“This is the first funding announcement since we changed the way we target our money and the way firms can access it. Although the application process has been simplified, it’s more transparent and rigorous – we require much more detail about the projects and what they will achieve in the long term for the construction industry and will monitor them closely to ensure they remain on course.”

Projects include:

The Supply Chain School – Strategic Partnership

The Supply Chain School provides an online platform for the construction industry to develop sustainability training for individuals and businesses. It provides an online skills test, making it possible to diagnose any skills gaps. It also offers free online learning resources.

The Strategic Partnership project proposes a five year strategic collaboration with the CITB, advising on skills issues within the sector and resolving the industry’s skills shortage for the long term.

Over the five year duration the project will see 4,000 employers undertake an online skills diagnostic, then receive an action plan and working through e-modules and other resources from the school.

The project is expected to cost £5 million, with CITB funding £2.5 million over five years, after which the project will seek to become self-financing.

CECA

This project will improve health and safety standards in construction by establishing the first safety stand-down, which will see 10 sites across the UK stop work for one day, so teams can spend time refreshing their health and safety knowledge.

The funding will support the development of the required training models. The project will also hold mock trials so that employees can experience a health and safety tribunal and also host regional conferences across Great Britain. CITB to contribute £358,500 over three years and work in collaboration with CECA, New Civil Engineers, Highways England, the Environment Agency and nine large contractors. 

Mears

CITB will support Mears to work with housing associations and local government authorities to encourage diversity in the social housing construction workforce through funding for materials, workshops and community engagement. This is the first time CITB has supported engagement with the social housing sector on this issue. CITB will fund £349,455 over 18 months.    

Roofing Industry Alliance

Considering that only 20 per cent of roofing workers hold formal qualifications, this project aims to equip workers with recognised training and qualifications and ensure they hold the relevant CSCS card. CITB will contribute £299,099 to the project of a total £432,650. After one year of funding, the project has the potential to benefit 138 firms and 270 individual workers. Up to 35,000 could benefit from the five-year strategic skills research.

Other projects include: