TICA apprentices get into the Christmas spirit using cladding materials 

Apprentices at the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) have added a touch of innovation to the festive season by creating a Christmas tree entirely out of thermal insulation materials and cladding.

The collaborative effort resulted in a thermal insulation Christmas tree and has initiated a "tree-off" competition to challenge apprentices to explore various designs using different materials, encouraging a showcase of their skills and the creative potential within the industry.

Daniel Metcalfe, planning and resource lead at TICA, said: “We are always looking for interesting additional practical projects for our apprentices to really showcase some of their skills and a Christmas tree felt like a good opportunity to get in the festive spirit, but also apply some core techniques of designing and cutting insulation as well as some bespoke metal fabrication.” 

Marion Marsland, chief executive at TICA, added: “This was a great initiative by our talented workshop apprentices, who turned their creativity into a festive masterpiece.

“Their thoughtful planning, design skills and hands-on effort transformed some of our commonly used thermal insulation materials into a wonderful Christmas tree, spreading joy throughout our workplace."

TICA welcomes more than 100 apprentices a year to its National Training Centre for two-week blocks of training every three months, for between 18 and 24 months.

The organisation is the sole trade association representing the thermal insulation industry and is the only provider of the Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard for Commercial Thermal Insulation Operative and Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard for Industrial Thermal Insulation Technician.

Apprentices work towards nationally recognised qualifications while gaining practical on-site experience with employers, as well as developing skills and best practice at TICA’s national training centre.