Covid-19: CITB chief exec update – 21 April 2020

Good afternoon,

As ever, this comes with my best wishes for you, your families and businesses.

Today’s update, the first of my twice-weekly e-mails to industry, details our increase of training standards suitable for remote learning for industry, from 22 to 180.

Remote Learning

CITB’s training standards have been adapted to support accredited Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), employers, delegates and those furloughed under the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The aim is twofold; firstly, to maintain skills training during COVID-19 and help ensure people are work-ready when the national situation improves. We hope that by conducting as many courses as possible through video link interfaces like MS Teams, Skype, Zoom, WebEx this will help training to continue in some capacity.  Secondly, our work continues to support ATOs to operate so that where possible their skills and training provision is safeguarded for the future.

We have reviewed all the Standards that can be delivered through remote learning: 180 can now be delivered by ATOs. Standards that can be delivered via remote learning include: Asbestos Awareness; Construction Design and Management Regulations; and mental health first aid. The full list of 180 remote learning standards available will be sent to ATOs later this week and be available on our website shortly after.

Since March 23, 90 Site Safety Plus Courses have been registered for delivery by remote learning, 31 have taken place. These courses have been delivered successfully using this new format by 20 training providers.

We've created a support guide (PDF file) outlining the rules and changes for remote learning during the pandemic. Please ensure you adhere to UK Government guidelines on COVID-19 when delivering learning remotely.

If you have any questions relating to remote learning, please contact us via our dedicated mailbox: Email: ctdservices@citb.co.uk.

CITB’s COVID-19 Urgent Messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Kind wishes

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive