Adrian Belton has resigned as chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and will leave at the end of 2016.

The resignation was announced this morning by CITB chairman James Wates.

A CITB spokesman said that the terms of the departure, including the absence of working any notice period, had been agreed between the two men.

Mr Wates said: “I would like to thank Adrian for his dedicated service to CITB and to our industry.

“In the past three years, Adrian has led the development of key organisational reforms that have enabled and shaped CITB’s future offer to industry. Now that a plan has been delivered to the Board, Adrian has decided the time is right to leave CITB and pass on the baton for a successor to deliver on that plan.

“CITB is now moving onto the next phase of its reform, which is engaging with industry on how it will support, delivering the required change and consulting on a new Levy Order. This includes reforming the Grants Scheme to ensure that Levy funds are invested in the skills most needed by our industry.”

Last week an independent survey by Hudson Contract criticised CITB for having “little or no impact on its primary mission of encouraging the provision of training” among the sector’s SMEs.

Current chief financial officer and corporate performance director, Sarah Beale, will become acting chief executive.

Mr Wates added: “Sarah Beale will step up to be acting chief executive, in accordance with established succession arrangements. She has excellent knowledge of the organisation and our industry, and a practical, hands-on approach that will be needed for this next phase of engagement and delivery.

“As chairman, I will take a more direct role in engaging with industry during this time, and providing support to Sarah and the rest of the executive team, in whom the CITB Board and I place our full confidence.”

Sarah Beale has worked at CITB for 11 years, holding a range of senior management roles.