Sam Shetliffe of Capital Flooring and Blinds Wins CFA Flooring Apprentice of the Year

By Shaun Wadsworth, CFA Deputy CEO

The Contract Flooring Association (CFA) is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2026 Flooring Apprentice of the Year competition is Sam Shetliffe from Capital Flooring and Blinds, Ilkeston, Derby. Judging the competition this year were three seasoned CFA Council Members, Alan Gayle (AG Flooring Ltd), Matthew Brown (Uzin Utz UK) and David Brady (RJM Flooring Ltd) all of whom are experts in their field and committed to supporting the CFA and the competition.

Sam is no stranger to the competition after entering last year and finishing a commendable second place. Sam has recently completed his apprenticeship with FITA and Webs Training Ltd and continues to learn and develop with his employer.

The judges noted that Sam displayed a very high standard of workmanship, reflecting care and precision and professionalism in his work. His case study highlighted effective communication skills and positive engagement with colleagues on site. Sam’s employer commented that Sam just keeps getting better and better. His first year as an apprentice saw his practical abilities really grow. He quickly learned the techniques for carpet, vinyl, LVT and laminate within 6 months. His second year has seen his customer and measuring/quoting skills flourish. He is now able to measure entire houses for all types of flooring, speak to customers to understand their needs, quote them and make a sale.

The CFA has proudly organised and delivered the Flooring Apprentice of the Year competition for 14 years and have always been delighted with the large levels of engagement from employers, apprentices, training providers and sponsors. The competition is now a fixed feature within the flooring industry calendar taking pride of place alongside other awards at the annual CFJ Awards and highlights the dedication and achievements of flooring apprentices across the UK.

The very nature of the competition provides a platform for apprentices to highlight the skills that they have learnt during their apprenticeship and for the companies that employ the apprentices to get involved, it shows their commitment to training their workforce and their investment in the next generation of flooring installers.

Once the dust had settled and Sam was over his initial shock and being named the winner, we asked him for his thoughts on winning the competition: ‘Winning Flooring Apprentice of the Year is an incredible achievement and something I’m extremely proud of. It reflects all the hard work, dedication and commitment I’ve put into developing my skills throughout my apprenticeship. I’m grateful for the support and guidance I’ve received from my employer, trainers and colleagues, who have helped me grow both professionally and personally. Receiving this award has given me even more confidence and motivation to keep improving, take pride in my work, and build a successful career in the flooring industry.’

Once again, the competition was sponsored and supported by more than 20 of the flooring sector’s leading manufacturers, generously donating prizes. The prize list for the winner this year included a specialist flooring tool kit comprising named workwear, tool bags, a range of hand and power tools, adhesives and subfloor preparation products, moisture measuring equipment and a range of accessories such as personal protective equipment. It also included £1,000 in cash, product vouchers worth £1,750 and online shopping vouchers worth £1,250. Finally, Sam has won two free training courses to further his knowledge, skills and expertise, with the whole prize list worth over a staggering £10,000!

Following on from the success of 2025, this year the competition live winner reveal was held at the InstallerSHOW, NEC on 24^th June 2026. Once again, CFA was also able to provide a prize list for 2^nd and 3^rd place too, courtesy of the fantastic sponsors.

In 2^nd place was Jack Evans from Bakers Flooring Ltd. The judges felt Jack’s overall submission was strong, with clear and detailed explanations of each stage and positive feedback from his employer and tutor. Jack’s employer commented that Jack consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism, and a genuine passion for the flooring trade, approaching every task with maturity and a strong work ethic, attention to detail and willingness to learn.

In 3^rd place was Jay Howard, an apprentice with longstanding CFA Member MacGregor Flooring Company Ltd, attending the CITB National Construction College in Inchinnan. The judges were impressed by the quality of Jay’s case study, particularly the preparation and installation work evidenced, and they noted strong, positive feedback from his employer and tutor. Jay’s employer commented that Jay is an incredibly talented tradesman who consistently completes all flooring tasks to the highest standard. His workmanship, attention to detail, and pride in his craft set him apart. Site agents and fellow tradespeople hold him in very high regard, regularly commenting on both the quality of his work and his professionalism on site.

What is next for Sam? On 11th September at the National Conference Centre, he will be presented with a special award at the CFJ Awards and praised by industry once again for his fantastic achievement. If you are attending the awards, make sure to congratulate Sam on his fantastic achievement!

www.cfa.org.uk