Good afternoon,

Today I can share with you our Skills Stability Plan 2020/21 and our plans for collecting the

Levy over the next two years.

We all know that construction has been, and is being, re-shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst we won’t understand its full impact for some time, it’s clear that there are significant challenges in getting started again, adapting to new ways of working and training, completing apprenticeships and updating skills. Our plan for this year is to target support that is easy to access on these key challenges.

Skills Stability Plan 2020-21

The Skills Stability Plan outlines our work for this financial year and sees us protect apprenticeships, the Grants Scheme and direct employer funding despite the fact that we will only collect £74m of levy this year – just over a third of normal levels.

We have made significant reductions in our cost base and are utilising our reserves to make sure we provide the highest level of support right now, directly to employers.  We will continue to identify and action additional cost reduction.

Direct funding for employers is prioritised through the Skills and Training Funds, with £8m earmarked for small and micro businesses, £3.5m for medium-sized businesses, with a £3m Leadership and Management Fund for large firms. This will help employers train to adapt to the new working environment and update the skills of their workforce.

Protecting apprenticeships is critically important because they are the future of the industry.

We have put together a package of measures to keep as many apprentices in the industry as possible, from grant support, to remote learning opportunities, through to helping them find new employment if they are made redundant.

CITB will work with other industry partners to support workers who have lost their jobs or seen their apprenticeship disrupted, matching them with a new employer, including through exploring a talent retention scheme. It’s essential we do everything we can to support talented people at the start of their careers and support the businesses who employ them.

Levy Collection 2020-22

CITB does not have the legal power to simply cut this year’s Levy.  We had hoped to do this, but doing so requires government legislation intervention and that wasn’t possible within the timeframe. Instead, we are implementing measures to reduce levy payments for employers and delay collection this year, as far as we are able.

We are going to extend the current payment holiday until September, and then give Levy-payers the option to spread their payments over up to 12 months until August 2021. Next year, we are proposing to Government a 50% cut in Levy bills, delaying collection until September ‘21, with option to spread payments over six months, up to February ‘22. Taken together, these measures mean that employers will pay 25% less across two years, with a payment holiday now when industry needs it most. An employer whose usual Levy bill is £1,200 per year will now pay £1,800 over two years.

Engagement with Industry

We have confirmed with the Department for Education that we will not run the usual Consensus process and instead we will speak to employers and industry groups to seek their views on our plans for next year. This will allow us to focus our efforts entirely on supporting industry and will not place any more burden on employers and partners right now.

Finally, please note that from next week, these twice-weekly briefings will be reduced to one per week, though of course we will continue to communicate all essential information whenever necessary.

Support Documents

CITB has produced a range of checklists and forms to ensure those who are permitted and able to return to work have a clear understanding of how they can apply the CLC’s latest COVID-19 site operating procedures guidance in practice.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

I would like to wish you all a lovely weekend, stay safe.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Good afternoon,

Today’s email includes news of our new CITB eCourses and the results of recent surveys of employers and training providers – research like this guides our decision-making on how to support industry at this time.

I would also like to mention that today is International Women in Engineering Day, which we mark with two case studies on our Go Construct hub to help address this.

In construction, we miss out on talent and the benefits a more diverse workforce brings because people don’t see it as a career of choice, and this includes a failure to attract more women.

CITB eCourses

We are committed to working with you to provide the skills and training needed, now and into the future. To meet industry needs, and in response to research conducted before the current crisis, CITB has launched an online eLearning solution – CITB eCourses.

These allow employees, unable to access traditional training, to learn at their own pace, anytime, anywhere. All you need is a computer and a few hours to study and take the exam.

Tutor-led training will continue to be the main delivery method, with eCourses providing an additional option ensuring that qualifications are not a barrier to your business or getting back to work.

The first eCourse available is our Site Safety Plus: Health & Safety Awareness course, which can be used to support applications for the CSCS labourer’s card, once the course and exam have been successfully completed.

Our network of Site Safety Plus training providers continue to offer a full suite of SSP courses, with classroom and remote delivery options available. For a list of courses and providers you can use the course locator tool.

Surveys of Employers and Training Providers

In May and June, CITB spoke to 552 employers of all sizes from across the sector, as well as 249 training providers. I’d like to thank all of those for taking part.

