Search Results

Against a backdrop of economic challenge, rising materials and labour costs, new figures from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reveal that almost 225,000 extra workers will be required to meet UK construction demand by 2027.

CITB has announced an update to planned changes to its plant standards and grants to standardise training and testing requirements across the construction industry. Excellent progress has been made and we are pleased to confirm that the first set of new standards are ready and have been developed in collaboration with industry working groups made up of employers, providers and federations. As these new standards are more detailed than any CITB have produced previously and represent a real change in the way that plant training and testing is delivered, we need to ensure that the changes that industry have asked for are fulfilled properly.

This year, CITB has paid out over £5m more in grants and supported nearly 700 more employers compared to the same period in 2021. As we draw closer to the end of 2022, CITB data reveals that almost 12,500 businesses have been supported in the form of grants, with £54.6m paid out to date (Apr – Nov 2022), and more than half paid to small or micro businesses.

Over 100 construction learners joined a CITB employability event recently at Coleg Cambria, on Deeside. The aim of these events is to give college-based learners an insight into what a company is looking for in an apprentice, what level of behaviour they expect and how to best approach getting some work experience and an apprenticeship. The learners also hear the importance of Health and Safety on site.

CITB has awarded contracts worth £10.5m, to four UK-wide training organisations which will provide 10,500 free ILM leadership and management courses across industry.

The winners of the SkillBuild National Finals 2022 have been announced, after nearly 80 construction trainees went head-to-head over three days. SkillBuild, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’, is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK and offers a chance for trainees to compete in a bid to be crowned winner of their chosen trade.

CITB’s Chief Executive, Tim Balcon said: “Construction employers are facing rising energy bills and materials costs and they need confidence in the future pipeline of work and support to train through challenging market conditions. “We will do everything we can to support the construction industry so companies can continue to have the confidence to invest in skills."

Top construction trainees from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been named as competitors at the SkillBuild National Finals 2022. SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics.’ Over 80 finalists made it through the qualifying rounds, which were held at various colleges across the UK earlier this year.

CITB responded quickly to a host of challenges faced by the sector by investing in apprenticeships, launching a range of innovative initiatives, and working collaboratively with industry, the organisation’s 2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts reveal.

Six months on from the launch of the updated Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Industry Skills Plan, I’m delighted to share how we’ve worked together to support the industry.