TTA is a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) and is taking the initiative to organise training courses with the aim of increasing understanding and fixer competence regarding the installation of Large Format Wall & Floor Tiles and Panels. ATO status means that the training courses that TTA provides are run to a defined and industry-agreed standard. TTA has a number of short duration training courses approved and designed to upskill professional tilers. These courses are open to both experienced and inexperienced tilers, as well as students and lecturers. They are also open to both members and non-members of TTA. Participants may be eligible to apply for funding from CITB to assist with their cost in attending.
TTA has run a Large Format Wall & Floor Tiles and Panels training session at its HQ in Stone, Staffordshire. This was supported by Raimondi, who sent two expert demonstrators, Roberto Criminni and Gianluca Parisi and also assisted by Stuart Middleton of Aquacut and Jim Stott of Tilers Tools who carried out the practical aspects of the training. The TTA and Riamondi developed the course jointly. A number of TTA members donated materials – Casa Ceramica provided the large format panels, Jackoboard provided tile backerboard and Mapei provided its Ultralite S2 adhesive. Future events provide an opportunity for others members to do the same.
“This is a great example of TTA members working together to increase skill levels in our industry, by enhancing fixer competence and providing greater knowledge about an important growth area in the market,” says Bob Howard MBE, member of the TTA Technical Committee, TTA Board and Chair of TTA’s Training Committee. “I’m delighted that this new training course has reached this stage. Given its importance due to current market trends and the support that we have had from TTA members, I am confident that the course will become a regular fixture in the TTA’s annual training calendar, and we intend to roll it out nationally during the second half of this year.”
Meanwhile TTA’s Technical Committee is working on an update to the existing publication ‘Large Format Wall & Floor Tiles and Panels in Internal Tiling’ to provide guidance on the latest generation of large format tiles and panels. This guidance document will be produced in the coming months and will be available free of charge to TTA members and those attending the course.