Amid the pandemic, 77% of construction companies still regard retaining and recruiting skilled staff as a priority, with 34% planning to take on new apprentices in the next 12 months and 73% were confident their apprentices will complete training. We will continue to work with companies to help them see as many apprentices as possible complete their apprenticeship and play their part in the skilled construction workforce.

Remote training is also being delivered by 55% of providers, while more than 2,500 learners have completed Site Safety Plus courses this way. A total of 49% of providers were extremely confident of restarting a full training programme, with 31% somewhat confident.

These findings show the impact COVID-19 has had on the sector and that a lot of support will be needed in future. CITB has taken several significant measures so far to help industry. We will announce the next phase later this week in our Skills Stability Plan.

International Women in Engineering Day

To help mark International Women in Engineering Day today I’d like to introduce you to Mimi-Isabella Nwosu and Tolu Egberongbe, role models who tell their story of why construction is such an exciting and ever-changing industry to work in. Embedding Fairness, Inclusion and Respect is not only right for industry, in having a more inclusive, representative and productive workforce, but it’s also better for business.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

I would like to wish you, your colleagues and family a safe and pleasant week ahead. My next update will be on Thursday.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email includes news of the reopening of the National Construction Colleges (NCCs) in England and opening of additional testing centres.

There is also an update on the available contacts within our Partnerships Team, should employers need support whist we have colleagues furloughed at the moment.

National Construction Colleges (NCCs) in England to Reopen and Resume Face-to-Face Training in July

CITB has been carefully monitoring the evolving COVID-19 position and the information which is being regularly issued from the UK Government. Based on the guidance which has recently been made available, the NCCs at Bircham Newton, Erith and Kings Norton have made the decision to restart face-to-face training in England.

Our priority will continue to be learner and colleague safety, therefore we will start to deliver training through a phased approach, with pilot courses initially being offered from July onwards. We will continue to monitor and review our procedures to ensure that the appropriate level of safety is maintained.

For NCC apprentices, we will be making direct contact with them in the coming weeks to confirm the restart of their learning.

For those looking to train at our Inchinnan training centre in Scotland, we are continuing to monitor the Scottish Government advice and will provide further updates, but for now the college remains closed.

For more information about the reopening of NCC centres please call the team on 0344 994 4433.

Testing Centres

All Pearson Professional Centres in England delivering the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test have reopened with the relevant social distancing precautions and safety measures in place, details of which can be seen here.

A total of 67 Internet Test Centres (ITCs) have also resumed testing in England, having implemented the relevant measures.

We are aware that a number of training providers have resumed offering face-to-face training in England whilst adhering to the relevant COVID-19 Government guidelines.

CITB and partner organisations continue to act in line with the Scottish and Welsh governments’ COVID-19 regulations and guidance.

Partnerships Team – who to contact

We are trying to balance wherever possible the customer service that is required at the moment, with a need to reduce costs and like many businesses currently, are making use of the Job Retention Scheme, whilst demand is low. This will mean that colleagues that you normally deal with may not be available.

If your current contact has been furloughed, alternative details will be provided on their Out of Office email message. We appreciate this isn’t ideal but hope you’ll bear with us, as a higher number of colleagues have recently been furloughed at relatively short notice.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

I would like to wish you, your colleagues and family a safe and pleasant week ahead. My next update will be on Thursday.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Dear  Members, (On behalf of Liz Hunter HSE)

Please alert members to potential fake emails that use our logo that come with an attachment of a ‘notice’. Inspectors don’t use the HSE logo on emails. HSE is already investigating reports that businesses are receiving spam messages allegedly from a spam @hse.online account. Please raise any concerns about such emails to your IT provider as usual. There is no need to report this to HSE.

I’m sure that many members will already be signed up to HSE’s Construction eBulletin. It is essential that dutyholders keep up to date with rapidly changing guidance as we all adapt to new work methods to reduce the spread of COVID 19. Here is a link to sign up to receive the Bulletin as required:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/subscribe/index.htm

Best wishes to everyone preparing to return to safe sites.

 

Liz Hunter

HM Inspector of Health and Safety

HSE, Longman House

28 Longman Road

Inverness, IV1 1SF

Tel: 020 3028 3369; 07771 380998

 

Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email looks at supporting mental health as construction gets back to work, an update on CITB’s support measures for industry during COVID-19 and a reminder of the documents available to you to support a safe return to site, where possible.

Mental Health

As sites reopen in these different circumstances, not everyone will be comfortable talking about mental health at work. The Lighthouse Club, a charity dedicated to the wellbeing of construction workers and their families, has a helpline and has created an app which you can download here.

