Covid-19: CITB chief exec update – 20 May 2021

Good afternoon,  

Today I want to talk about how the Skills & Training Fund can support Medium-sized businesses; some hopefully useful information about the Levy Return 2021; news about some free webinars for training providers; and the results of the CLC ‘People Survey’, which provides a snapshot of the construction workforce as we move out of the pandemic.

Skills & Training Fund for Medium-sized Businesses

Did you know that as a CITB Levy registered employer, with under 250 direct employees, you are entitled to apply for up to £25,000 of funding to train your staff?

Ensuring your workforce has the skills needed to take your business forward, improve productivity and efficiency, and be competitive in this rapidly changing world, is a challenge facing all of us. At CITB we want to ensure you can access high quality training, not only for your construction workers but also for your Leadership & Management Team. The Skills & Training Fund for Medium-sized Businesses has been created to support you.

How to apply

Accessing the fund is easy:

• Download the application form
• Answer 5 questions
• Include details of what, who, how much and when
• Submit your application

What’s fundable

• Any training or activity that is NEW to your business
  • That is construction specific
  • That is for construction site employees
  • That is for Leadership & Management roles

You may want to develop future leaders by running an ‘introduction to management’ programme or enhance training on your existing construction software, to improve efficiency and move to a paperless environment. 

You may be considering coaching to improve the communication skills of your business leaders, enabling them to confidently roll out a complex business change programme.

You could be looking to shift your organisational culture to focus on quality, efficiency, and risk reduction or upskill your workforce to be competent with the latest GPS technology. This fund is here to support your training and help you address any gaps.

You can apply for funding every 12 months. If it’s more than 12 months since you last applied, and your previous funding is complete, it’s time to submit your new application.

Full details can be found on our website here.

Submit your completed application to:

skills.training@citb.co.uk

Information about the 2021 Levy Return

This week we will be sending out the 2021 Levy Return to all Levy-registered employers, around 77,000 in total. The mailing contains a letter and the 2021 Levy Return form, plus a guidance notes booklet to help employers fill in their Levy Return, a copy of which can be found on our website.

Our support for the industry during COVID-19 saw a number of changes made to the Levy cycle. To avoid confusion between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 cycles we have included as part of the mailing an infographic, showing how the two years have overlapped and the changes made. This can be viewed here.

If you have any questions or need help completing your Levy Return, please call 0344 994 4455 or email levy.grant@citb.co.uk.

CITB Quality Assurance Webinars

In our digital world fraudulent activity is sadly increasingly common, which is why CITB has organised a series of free Internet Test Centre Quality Assurance Update Webinars.

Training providers are encouraged to enrol for one of the webinars, so that we can update you on the following:

• Fraud Prevention (What to look out for and the tactics being used by fraudsters against centres)
• Quality Assurance Requirements and what they mean for your centre
• Your opportunity to ask questions and seek advice.

We hope you can attend the on-line events.

Internet Test Centre Quality Assurance Update Webinar

• 24/05/2021 - 10:00 – 12:00
• 25/05/2021 - 10:00 – 12:00
• 26/05/2021 - 10:00 – 12:00
• 27/05/2021 - 10:00 – 12:00

Booking form - ITC Quality Assurance Webinar

Site Safety Plus Quality Assurance Update Webinar

• 24/05/2021 - 14:00 – 16:00
• 25/05/2021 - 14:00 – 16:00
• 26/05/2021 - 14:00 – 16:00
• 27/05/2021 - 14:00 – 16:00

Booking form - Site Safety Plus Quality Assurance Update Webinar

CLC Survey - Maintaining Employment in Construction

The results of the third cross-industry ‘People Survey’, carried out on behalf of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in April, are published today (20 May). “Maintaining Employment in Construction” indicates that there will be a reduction of 1.2% in the size of the workforce by July. However, the number of apprentices employed is expected to increase by 2.7 % over the next three months, and the number of graduates taken on this September is expected to be 17% higher than last September.

You can read the full survey here.

The results chime with CITB research which suggests that the industry is expected to bounce back quickly in some sectors and needs to support employers who want to take on apprentices. The statistic about graduates is fascinating and appears to show that construction is attracting new recruits from more diverse backgrounds, attracted by the opportunities the industry provides.

That’s all for now. Best wishes and stay safe everyone,  

Sarah Beale  
Chief Executive