THE Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched its new Training Model and Grants Scheme.
The organisation described it as a “transformative” new system and a “central feature” of its Vision 2020 programme.
The CITB explained that the Training Model is broken down into three parts:
Construction Training Directory – where employers can find the “right training, in the right place, at the right time”. This is supported by Grant from CITB quality assured training providers, focused on construction skills.
Construction Training Register – an online database which allows employers to search records of employees to check skills and manage training needs. CITB said this features the recording of millions of individual training achievements by workers in the industry, meaning employers don’t have to duplicate training as they can rely on the training a new employee has gained elsewhere.
New Grant Scheme – More “flexible and focused” on supporting construction-related training, allowing CITB to support the areas of greatest training need. On successful completion of a course, a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) will confirm the achievement, upload the details onto the Training Register, triggering the automated grant process. This process, CITB said, will help cut red tape for employers.
CITB added that the new Construction Training Directory and Construction Training Register are both in early stage use and does not expect them to operate at their full potential until early next year. During the intervening period, CITB will work with ATOs to upload available courses whilst screening and matching employee records for the Construction Training Register.
Braden Connolly, director of products and services at CITB said, “We are delighted to launch CITB’s new Training Model and Grants Scheme today, on time and on budget. It is a major step towards CITB becoming the modern, responsive, accountable organisation industry wants us to be. The new Construction Training Directory will make it much easier for employers to get the training they need, where they need it, when they need it.
“By tracking achievements and making employee qualifications accessible to employers, the new Construction Training Register will have a transformative effect on the ability of employers not only to train employees, but also to hire people with the right skills on day one.”
CITB chief executive Sarah Beale added, “This is a new chapter for us as an organisation and for the industry as a whole. The new automated Grants process will make it much easier for employers of all sizes to receive funding for the training they need. In addition, the new Construction Training Register will give us a much better understanding about the skills issues we have across the country, allowing us to take a more informed, strategic approach.
“We are still in the early stages but I feel confident that this work will make a real and lasting difference to construction employers across England, Scotland and Wales.”
