Beena Nana, FIS Head of Skills and Training, takes a look at two training facilities, reinforcing their businesses commitment to skills development and sustainable careers in the fit-out sector.
In the finishes and interiors sector, the quality of our projects ultimately depends on the people delivering them. Across the industry, we face familiar challenges: skills shortages, tighter margins, increasing complexity, and rising expectations around compliance and performance. These pressures are not going away, and they affect everyone from installers and supervisors to project managers and contractors. Meeting them requires more than discussion; it demands real investment in people, practical training, and ongoing professional development.
At its core, our sector depends on competence, confidence, and capability on site. Every project relies on teams who understand both the details and the broader context, who can work efficiently while maintaining high standards, and who are equipped to handle the demands of modern construction. Investing in these skills does not just benefit individual workers; it improves productivity, reduces errors, and helps ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and to the right standard.
Structured training and development also create clear pathways into the sector. Whether it’s apprentices learning the basics, career switchers building practical knowledge, or experienced teams refining their skills for complex projects, providing access to relevant learning helps raise standards across the board. It’s about giving people the confidence to perform their jobs well and the competence to meet the demands of clients, regulations, and industry expectations.
As a sector body, we know that investment in skills is not optional, it is fundamental. While we cannot control every pressure facing the construction industry, we can control how seriously we take workforce competence. Supporting and developing people is the most effective way to protect standards, strengthen the sector, and ensure lasting success. This is why initiatives like ATJ Group and Rockfon’s recent focus on practical, hands-on training are so important, and why raising skills and capability remains central to the future of finishes and interiors.
ATJ Group opens new training facility and launches ATJ People Dale Harper-Jones, Managing Director of ATJ Group, explained that the 30 January marked a significant milestone for the ATJ Group with the official launch of ATJ People, alongside a showcase of ATJ Plant and ATJ Plant Training at its new facility in Basingstoke.
The event brought together industry leaders, partners, and stakeholders to celebrate a major investment in skills, training, and sustainable workforce development. The Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Colin Philimore joined the celebrations, formally opening the facility and cutting the ribbon alongside Dale, and Iain McIlwee, CEO of Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS).
Dale said: “The addresses from the Mayor, Iain and me highlighted the importance of collaboration across the finishes and interiors community to tackle the skills shortage and create meaningful career opportunities for new entrants to the industry.
“The launch was attended by representatives from Tier 1 contractors, leading suppliers and key industry stakeholders, including the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Guests were invited to tour the new facility, which has been purpose-designed to support both practical and classroom-based learning.”
Accredited training and sustainable plant operations Dale explained that a key feature of the tour was the new PASMA training room, underlining ATJ’s commitment to delivering accredited training in-house. Pete Harley and Zak Morris hosted a detailed session on ATJ Plant, outlining how the business is embedding sustainable principles into its plant operations and wider service delivery. The session also provided an overview of PASMA and the enhanced internal training provision set to commence this spring, ensuring operatives are equipped with the knowledge and competencies required for modern construction environments.
Introducing ATJ People
Central to the day’s celebrations was the introduction of ATJ People, a new employment and training pathway designed to attract and develop new talent. Tori Mitchell presented the programme to guests, explaining that it has been developed in partnership with Construction Skills People and is proudly sponsored by British Gypsum. Tori said: “The employment and training pathway is specifically aimed at unemployed individuals aged 19 and over who have the Right to Work in the UK. Delegates begin their journey with five weeks of academy based training, focusing on the fundamentals of drylining and overall site readiness. On completion of the academy phase, every delegate is guaranteed an interview with ATJ People and, subject to successful outcomes, will be offered full-time employment on a structured two-year programme working across ATJ construction sites.
“The two-year pathway has been carefully designed to combine on-site experience with continued professional development. Delegates will return to the academy at regular intervals to refresh and advance their skills, undertake specialist tool and manufacturer training, and achieve a range of recognised qualifications and certifications. These include PASMA, IPAF, NVQ Level 2 and a variety of short life-skills courses to support confidence, communication and longterm career progression.”
