CITB Shuts Down All Training Fund Applications Until April

All construction training funding applications are now being refused by the Employer Network, run by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Contractors are being encouraged to apply to their regional Employer Network for funding to cover the cost of construction training. Initially contractors report that their applications appear to be accepted and they can go ahead and book places with a training provider.

Computer Says No

However, they then receive a message that CITB is unable to accept any new Employer Network booking requests for training up to and including 31 March 2026. Staff at the organisation are apparently unaware that bookings are not being funded.

Contractors have been informed that the allocation of budget for Employer Networks is “now fully committed”.

It says that new requests for funding cannot be processed in this financial year.

CITB says it can review requests for funding from 1^st April but will be “prioritising essential training”. It adds that funding availability in April remains subject to confirmation of their budget for the next financial year in 2026-2027.

Few Options

Contractors are left with few options to fund their training requirements. They can either postpone training or choose to pay for it themselves in full – despite having already paid a CITB training levy to cover the cost.

The ending of funding for the Employer Networks follows removal of funding for the Roof Training Groups from 1 March – leaving contractors with nowhere to turn for help with their training needs.

In January 2025 a review of the industry training boards was published called Transforming the Construction Workforce 2023 Industry Training Boards. In the report, Mark Farmer was damning about the governance, performance of, and value delivered by the CITB. Commentators speculated whether the organisation could survive such a critical review. Recent developments bring that question to the fore once again.

CITB has been contacted for comment.

EDITOR’S NOTE (24-2-26)

CITB has commented:

“Applications for training funding are not being refused. We have seen a significant increase in uptake of Employer Networks and while this is a positive that we have supported more employers, it means our current budget is now fully committed. This means that people cannot book training at the moment that will take place before the 1 April but they can book training that takes place after this date.

“Employers can book now for training that will take place from the 1^st April. Any training already booked during this period will go ahead as planned.

“Funding will be available for all construction training as set out in the funding guidelines for the Employer Networks. The Employer Network budget for 26/27 has not been signed off by the Board, once it has at the end of Feb then Employer Networks will be able to decide the best way in which to distribute the funds. Until then we are asking employers to prioritise essential training.

“CITB is not closing in April. Employer Networks are a budget-led initiative and the budget for the 25/26 financial year has been committed.”

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