Competition

We are pleased to announce that the winner of this year's competition is Matthew Bowles.

Fitter of the Year - LVT - 2021 Final

The grand final of the UK LVT Fitter Of The Year 2021 took place at The Flooring Show in Harrogate on the 19 and 20 September. This was the first time the LVT competition had been held at the Flooring Show and was a change from the previous format that has been carpet. The competition had two elements to it, one of the elements was the 'Judges Freestyle Challenge' and at the briefing day in July the finalists were given a 4'x2' piece of plywood courtesy of Hanson Plywood, 8 black and 8 white Opus tiles courtesy of Karndean and were tasked with making a picture based on the theme given to them which was LONDON.

The quality of the work for the judges freestyle challenge was just amazing and made the judging process very difficult but aa eventually agreed that the trophy for this element should go to Mathew Parkinson for his Big Ben Clock Face. Mathew said of taking part in the competition

"Thank you to the NICF for organising what has proven to be a genuinely life changing experience. I entered this with a fair amount of scepticism and I did expect this to be a tool show more than a show of skill . I was wrong . This is a chance to show off in front of professionals and for you to become a bit better . I don't believe this sort of experience can be had on any course. I expected the competition to be just that and for no one to speak or help each other along. Again I was very wrong. I found it was more a sense of us against the judges and in the end everyone stood (knelt) together. I met fitters who I honestly idolised and walked away friends. If you care about your work you should do this. I guarantee you won't regret it no matter what level you get to. I'll certainly be doing it again".

View the 2021 Final photo gallery

The main platform element of the competition consisted of a step up onto an L-shaped platform with a hexagonal obstacle in the centre and a bullnose shape in one corner. The brief was to fit the herringbone tiles direct to the skirting on one side of the platform having centred the design on the step, the herringbone had to continue on the step but the finalists were not expected to insert the tiles into the Ali-Wrap nosing's, back on the platform halfway along the back edge the finalists had to insert a 3-5-3 tramline border around the bullnose shape, the platform contained only one external corner which was also a Freestyle corner if the finalists wanted to add their own little design.

The quality was again of a very high standard and the competition overall winner was Matthew Bowles who walks away with a pot of prizes (too many to list) provided by the sponsors and his wife Julie walks away with the £2000 cheque. So it's been a good year if you are called Matt. Matt Bowles said of winning

"From filling out the entry form to being crowned the first UK LVT Fitter of the Year, the NICF and the judges made me feel relaxed and comfortable at all times. It has been an experience I've loved and being up against the best in the business made me raise my game and relish the challenge to push what you think out can handle In terms of pressure and ability. If you are thinking of entering, don't hesitate. It will be the best thing you will do in your working career".

Well done to all who took part, you showcased an incredible standard of craftsmanship over the two days. Our Finalists and Semi-Finalists are featured below.

Thank you to compere and head judge Ian James, and his fellow judges Steve Ramsden and Richard Renouf; to Alex Butler, Event Director of The Flooring Show, who presented the prizes at the awards ceremony.

And finally, a huge thank you to all the sponsors for their unwavering support through what has been an extremely challenging 18 months.

The Finalists

I'm Matt, a floor layer based near Norwich.  I have over twenty years' experience in different aspects of the flooring industry and run my own company. I find it important to continually develop my flooring knowledge and thrive on learning new skills so I can keep up to date with everything in this ever-evolving trade. This is a key part of my business ethic and is shown in the quality of Creative work I produce. Well done to those who have made this year's final. I'm looking forward to competing with some of the best in the business. Lastly, thank you to those who have supported me on this journey. Let's see what happens.

Matt Bowles

I am honoured and delighted to have been selected to compete in the final of LVT Fitter of the Year 2021. It's great to know that my hard work and attention to detail has been recognised for me to get this far. Reaching the semi-finals was a great achievement in itself and has been a real boost to my confidence. I joined the NICF in 2020 after starting my own company, it was at this point I became aware of the FOTY 2021 competition and decided to enter to give me something to strive towards. I would like to thank everyone involved with the competition and I'm looking forward to competing in the final. The best of luck to my fellow competitors.

Dean Dickinson

I'm Luke and my business is iBuild & Renovations Ltd. I've been in the flooring industry since I was 15 starting out doing school holidays and weekends with my uncle before going completely solo at 18 years old. 16 years on and I've continued to develop my skill set from day one right throughout being able to install all types of flooring. Being very practical minded I'm able to put my hands to most things. Over the last 5-6 years I've also gone into building and renovations leading to me closing my retail flooring shop down and rebranding as iBuild. I still do a lot of flooring work although I'm not a full time floor layer day to day anymore.  I'm grateful to be in the final after being far from my best in the semi finals but thankfully it was still enough. Good luck to all involved.

Luke Johnson

My name is Daniel Jones, I'm 51 and married to my lovely wife Adele. I have four beautiful children, Mia, Eleanor, Madison and Keaton. I have been in the flooring industry for 33 years. My main area of flooring is LVT and vinyl. I am currently employed by Oxford City Flooring who are a fantastic company to work for. My story began in 1988 when I walked into a careers office after leaving a job I hated. There was a job advertised for a "Floorlayer Improver". That was it! Applied, started on the next day and I'm still at it. I love the trade and its characters. I've had the pleasure of meeting lots of people within the trade, all great people. I am also grateful that I've had the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to others through training. Although I'm starting to get older, there's life in the old dog yet! I'd like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the semi-finalists and those getting through to the finals, and wish all, the very best of luck. We're all winners.

Daniel Jones

Hello, my name is Mathew Parkinson. This competition has been an ambition of mine for many years and as a first-time attempt I am delighted to be through to the finals. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside some very highly skilled fitters for many very awkward customers over the years and I believe it is that experience that has led me here. This trade has made me who I am from being a young lad who suffered with all sorts of anxiety issues to illness and personal loss, this trade has been my purpose throughout. That's what this competition is to me. It's about putting something back in and sporting a bit of professional pride in an often-overlooked trade that has given me so much.

Mathew Parkinson

We would like to take the opprotunity here to thank our remaining six semi-finalists who did not made the final, but who took part and playing a valued role in the 2021 competition.