News Item: CITB Funding Update, Employer Networks and Large Employer Fund
From 1st April 2026, CITB has implemented changes to how training funding is distributed to employers, introducing a new approach for large employers and updating the Employer Networks offer for small and medium-sized businesses.
Why CITB has made changes
Construction is at a pivotal moment. With the Government committing over £600 million to tackle skills shortages and train up to 60,000 more workers, demand for high-quality training has never been greater. Over the past four years, CITB has seen a 36% rise in employer engagement in programmes such as Employer Networks. This growth reflects real momentum across the industry and it has also required careful consideration of how funding is distributed sustainably across the whole sector.
Funding for micro, small and medium employers
From April 2026, employers with between one and 249 employees will continue to access CITB training support through Employer Networks, with funding available at 50% match funding or at a fixed contribution for health and safety courses.
To ensure support reaches as many employers as possible, the Employer Networks budget for 2026–27 has been set at £11.5 million, with caps in place by employer size:
Funding for large employers
From April 2026, large employers, those that directly employ 250 or more people can no longer access CITB Employer Networks. Instead, a new CITB Large Employer Fund is available for the 2026–27 financial year, while CITB works with large employers on a longer-term, strategic solution.
The fund provides up to £18,000 per Levy Registration Number to spend on in-scope training of your choice, paid on a training plan or receipt of evidence of training.
Expressions of interest can be submitted from now, up to 30 June 2026 by completing the Request for Funding form, which is available on the CITB website.
What else is available
Regardless of employer size, businesses can continue to access a range of CITB financial support, including:
CITB’s wider work, including competence frameworks, Sector Plans, National Construction Colleges, and careers activity through Go Construct, continues as normal. Local NEST teams and the wider advisory service also remain available to help employers identify the best routes for their workforce.