CITB tells contractors no more money for training courses | Construction Enquirer News
Summary
CITB announces no further funding for training courses through the Employer Network until after March 31, leaving contractors without options for immediate training.
Why It Matters
This decision impacts contractors relying on CITB funding for training, highlighting issues in budget management and communication within the construction industry. With significant unspent reserves, the situation raises questions about resource allocation and support for workforce development.
Key Takeaways
- CITB has exhausted its training budget for the current financial year.
- Contractors received no prior notice of the funding shortfall.
- Existing validated training bookings will proceed, but new requests are halted until April.
- The situation underscores the need for better communication from CITB.
- CITB holds £78.9m in unspent reserves, prompting concerns about funding management.
Contractors are now being told no training bookings can be made until after March 31 leaving firms in limbo for more than a month. One angry contractor said: “We received no warning about this – we were just hit with an email saying they had run out of funds.” The email – shared with the Enquirer – states: “Thanks for sending the training request through. “Following the recent increase in Employer Network (EN) uptake, the EN allocation for this financial year is now fully committed. As a result, we’re unable to accept any new EN booking requests for delivery up to and including 31 March 2026. “Any bookings already validated for this period will continue as planned, but new requests cannot be processed for this financial year. “If delivery is required before April, this would need to proceed outside of the Employer Network. “For training from 1 April onwards, we can review requests; however, funding availability remains subject to confirmation of the 2026/27 EN budget. At this stage, we are prioritising essential training required in April.” Employer Networks were set up in 2022 to make it easier for contractors to access training funding. The CITB is currently sitting on £78.9m of unspent reserves collected from the industry levy.