The NICF, National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (formerly the National Institute of Carpet Fitters), was formed in 1979.
The aim of the NICF was to promote excellence within the field of carpet fitting, understanding and awareness of the British Standards Code of Practice for the installation of textile floor coverings, and to provide assurance of quality of workmanship to the public.
National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers
The NICF Council has always listened to the views of its membership and as a result in 1998 rebranded as the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers in order to recognise those members who were multi skilled and also attract additional members including vinyl fitters, wood and laminate fitters and vinyl tile fitters.
In 1998 the NICF in conjunction with the Contract Flooring Association formed the Flooring Industry Training Association, FITA, and set up a state of the art training facility, this is now well established within the industry and is the premier training facility in the UK. Courses are run regularly throughout the year and are for newcomers to the trade as well as experienced fitters wishing to improve their skills. For more information about FITA please visit www.fita.co.uk
The NICF is a highly respected organisation within the flooring industry and is active in promoting the skilled floorlayer.
There are many benefits of being a member of a successful trade organisation. Find out what NICF membership can do for your business and how we can offer the reassurance of quality and professionalism to your customers.
Our Criteria section offers you information on our various Membership categories and the criteria for Master Fitter assessments. FInd out what it takes to achieve our highest category of membership.
Greendale Carpets & Floorings is a not-for-profit mutual trading company owned by a group of independent flooring retailers, uniting to benefit from the buying power equivalent to larger rivals.
Greendale is the only member owned buying group with it's own stockholding facility.
Co-founded by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (NICF) to provide specialist training for the floorcovering industry, FITA is an independent, not-for-profit organisation — by industry, for industry. We have two specialist training centres at Loughborough and Kirkcaldy with fully equipped practical and lecture areas.
Improve knowledge and efficiency
Increase the range of products you fit
Complete jobs with greater confidence
Increase customer recommendations
Maximise profits through all of the above
Train using some of the latest products and technology donated by major manufacturers
Excellent course reviews—over 90% of attendees rate our instructors 10/10
Our instructors have extensive knowledge of the flooring industry. They will teach you the skills you need to increase your knowledge and abilities, maximising your potential to increase your earning power. FITA also enjoys the support of a considerable number of suppliers who freely donate materials, accessories and tools.
FITA offer more than 20 flooring training courses at various levels. The range of courses means that there are basic courses to suit real beginners in the industry as well as upskilling courses aimed at professional floorlayers with a number of years' experience of installing flooring.
FITA are able to offer bespoke courses for companies wishing to have training tailored to their specific requirements
Penthouse Carpets has been a part of Britain’s rich textiles heritage since 1972.
We’re unusually proud of what we do, because each employee owns a part of the company. We all know our success depends on our customers being as happy with our carpets as we are. We’re passionate about designing and crafting beautiful high quality floor covering that sets the benchmark for style, comfort and durability.
Based in Lancashire, we don’t let tradition get in the way of progress. We use the latest technology to create stylish, superb quality carpets in a kaleidoscope of colours.
Why Buy a Penthouse Carpet?
We’re passionate about using only the finest raw materials to create carpets of exceptional quality. From sourcing premium yarns and natural jute backing, to the care we take throughout the manufacturing process.
We carry out no less than 5 individual quality control checks throughout the manufacturing process to ensure we maintain the high level of quality that Penthouse Carpets are renowned for.
Carpet Recycling UK returns to the BGNFS to help its network to become more sustainable. Talk to us about the value of getting involved as a member. We offer a discounted rate to retailer members of some of our associate member buying groups.
Join Ulster Carpets as they mark the 30th anniversary of York Wilton with the launch of 11 new colours that increases the choice in this range to 60.
The addition of 11 new colours ensures that York Wilton remains as relevant today as it was when it was launched three decades ago. Manufactured in the UK from 80% wool and 20% nylon, York Wilton is suitable for Extra Heavy Wear applications and is available in colour matching MultiWidths of 5m, 4m, 3m, 2m and 1m.
Visitors can also take a closer look at the new Natural Choice Textures range. Completing the environmentally conscious Natural Choice collection, this new tufted loop range is made from 100% undyed British wool and is available in eight different colourways. This new 6 ply loop range enhances a successful Natural Choice collection that already includes Axminster and Wilton carpets.
