CITB urges construction firms to pursue apprenticeship grants

The body is investing nearly £150m into apprenticeship grants and has issued over 72,000 apprenticeship grants since 2020

• CITB is investing nearly £150m into apprenticeship grants between 2023 and 2025.

• Over three-quarters of construction employers are considering taking on an apprentice.

• CITB has issued over 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners since 2020.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is calling for construction companies to accelerate the number of apprenticeship starts by claiming CITB apprenticeship grants. From April 2023 to March 2025, CITB is investing nearly £150m into apprenticeship grants, demonstrating the scale of support that’s available.

CITB’s latest Employer Voice survey reported that 31% of employers are planning to take on an apprentice, with another 48% stating they may take one on. The body set up its New Entrant Support Team (NEST) to help employers better navigate the recruitment process, as well as access grants and suitable training, when and where needed.

NEST, which was launched in January 2023, helped over 2,318 people start an apprenticeship that year – more than a 500% increase compared to when NEST was piloted in the North of England from September to December 2022. In total, CITB supported over 29,000 apprentices during their courses in 2023 – a 30% increase over two years that was made possible through NEST and expanding National Construction College delivery.

Additionally, since 2020, CITB has issued over 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners and delivered 5,700 apprenticeship courses at the National Construction Colleges. During the same period, over 26,000 apprenticeship grants were awarded to construction employers.

Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of CITB, said:

“A strong apprenticeship pipeline is vital for SME employers and a healthy construction industry. Over two-thirds of apprenticeship starts in the construction industry are employed by companies of fewer than 50 employees.

“We’re seeing strong demand for our apprenticeship and qualification grants, and we want to keep up the momentum. There are over 100 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in construction, and we encourage employers and people considering joining the industry to consider what apprenticeship role could work for them.

“As well as continuing to drive up apprenticeship start numbers, we also need to improve retention and attract apprentices to pursue a career in construction. Currently some 60% of further education learners on construction courses do not end up in the industry – we need to tackle this issue with effective recruitment and training while promoting the benefits of joining the industry.”