The partnership comes in response to a troubling decline in skilled tilers. According to CITB Labour Market Intelligence Report 2024-2028 forecasts, the UK will need around 37,650 wall and floor tilers by 2028.

In 2004, over 47,300 tilers were recorded in the UK, but this plummeted by nearly 34% to 31,300 roles in 2020.

To counter this, Topps Tiles is transferring 50% of its Apprenticeship Levy funds (government tax employers pay to fund apprenticeship training) to support small tiling companies wanting to take on a tiling apprentice. This is the maximum Apprenticeship Levy amount an organisation can gift.

As part of the initiative, Topps Tiles will promote the tiling apprenticeship training delivered at Leeds College of Building and South & City College Birmingham via in-store and online promotions. The company has already donated tens of thousands of pounds of tiling equipment and materials to both colleges to support teaching.

Alan Heard, Leeds College of Building Wall & Floor Tiling lecturer, said: “Carl Goulden from South & City College Birmingham made me aware of the fantastic Topps Tiles opportunity through our roles on The Tile Association (TTA) Training Committee.

“He asked if Leeds College of Building would be interested in joining as a Northern education partner. As one of the country’s largest specialist training providers for tiling, we were the perfect fit! It is incredibly beneficial for the College to be affiliated with such a prestigious national brand.”

Although few colleges in England still offer wall and floor tiling training, it is an established part of the construction curriculum at South & City College Birmingham and Leeds College of Building. In 2022, the government removed funding for Level 2 Wall & Floor Tiling Diplomas, which halted progression routes for full-time students.

However, both colleges still offer a Level 2 Wall & Floor Tiling Apprenticeship Standard, usually completed over two years. Apprentices travel to the colleges from as far away as Northumberland to Lincolnshire.