All change for CITB levy?

Posted on September 10, 2015

There is undoubtedly a skills shortage within the labour market that needs to be addressed. The government see that this must be filled, and to attract young people to take up apprenticeship posts it has challenged large business to embark on a drive to attract the right people. They propose to raise a levy from large businesses from April 2017 to fund their plans.

CITB Levy

This seems unfair as Construction and Engineering already pay a levy towards their respective industry training boards which partly funds the apprenticeship model.  The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) arrangements are up for review in March 2018.  It could be that the all industry levy removes the current funding arrangements from these industries which would be welcomed.  However the grant system also helps fund lifelong learning such as the Site Managers and Site Supervisors courses.  These have undoubtedly helped raise standards in our industries to their highest levels.  Could the possible removal of grant aid from such training have an adverse effect on the excellent work so far?  If the feedback and comments made by attendees on these courses with us are to be taken, they attend the sessions primarily as a requirement to demonstrate competence to clients or principal contractors which is driven by the CDM Regulations.  It is usually only when they have attended training sessions that they agree there is a need for it.

The funding arrangements might change but the need for training either though apprenticeship and lifelong learning will remain.