Introduction of the government’s apprenticeship levy next year means that hundreds of construction firms – any with a payroll of more than £3m – will have to pay two training levies. The CITB is re-establishing a levy working party to explore a new industry levy system.
A consultation will be held across industry next year to gather views on how the CITB levy could be reshaped for a potential new levy order for 2018 and on the support from CITB that this could fund.
Ahead of formal levy consultation, CITB will discuss with employers how the organisation can best meet their needs, including by making the current grants scheme more relevant and accessible, particularly for small firms.
CITB’s levy working party includes CITB board member Diana Garnham, Hannah Warburton from Laing O’Rourke and Ian Rogers from the Scottish Decorators’ Federation.
The training board said that this timeline means a temporary transition arrangement is needed for 2017 only, to mitigate the impact on firms in scope to both the apprenticeship levy and the CITB levy. Details of this are expected next month.
CITB director of policy Steve Radley said: “The apprenticeship levy means a big change for our industry and CITB needs to adapt accordingly. Industry has asked us to allow the time for a proper consensus, so we can listen to employers and together come up with a solution that will work for the whole of construction.
“We are currently working with industry to agree the mechanics of the transition arrangements and will announce this in early July.”
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