by Oscar Venus | 22 Aug, 2025 | Skills
CITB has announced a number of changes aimed at “streamlining our approach to more effectively help levy-registered employers access financial support for training. To do this we have reviewed our existing offer and we are making changes. These changes are not removing the support offered by CITB to industry but are simplifying the way in which they are accessed, making it easier for employers.”
In a set of changes (listed below) FIS has highlighted concern that, the Skills and Training Fund will close from 30 September 2025 with Employer Networks becoming the sole route for business development funding. This shift is intended to reduce confusion caused by overlapping schemes and improve efficiency. The ‘Suggest a Course’ initiative will also be closed, as CITB believes Employer Networks now provide sufficient support to industry. Additionally, the Industry Accreditation grant uplift will end on 31 December 2025, earlier than planned, and a new £240 grant tier will be introduced for shorter ‘Award’ level qualifications from September 2025. These changes are being positioned as part of a broader effort to make better use of industry funds and focus on impact.
However, FIS is concerned that particularly the almost immediate withdrawal of the Skills and Training Fund removes a valuable funding route that many of members have been using successfully and has been delivering clear benefits. Commenting on the revisions, FIS’s, Beena Nana stated:
“For a membership that largely voted against the most recent levy order, primarily due to concerns around the structure of the levy and how the makeup of our workforce affects both what members contribute and what they are able to claim, this will feel like a real kick in the teeth. We acknowledge the need to change and simplify the need to claim, but the decision to cut the Skills and Training Fund and giving businesses just over a month’s notice is short-sighted and only reinforces concerns that CITB is out of touch with the employers it is meant to support. Changes should be phased in and tested and considered in the context of the different businesses and business types that CITB is trying to serve, allowing businesses to budget and manage change. From where we are sat the withdrawal will almost certainly reduce the short-term return members receive on their levy contributions. While Employer Networks may be working for some employers, our experience and feedback so far has been mixed. More needs to be done to evaluate their effectiveness and improve how they operate. Our message to CITB is fairly straightforward, simplification is needed, but don’t remove the simplest bits to use first!”
Full list of the changes are:
Skills and Training fund
Currently, both Employer Networks (ENs) and the Skills & Training (S&T) fund offer funding for similar types of training, which we know can be confusing for employers navigating their options.
Listening to employer feedback, we are going to simplify this process and create a more efficient service, we’re moving towards a single route. From 30 September 2025, the Skills & Training fund will close, and Employer Networks will become the single channel for further developing businesses. Alongside this the grants scheme will continue to operate to support core construction training.
To ensure the most appropriate use of industry funds, applications received in September will operate under new payment terms where funding will be paid upon completion of the agreement. If you have an application that has already been agreed, this will of course be honoured.
Industry Accreditation uplift
We put this grant uplift in place when CLC announced the removal of the Industry Accreditation card. This was to support individuals that needed to complete qualifications to remain carded. To date we have supported over 11.5k individuals which exceeds the number expected. We had intended to keep this uplift in place until the end of March 2026 but to ensure most suitable use of industry funds, this uplift will be removed at the end of December 2025. Once the uplift is removed, grants to support these qualifications will return to £600.
‘Suggest a course’ initiative
Introduced to ensure we could get feedback from industry on what was needed, we will now be closing this initiative. ENs were established to make it easier for employers to access training, and funding and bring together employers at a local level to inform CITB on training needs. As ENs are well established, we do not need to duplicate these routes so closing the initiative is another way we are streamlining our offer to industry.
New short qualification grant tier
As announced recently, from September 2025 we will be introducing a new grant tier for some short period qualifications to ensure that CITB funding is effectively optimising impact.
For achievements from September 2025, any qualification achieved at an ‘Award’ level will receive the grant value of £240 (rather than £600).
Award’ level qualifications typically have a shorter duration with fewer modules to complete, and the cost to undertake this level is usually lower, therefore this is reflected in the new grant payment.Launch of online grant portal
We’re delighted to let you know we will shortly be introducing CITB’s new online services platform, launching on Wednesday 24 September.
This is the first phase of a modernised system designed to make accessing CITB’s Grant Scheme simpler and more efficient. With the new platform, employers will be able to:
- Apply for Apprenticeship and Qualification grants online
- Track the status of grant applications
- Have greater control over online access to their account.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact beenanana@thefis.org or marieflinter@thefis.org
by Oscar Venus | 8 Aug, 2025 | Skills
FIS are working with NCC Bircham Newton to deliver the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship – Ceilings pathway and Drylining pathway to be delivered at the CITB National Construction College.
With a proposed start date of 3 November 2025, the application deadline would need to be no later than the 22 September 2025.
Information for employers:
Programme outline:
- Start date: 2025 (TBC)
- 24-month programme
- 9 x 2-week immersive training blocks delivery by industry experts
- Workplace coaching sessions every 10 weeks support you and the apprentice to implement their new skills and knowledge
- 3-month end point assessment window includes a knowledge test and practical observation and questioning
Full details of the standard can be found here: Interior systems installer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
- If you have an apprentice already can you get them to apply here: CITB apprenticeship application form – CITB (complete mandatory boxes only no need for personal statements etc.)
- If you are currently recruiting an apprentice, please remember the Maths and English requirements are:
- GCSE 3-9 (old D-A)
- Functional Skills L1 or L2.
About the CITB National Construction College:
We’ve been delivering apprenticeship and commercial training programmes for almost 60 years. Our programmes are designed and delivered by industry experts. We will train over a thousand apprentices across our sites in 2024-25, and over 11,000 commercial learners.
