Unlock Funding for Your Workforce: The CITB Grant Scheme Guide

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) offers vital Construction Industry Training Board Funding to support UK construction sector employers in developing their workforce. By collecting the industry training levy and reinvesting it through various schemes, CITB aims to build a skilled, competent, and safe workforce for the future. Here’s an enhanced look at the major CITB Grants and the innovative CITB Employer Networks designed to simplify access and direct local training.

Key CITB Grants for Employers (Construction Training Subsidies UK)

Securing the right funding is essential for any construction business looking to grow its capability and pipeline of talent. The CITB Grant Scheme is the most direct way for levy-registered employers to recoup costs associated with training and qualification programs.

These grants are specifically structured to reward investments in structured learning, providing financial recognition for both the time spent in training (attendance) and the successful completion of courses and qualifications (achievement), helping you make training a core, sustainable part of your business model.

Grant Type	Focus	Key Funding Highlights (Examples)
1. CITB Apprenticeship Grant	Developing new talent in construction-related skills.	Up to £2,500 per year for attendance + £3,500 for successful completion (achievement) of an approved apprenticeship.
2. Qualification Grants	Supporting formal, structured learning and career progression.	Short Qualifications (<1 year): Grants from £300 to £1,500 based on level/achievement.  Longer Qualifications (>1 year, e.g., Degrees/HNC/HND): Approx. £1,125 annually for attendance + £1,875 for achievement. * Enhanced Grants: Available for Supervisor/Management qualifications, particularly those replacing "Industry Accreditation (IA)" cards, and Specialist Applied Skills Programmes (SAP).
3. Short Course Grants	Training in core industry skills over a short duration.	For training lasting 3 hours to 29 days aligned with industry needs. Rates depend on the tier/duration of the course. Refresher training typically receives half the full grant rate.
4. Into Work Grant	Encouraging work experience leading to employment.	Supports placements: e.g., £500 for work experience completion + £1,000 when the person is subsequently employed for 3 months.

Simplify Funding Access: The CITB Employer Networks Initiative

For many businesses, particularly micro-businesses and SMEs, navigating the paperwork and administrative processes of grant claims can be a significant barrier to accessing essential training.

The Employer Networks (ENs) were developed to tear down this barrier.

This CITB-led, collaborative approach allows construction companies in a defined geographic area to pool their training needs and collectively influence how local funds are allocated, drastically reducing administrative complexity and ensuring training is relevant, affordable, and focused on current and future skills (like digital transformation and Net Zero targets).

What are Employer Networks?

Employer Networks are regional collaborations that bring local construction employers together to pool resources and influence training priorities. They are especially beneficial for smaller employers/micro-businesses who may find the standard grant-claim process complex.

• Reduce Admin Burden: In many cases, the Network helps arrange training and payment, meaning employers don't need to complete the standard grant-claim paperwork.

• Direct Local Funding: Members collectively identify training needs—covering current trade skills and future skills like Net Zero, digital skills, and mentoring—and influence how local CITB funding is spent.

• Regional Focus: They operate at a regional/local level.
  

Areas Covered in England

If your business is based in England, you’ll likely fall into one of the many local Network areas. Some of the English Network areas listed include:

• Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

• Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire

• Cumbria & Lancashire

• Devon & Cornwall

• Dorset, Avon & Somerset

• Essex, East & West Sussex, Kent, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Surrey

• Greater Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire

• Gloucestershire, Swindon & Wiltshire

• Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Norfolk & Suffolk

• London Central & West; London North & East; London South

• North & East Yorkshire & Humberside, North-East & Teesside

• Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire, Milton Keynes

• South & West Yorkshire, The Marches, Stoke & Staffordshire, Worcestershire

  
  
  
  

Example: If your business is in Taunton (Somerset) you’d be in the "Dorset, Avon & Somerset" network area.

🛠 How to Engage with an Employer Network

1. Check Eligibility: You must be registered with CITB (Levy-registered employer) and up-to-date with any required returns.

2. Join the Network: Contact the relevant local Network adviser for your region and express interest.

3. Identify Training Needs: Through the Network, you’ll be asked what your business’s current and future training needs are. The employer steering group helps decide.

4. Access Subsidised Training: The Network arranges for training (trade skills, digital/green skills, mentoring) via approved providers, often at subsidised rates, and the Network handles much of the admin (invoicing/payment to provider).

5. Voice & Influence: As a member you have input into how funds are allocated locally and what types of training are prioritised.
   

Essential Considerations for All CITB Funding

Before applying for any grant or joining a Network, remember these key points:

• Eligibility is Key: You must be a CITB-registered employer (whether or not you pay the levy) and current with any required Levy Returns.

• Approved Training: For many grants, the training or qualification must be delivered by a recognised/approved provider.

• Construction-Specific: Training must be aligned with construction-industry core skills. Networks actively encourage future-skills (like digital and green technology).

• Network Membership Cost: Joining an Employer Network is generally free for eligible employers.

• Integration: Check locally how Network access might restrict or integrate with any other standard CITB grants you may be claiming.

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AUTHOR:

Paul Bayley

TVCTA, Group training Officer and Finance Manager

Thames Valley Construction Training Group Ltd

TVCTA is a support network for construction employers, allowing members to access high-quality, low-cost training suitable for all employees and subcontractors.

The Training Officer organises members’ training needs, offers advice on mandatory and skill-specific requirements, and supports members with funding applications and grant claims. They also assist with apprentice recruitment and monitoring. In addition, TVCTA provides valuable networking opportunities through member meetings, workshops, and seminars.

TVCTA is managed by seven Directors, all from member companies with extensive experience in the construction industry. The day-to-day running of the Association is handled by an experienced Training Officer.

The Association currently has 47 member companies—mainly micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, many of which are CITB-registered (though not all). TVCTA is actively looking to expand its membership.