Guide, Guide to Sustainability, Guide to Contract Flooring (all available digitally, promoted through CFJ and Floorscape)
• FREE monthly members newsletter with industry updates, key benefits and event updates
• FREE annual subscription to CFJ (Contract Flooring Journal) magazine

60% of members recognise they have gained work through CFA membership. One member has shared that recent contract values gained directly through CFA membership were in excess of £1 million. Quite impressive isn’t it for the current annual subscription of £764.00 plus VAT?

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.