Our apprenticeship programmes are high performing:
- 86% retention rate
- qualification achievement rates above the sector average
- 98% End Point Assessment pass rate
- 94% of apprentices stay in the sector
- 84% of apprentices secure promotion
Practical experience led by industry experts is integral to our learning approach. We have extensive land reflecting a real-life construction site and ample indoor space enabling learners to engage in hands-on practice every step of their apprenticeship journey.
Our employers and learners comment positively on our block training delivery: we immerse apprentices in a construction environment to quickly and efficient develop new knowledge and skills. Apprentices return to your workplace focussed and ready to put their new knowledge and skills into practice.
Our apprenticeship programmes are residential with great wrap around support for the learner:
- Individual ensuite rooms
- New restaurant
- Wide range of activities at our Social Hub
- State of the art Gym
- Welfare Team onsite until 11:30pm providing group and individual support
- 24-hour security
- Transfers from Kings Lynn train station to make travel arrangements as easy as possible
What to expect from us:
- Help to decide if an apprentice is right for your business, signposting you to other options where it isn’t
- Support, advice, and encouragement, every step of the apprenticeship journey
- Dedicated account management, completing any necessary paperwork and helping you access government and CITB funding for apprenticeships
- Industry expert trainers, delivering immersive training to help apprentices gain new skills quickly and efficiently
- Visits every 10 weeks from our Apprenticeship Development Coaches (ADC) to help you and your apprentice put their new skills into practice in the workplace
- Wrap around welfare support, enabling apprentices to thrive and remain focussed and committed to their apprenticeship
For employers in England, apprenticeships are fully funded:
- Non-apprenticeship levy paying companies under £3m PAYE: If the learner is under 22 years old, the apprenticeship will be fully funded with no cost to your company (over 22 the cost for the training will be £700)
- Apprenticeship levy paying companies over £3m PAYE: Your government apprenticeship levy funds will be used to pay for the apprenticeship in full
- This funding covers the cost of training and end point assessments
CITB Registered Companies can claim the following CITB grant (per apprentice):
An additional £2,000 is payable for individuals undertaking the Interior Systems Installer apprenticeship:
- £1,000 paid with first quarterly attendance payment (13 weeks)
- £1,000 paid with the final quarterly attendance payment
If you are interested, please get in touch with Marie Flinter (marieflinter@thefis.org ) or Beena Nana (beenanana@thefis.org)
by Oscar Venus | 17 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS is pleased to highlight the CITB Employer Networks, a funded initiative designed to make it simpler for construction employers to access the training and support they need, now and for the future.
What are Employer Networks?
Employer Networks bring local employers together to identify training needs, shape funding priorities, and ensure effective delivery. Funded by CITB, they take the headache out of applying for support, with no paperwork required from employers, the Networks handle it all.
Why get involved?
-
Simplified access to training & funding – whether it’s trade skills, net zero, digital skills, or mentoring.
-
Local empowerment – employers directly inform CITB of their real-world training needs.
-
Future-focused – helping close skills gaps in emerging and critical areas.
Proven Results
Since its pilot in July 2022, the Employer Networks initiative has already supported more employers to access training and receive meaningful support.
If you’d like to learn more about how the CITB Employer Networks can help your business, contact Marie Flinter at: marieflinter@thefis.org
by Oscar Venus | 17 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS is supporting Open Doors 2026 and the Countdown has begun. The Week, organised by BuildUK, provides a unique opportunity for young people and those looking for a change of career to go behind the scenes of our industry and see the wide range of roles available. Open Doors events will be hosted at sites across the UK from Monday 23 – Saturday 28 March! Can you make your site available and use it to engage and showcase the amazing opportunities that construction can offer?
The new Construction Skills Mission Board, which has been established by Government to tackle the industry’s skills shortages, is aiming to recruit an additional 100,000 construction workers a year by 2029, and Open Doors is one of the most effective ways to showcase the sector and what it has to offer.
After a record 7,000 visitors this year, we are looking to build on that success in 2026 and we need your support to do it! You can all inspire the next generation to choose a career in construction by opening your sites, offices, manufacturing facilities and training centres, and more information can be found in the latest Open Doors update.
by Oscar Venus | 11 Jul, 2025 | Skills
Recently, FIS STEM Ambassadors had a virtual catch-up via Teams with GoConstruct (CITB) to explore ways of inspiring the next generation to consider careers in construction.
Topics Covered:
- How to find an activity on the STEM portal
- How to create an event
- How to add STEM Ambassador status to your profile
Did you know? GoConstruct provides a range of materials and resources to support events that promote careers in construction – perfect for your school visits or community engagement.
Changes to the STEM portal are on the horizon. Another catch-up will be arranged soon to walk you through the updates.
Regular Coffee Chats (Teams meetings) will be hosted by GoConstruct for all registered STEM Ambassadors – a great chance to share ideas and experiences.
Want to Get Involved?
If you’re interested in becoming a STEM Ambassador and representing FIS to help inspire young people to join our sector, please contact:
Marie Flinter – marieflinter@thefis.org
Upcoming Enrolment Webinars:
Thursday 17 July | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19 August | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
These sessions will guide you through the registration and help you get started.
by Clair Mooney | 7 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS has partnered with Construction People Solutions (CPS) to deliver specialist e-learning developed by construction experts, with many courses eligible for CITB grant funding.
The new Modern Site Culture course – available to FIS members for just £10 – focuses on improving safety, inclusivity, and communication on site. It’s fully grant-eligible, with a £60 CITB grant per attendee, delivered via the first e-learning platform to integrate CITB grants.
FIS is working closely with CPS to develop targeted, occupation-specific training – such as a new Manual Handling for Drylining cours – designed to address the real-life risks of this physically demanding task. In conjunction, FIS is actively lobbying CITB to grant-fund this manual handling e-learning and other relevant courses.
FIS members can access Modern Site Culture with a 50% discount using code MSC2025 at checkout.
Learn more and sign up here: Construction People
