CITB Key Dates for Consensus Consultation on 2026-29 Levy 

THE CONSTRUCTION Industry Training Board (CITB) consultation of the construction industry on Levy Proposal options for 2026 – 29 will run from 26 September until 24 October 2024.

During the four weeks, CITB will host webinars for construction employers providing information on the draft Levy Proposals and seeking their opinions.

They will be a chance for registered CITB employers in England, Scotland and Wales to share their feedback on the Levy Proposals options. Feedback from the consultation will inform the development of the final Levy Proposals.

The Levy pays for funding for construction skills and training. The construction industry faces a pressing need to address its skills shortage. CITB estimates that the UK will need 250,000 extra construction workers by 2028 to meet current demand.

Levy Consultation

Usually undertaken every three years, Consensus is what CITB calls the process of consulting Levy paying employers on its plans for setting the Levy rate and the skills and training it will deliver.

Results are given to CITB’s Levy Strategy Committee – a group of industry representatives – which will provide guidance and recommendations to the CITB Board. The final Levy proposals are then submitted to the Secretary of State for Education.

Tim Balcon, CITB CEO

Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of CITB, said: “Consultation is an integral part of CITB’s Consensus process for reaching industry agreement on the next three-year Levy Order. We need the views of employers to help inform our proposals, ensuring that the skills and training we provide meet their requirements and helps deliver the workforce desperately needed.”

All CITB active and in scope registered employers can have a say on proposal options during the consultation phase of Consensus. Views can be provided at the interactive webinars or online at Citizen Space.

Once the levy rate has been selected, CITB will measure Consensus in early 2025. This involves sampling the views of certain Levy payers. Additionally, what CITB calls Prescribed Organisations will submit views from their members. CITB will also hire a market research company to conduct a sample survey of 4,000 employers who are not part of a Prescribed Organisation. The combined results are designed to be representative of the Levy paying population and of a large enough size to report reliable results.

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