The CITB Board met last week to discuss and review the progress made so far to achieve the organisation’s Vision 2020 which it is hoped will modernise and repurpose the construction industry’s training body.

Next month will see the roll-out of its new training model and grant scheme in April which the CITB claims will enable employers to “get the right quality training, in the right place, at the right time” and allow workers to train and retain their qualification record to share with future employers.

The new grant scheme will also enable firms to receive automated grant payments, axing red tape and ensuring much needed training grants reach SMEs and micro firms in particular, the CITB added.

The organisation is expected to release its outsourcing tender towards to end of Match. The CITB is calling this a “key element” of its 2020 Vision programme, which will ensure outsourced services can be agreed, secured and operated effectively by the end of the year.

The training body has also decided to maintain a presence at Bircham Newton in Norfolk until December 2019 to smooth the sale and redevelopment of the site.

“Maintaining CITB’s Head Office presence at Bircham Newton on site until December 2019 will support a more rapid sale of the training college, which we anticipate to commence during the summer of 2018. CITB will then be well placed to go to market on the remainder of the site,” it said.

The adjusted timeline will continue to allow CITB to meet the mandate from industry and government to complete its reform programme by 2020.

Maria Pilfold, employer CITB Board member, said: “After careful consideration at our Board meeting, we decided to a maintain presence at Bircham Newton no later than the end of 2019, recognising a small number of roles which may be needed to oversee final exit arrangements or development.

“CITB will keep its promise to industry to reform, moving to a new single Head Office site in 2020 which is a crucial element of our proposals. This decision offers further clarity to CITB colleagues and will enable the business to start formal consultations with employees in the near future.”

Diana Garnham, independent CITB Board member, added: “Our change programme has been planned to meet the expectations of both the construction industry and government, who have been clear that the status quo is not an option. Their feedback gave a very clear message that industry and government support depends on CITB’s continuation of change. We are staying on track with our commitment to industry.”