THE Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched its Consensus process to assess sector support for its levy proposals.
Consensus is the process through which CITB seeks employers’ views and agreement on its plans for generating the levy and the skills and training this will deliver over the next three years.
CITB said its core focus for the 2026-29 proposals is to ensure the levy exemption and reduction thresholds remain ‘current and appropriate’.
The Consensus process will take place from March 17 to May 9. CITB’s levy proposals for 2026–29 are:
- PAYE: 0.35%
- Net paid (taxable) CIS sub-contractors: 1.25%
- Increasing the levy exemption threshold so companies that have an employee payroll and net paid (taxable) CIS contractors of less than £150,000 are exempt from paying the levy
- Reducing the levy reduction threshold so companies that have an employee payroll and net paid (taxable) CIS contractors of between £150,000 – £499,999 will get a 50% reduction on the levy
- No other exemptions will apply.
Measuring Consensus is a sample-based process, so there is no expectation that all levy payers will be asked to provide their views. However, the prescribed organisations will gather views from their members, and an independent market research company (IFF) will conduct a representative sample survey of 4,000 employers who are not part of a prescribed organisation.
CITB said that as part of its commitment to addressing the issue of levy-registered employers passing on the levy to subcontractors, a new anonymous online reporting system has been introduced. This is designed to better understand the scale of the practice and gather insights to help bring an end to it. Subcontractors affected by these deductions can report instances confidentially. For those who wish for further action, CITB can contact the contractors involved and formally request they cease making deductions.
Tim Balcon, CEO at CITB, said, “The levy is designed to ensure that construction employers of all sizes feel supported with their skills and training needs. It plays a vital role in investing in the British construction industry, ensuring the development of a skilled workforce to meet the sector’s current and future demands.
“Following the publication of our Strategic Plan 2025–29, employers now have a full picture of how we intend to support the industry over the life of the Strategic Plan and accompanying Levy Order.”
To find out more about Consensus, visit: https://www.citb.co.uk/consensus-2025
