F. Ball was delighted to host its second ‘Women in Flooring Course’ in April, back by popular demand since its initial run in 2016. The course was held at the F. Ball Training Centre, and was specifically designed for women working in the flooring industry to develop their experience and knowledge in a female-friendly environment.
The participants came from lots of different areas within the floor sector, with roles ranging widely from administration to sales. One thing in particular these women had in common, however, was a strong desire to increase their knowledge of F. Ball products, with one lady even travelling from Greece to attend the course.
Female members of F. Ball’s product development and marketing departments presented the course, which included a tour of the F. Ball manufacturing facility, presentations on flooring products, and the opportunity for attendees to try applying the latest products for themselves. This practical element, which took place in specially prepared training areas, ensured that every participant gained a clear understanding of how the products are used in practice.
Those who took part were full of praise for the course, commenting on how much they learned and how this will undoubtedly help them in their various jobs. Tracey White, from M&S Carpet and Flooring Limited, said: “I am very new to the flooring industry so I liked everything about the course and found it very useful. I now have a knowledge of what goes into preparing floors in readiness for the final floorcovering.”
Ball’s aim was to encourage women working in the flooring industry to develop their knowledge and experience in all areas of the subfloor preparation process, and many of the attendees said they felt a lot more confident recommending products to clients and work colleagues. Trying out the products for themselves and witnessing firsthand how they are made in the factory proved to be a popular component of the course, with another participant, Joanne Poulton, commenting that it was “without doubt, the best factory visit ever! We were made to feel very welcome and looked after brilliantly.”
F. Ball’s dedicated training centre opened in 2010, and has since provided free training courses to hundreds of flooring contractors. The training centre features high-tech conference facilities, meeting rooms and practical demonstration areas. All courses are presented by experts from within the company’s technical department and cover subfloor preparation and adhesive selection, as well as installation advice on F. Ball’s extensive product range.