Practical learning in action
The tour concluded in the practical training area, constructed by ATJ Trainer Graham Makey using materials generously sponsored by key supply chain partners, including British Gypsum, Equestrian Fencing and Minster, commented Dale. He said: “Here, guests were given an overview of the five-week academy syllabus and the structure of the subsequent two-year programme. Graham answered questions and even invited attendees to try their hand at cutting plasterboard, offering a tangible insight into the hands-on learning experience delegates will undertake.”
He went on to explain that the first academy cohort commenced on 16 February and is already making strong progress. The team is looking forward to supporting their development over the coming weeks and guiding their transition onto live sites.
A long-term commitment to closing the skills gap
In conclusion Dale said: “For ATJ Group, the launch represents more than a new facility; it signals a long-term commitment to addressing the skills gap, investing in people and creating real opportunities within local communities. By supporting unemployed individuals into sustainable careers, ATJ is not only strengthening its own workforce pipeline but also contributing positively to the wider finishes and interiors sector.”
Building skills, not just ceilings
Nigel Watkins, Commercial Director at Rockfon, discusses their large capital investment in an 865 m² training centre in Northamptonshire.
Nigel explained that it was not a vanity project or simply ticking a CSR box. It was a deliberate decision to support the people who install Rockfon’s acoustic wall and ceiling systems and protect standards across the sector.
Nigel said: “We operate in a fragmented industry, and we all know the challenges, including skills shortages, pressure on programmes, tighter margins, and rising expectations around compliance and performance. If we want better outcomes, we have to invest in capability. For us, that meant creating a dedicated facility with a full-time Technical Trainer delivering courses 52 weeks of the year.
“In the past 12 months, we have trained more than 250 people, and we are only just getting started.”
Supporting the people who make it happen
He explained that suspended ceilings do not install themselves. Behind every finished project is a team of installers, supervisors, project managers, and distributors who need to understand both the product and the details of its installation.
He said: “Our training centre supports suspended ceiling installers, main contractors, office fit-out businesses, and specialist distributors. The aim is simple: To help people become more confident, more competent, and more efficient in their roles. “At entry level, many start with our ‘Suspended Ceilings for Beginners’ course, which combines classroom learning with practical installation. It is popularwith apprentices, new starters, career switchers, and office-based staff who want to fully understand what happens on site.
“From there, we offer more advanced and specialist sessions. An installer might need guidance on a specific system or an unfamiliar detail. Others want to build confidence with non-standard grids or complex layouts. Fit-out contractors regularly use the centre to practise installing newer solutions such as Rockfon OneFrame and Rockfon Hub before introducing them on live projects.
“Every business has different pressures. Our job is to provide practical support that reflects that reality.”
Taking risk out of projects
One of the most valuable aspects of the training centre has been its use for preconstruction mock ups, commented Nigel.
“We regularly bring together our technical team, designers, main contractors, and subcontractors to test concepts before they reach the site. It is a far more productive conversation when you are standing in front of a full-scale mock-up rather than reviewing drawings on a screen.
“A recent NHS mental health unit project required a ceiling solution that was impact resistant, helped mitigate tampering, and achieved Class A sound absorption, a challenging combination. In our training bays, our Technical team developed and tested two bespoke approaches: a rigid suspension system and a direct fix solution.
“The process allowed everyone to agree technical, quality and aesthetic standards early, and gave installers the opportunity to practise before work began on site. That preparation reduces uncertainty, improves efficiency and ultimately supports programme delivery,” said Nigel.
The business case for training
Sharing feedback from attendees, Nigel explained that this reinforces why the training matters. 92% described their training as very beneficial, 96% said they would recommend it to a colleague, and 84% said it will improve their efficiency. In practical terms, this translates into broader service capability, improved productivity, and better quality control, getting it right the first time rather than rectifying issues later.
Nigel concluded by saying: “We also hold ourselves to the same standard. Over 90% of our employees have completed structured, hands-on training in the past year. If we want to be a credible partner to installers and contractors, we need to understand the realities of site as well as the theory.
“For me, investment in skills is not optional. It is fundamental to raising standards in the finishes and interiors sector. “We cannot control every pressure facing construction, but we can control how seriously we take competence. And that feels like a responsibility worth investing in.”
