An apprentice update

Earlier this year, Heckmondwike, a market-leading UK manufacturer of fibre-bonded carpets, announced the sponsorship of an apprentice across its National Floorcoverings Ltd group of companies.

The Group is working in partnership with one of its long-standing customers, Hillside Contracts to provide support to trainee floor layer, Kai Linton.

More information about Kai and the reasons for the company’s sponsorship, can be found in the blog published on the Heckmondwike website in April, and throughout the year, Heckmondwike will be providing updates on Kai’s progress, and this is the latest…

Over the last couple of months, Kai has made significant progress with both on the job and off the job training, with more than 80 per cent of his learning being undertaken with ‘on-site’ jobs, putting into practice techniques he has been developing daily.

To date, Kai has been getting to grips with some large commercial projects and has completed vital floor preparation work including scraping and applying adhesive, alongside setting out and fitting carpet tiles – ensuring all steps are followed using manufacturers’ instructions.

Kai is supported on-site by a host of experienced floor fitters and is learning every day with their advice and mentorship, and as a result, is growing in confidence.

Further to this, Kai is also developing his skills at the Floortrain Training Centre in Doncaster. He is currently learning how to install textile carpet to a flat surface, alongside installing safety impervious flooring. Kai is expected to pass the ‘flat fit carpet’ task with distinction.

Kai has also performed well in a host of other tasks, including installing underlay and a matt well, alongside completing a heat seam joint.

National Floorcoverings Ltd, including Heckmondwike, is delighted to see how well Kai is progressing, with the company firmly believing in the importance of developing young talent to enhance the future of the industry.