New data has revealed that almost 12,500 businesses have been supported in the form of grants, with £54.6m paid out to date (Apr – Nov 2022), and more than half paid to small or micro businesses.

The CITB Grants Scheme provides grants for employers in the construction industry that deliver day-to-day training for their workforce. There are several areas whereby businesses can apply for grant, including apprenticeships, short courses, and qualifications. The scheme is just one of the many ways CITB helps employers to ensure their workforce is skilled and competent and ensures the industry has the right skills to grow.

The data also shows early signs of a pattern forming, as apprenticeships continue to be the highest used area of grant so far. Following a boost in grant funding for apprenticeships, £37.4m has been paid out since April, amounting to 68.5% of the total grant spend this year. CITB’s Construction Skills Network (CSN) report, released earlier this year, revealed that approximately 50,000 additional workers will be required every year to meet demand by 2026. This highlights how recruitment and developing a highly skilled workforce will be by far the construction industry’s biggest challenges moving forward.

As a response to employer feedback, CITB has been working on simplifying the grant application process, with the aim of supporting even more businesses through the Grants Scheme in the new year. As part of this, a new one-page PDF form is now available on the CITB website, which is compatible with any device and provides helpful guidance for each field when used with Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free software). The previous Excel-based application form is still available for employers who wish to continue using it or need to apply for multiple grants at once.

Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said: “The impact the Grant Scheme has been able to provide in just the last six months is fantastic! Looking at the comparison to last year’s grant spend shows just how valuable the funding is to employers, and we’re incredibly proud to continue supporting the industry to make sure they are equipped with the right skills and people to meet demand.

“The scheme is in place for all eligible employers who are registered with CITB, and we hope that the new application approach will encourage even more people to come forward and benefit from the funding. If you would like more information about becoming registered and claiming grant, please do get in touch and speak to one of our advisers.”

More information on the CITB Grants schemes is available here.