The launch of York Wilton and Natural Choice Textures follow last year’s additions to the Open Spaces Laneve™, Beaumont and Glenmoy ranges that further enhance the extensive Ulster Carpets range.
Visitors can also learn more about Ulster’s luxury underlay, Axfelt, that is made from 100% recycled materials.
Likewise Floors are one of the largest floorcovering distributors in the UK. Our extensive product range includes carpet, vinyl, laminate, LVT, artificial grass and more.
Interfloor is Europe’s largest manufacturer of carpet underlay and flooring accessories
Interfloor, part of the Victoria PLC group of companies, was created by the merger of Tredaire and Duralay in 2002 but our heritage dates back to the 1940s when Duralay began manufacturing the first carpet underlays in the UK.
We are Europe’s largest manufacturer of carpet underlay and flooring accessories operating from two sites in the UK, and we supply our products to flooring retailers, distributors and flooring contractors in the UK and around the world.
All of our Tredaire and Duralay underlays are made in the UK at our production facility in Lancashire England, and our Gripperrods carpet gripper and jointing tapes are produced in Dumfries Scotland along with some final finishing of bought-in accessories.
Interfloor is dedicated to offering our customers a large choice of competitively priced branded, unbranded and customer own-brand underlay products and accessories. We leverage our extensive access to the global flooring market to offer customers high levels of quality and service underpinned by instilling a customer centric culture within our business.
We want our customers to be delighted with the products and service they receive from Interfloor which is why we support customers with a vast range of point-of-sale merchandise for our underlays and accessories, product information and training and a sampling service.
We provide a full range of technical specifications for our underlays plus fitting guides for different flooring types. We also guarantee that where fitted correctly, our underlays will last for the full serviceable lifetime of the new carpet installed at the same time.
A comprehensive range:
• Recycled PU carpet Underlays
• Sponge Rubber Carpet Underlays
• Recycled Crumb Rubber Carpet Underlays
• FR & IMO Underlays
• Specialist Acoustic Underlays & Solutions
• Hard Flooring Underlays
• Underfloor Heating Underlays
• Carpet Grippers
• Carpet & Vinyl Floor Edging
• Wood & Laminate Floor Edgings
• Adhesives & Tapes
• Heat Seaming Tapes
• Fitting Tools
• Retail Packaged Products
Why Choose Interfloor
• Largest stock holding of underlay
With over 50,000 rolls of underlay held at our Haslingden warehouse, at any one time, we ensure that all our core products are stocked throughout the year.
• Best brands for your business
Tredaire has the highest brand recognition amongst consumers and Duralay products are known throughout the commercial world as the most durable products.
• Highest quality products
All Interfloor products are tested to the highest British
and International standards.
• The right product for the right installation
A comprehensive range of PU, Sponge, Crumb underlays, accessories, tools and adhesives. We manufacture the biggest range of underlays in the market.
• Made in the UK
All our underlays are manufactured in the UK.
Since 1980 Elliott Anti-Slip have been the sole importer of the AKO range of rug underlay and anti-slip materials and we are pleased that after more than 40 years we continue to supply the UK Flooring market with AKO’s quality European made products. We offer the most comprehensive range of anti-slip rug underlay products available in the UK and are confident we can supply products to suit any rug or floor combination and most budgets.
Fleece underlay is make from recycled plastic bottles. It is needle punched with acrylic adhesive, which means the acrylic is inside the fleece and it is guaranteed that there will not be any residues on the floor or carpet.
Underlay can be washed and moved from place to place without losing functionality or stickiness.
We offer rug underlay for the carpets and hard flooring. Our underlay is suitable for the under-floor heating and it is washable. We offer the products in 30m rolls and wide selection of pre-cut packs sizes.
Visit our website or contact us on 01386 425 920 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As a second generation British family owned business, our commitment to quality, product knowledge and building lasting relationships remains key. Families are all about relationships, and today, our lineage extends far beyond just our owners. Our family values are at the core of our business, and we count our employees and our business partners as valuable members of the Cavalier family. We offer a diverse range of quality carpets, featuring environmentally friendly wool based options.