“CITB funding helped us grow our workforce and take on multiple contracts”

Ainsley Construction hadn't claimed a CITB grant for three years when Gareth Quinlan joined the company.

Keen to upskill staff, Gareth, Commercial Director at the Merthyr Tydfil SME, arranged a meeting with CITB Advisor, Katie Cole.

Katie explained how Levy Returns were the key requirement to access up to £5k through CITB’s Skills & Training Fund and to claim for other training through the grants scheme.

Gareth submitted an application and secured funding for several courses including:

• Site management and supervision training for four staff
• Working-at-height training for seven staff, via the Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association
• Excavation awareness and confined spaces training
• NVQs to obtain CSCS Gold or Black Card for three staff.

The CITB funding has made a huge difference.

“Since completing the training, staff have stepped up and taken health and safety much more seriously,“ says Gareth.

“They have become professional, taking on responsibility for themselves, and are more aware of site procedures and safety.

“From a business perspective, the training has boosted our confidence as an employer, enabling us to take on longer, and multiple, contracts.  Our workload and workforce has grown as a result of the CITB funding and the training it paid for.” 

Gareth says the company’s perception of CITB has changed greatly because of this funding experience.

He said: “Initially there was a general feeling of resentment around CITB, it was perceived as another tax on the company. However, it soon became evident that it’s only a negative if you don’t take the time to learn and understand the CITB benefits on offer, to utilise them to develop your company.

“We had a very positive experience with CITB. Katie was extremely helpful and informative, making sure we had everything we needed to maximise the benefits on offer to us.

“We now know we must complete the Levy Return to claim grant for construction training each year. We missed out on CITB grant and funding for several years.  We are now in a much stronger position with our training mapped out and paid for.”

For more information on CITB’s Skills and Training Fund please click here.

Snapshot

Company: Ainsley Construction Ltd.
Sector:  Welsh SME/family business. Services include: refurbishment, new builds and commercial projects
Challenge: To access funding after years of inactivity and a negative perception of CITB
Solution: CITB’s Katie Cole help arranged funding and changed the company’s view of the application process
Impact: Training has enabled Ainsley to take on multiple contracts and increase their workforce