Update on Recent Support Measures

Site Safety Plus

We’re pleased to have been able to provide support to training providers and employers. A total of 1,821 delegates have been accredited using remote delivery and have now successfully completed their Site Safety Plus course – an increase of over 56% in a week. There has also been a further increase in Site Safety Plus training centres delivering remote learning since our last update – 98 in total. For a full list of the centres delivering remotely use the course locator tool.

Test Centres

We are continuing to work on the re-establishment of Health, Safety and Environment testing operations in England. The majority of Pearson VUE centres have now re-opened, with Internet Test Centres also gradually becoming operational. We are continually reviewing Government advice with our partners to re-establish testing in Scotland and Wales. The latest information and updates on test delivery can be found here.

Grants

CITB announced in March that it would pay grants for current second and third year apprentices in advance. Since then over £3.6m has been paid to 1,999 employers, supporting 4,148 apprentices in total. This includes the extension of the Advanced Grant support to Higher Level Apprenticeships, where £224k has been paid to 76 employers to support 360 apprentices.

Skills and Training Fund

The new Skills and Training Fund for micro, small and medium sized businesses was launched on 1 April. To date we have allocated over £350k to successful applicants.

Support Documents

CITB has produced a range of checklists and forms to ensure those who are permitted and able to return to work have a clear understanding of how they can apply the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) latest COVID-19 site operating procedures guidance in practice.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a lovely weekend, stay safe.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email includes news of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC)-led Recovery plan, which was launched yesterday. This is a comprehensive staged plan, to ensure industry ‘Restarts’ safely from the COVID-19 crisis and then plans to ‘Reinvent’ in the future, becoming a more productive industry. Skills and training will play a key role.

As sites reopen, and training gradually resumes, there is also an update on the future of our support measure to pay apprenticeship attendance grants in advance, during the crisis.

CLC – Roadmap to Recovery

The plan was published yesterday and was the product of a highly collaborative effort from a wide range of industry representatives, including CITB.  It is designed to ensure that there is an even and sustainable recovery for construction, as a cornerstone of the economy.

As well as the safe return to work, the retention of skills and people are a key focus in the immediate stages. CITB will continue to target support to those areas, as well as building the skills development for the future. The plan covers the need ensure apprentices are able to continue their training, strengthening the pathways into apprenticeships and employment within the industry. It goes on to cover the need to further enable digital technologies to transform the sector, making sure training and qualifications are available to support this.

We welcome the plan and the industry wide engagement to produce it and look forward to working with industry partners to continue to put it into action.

If you want to input and be part of shaping the industry and supporting plans going forward, please help the CLC by completing this short, anonymised People Survey before Friday 5 June. The objective is to collect high level, cross industry data on the impact of Coronavirus on employment levels that can be used by the Construction Leadership Council to inform the actions under the Roadmap to Recovery. All information provided is confidential and cannot be attributed to individual companies.

Advance Apprenticeship Grants

Since March, CITB has been paying, in advance, apprenticeship attendance grants for current second and third year apprentices to help keep skills in the construction industry amid the COVID-19 crisis. This was one of several ways that CITB has been relieving cash flow pressure on employers, including the suspension of levy collection.

These advance attendance payments will continue to be available for current second and third year apprentices but, we will not be able to extend this emergency support measure for those current first year apprentices entering their second year. The usual Grant funding and other support will of course continue.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

I would like to wish you, your colleagues and family a safe and pleasant week ahead. My next update will be on Thursday.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email includes news of a Site Safety Plus milestone, a reminder of the support documents available to you and a refresh on CITB’s support measures for industry.

Support Documents

Having seen more construction sites restarting, I’d like to remind you of the range of COVID-19 site safety checklists and forms that we produced to support the CLC site operating procedures. These include a site compliance checklist, risk assessment template, Toolbox Talk and weekly site checklist – all these and an additional ninety eight interactive checklists and forms can be found here. To date, the information on this page has been accessed many times and we are also working hard to ensure you can always find the latest information and updates on our urgent messages page, which has received over 30,000 views.

Update on Recent Support Measures

Site Safety Plus

We’re pleased to have been able to provide support to training providers and employers and it’s encouraging to know that a fantastic milestone has been reached with the delivery of remote learning through Site Safety Plus. More than 1,000 delegates who have been accredited using remote delivery, have now successfully completed their Site Safety Plus course. There has also been a further increase in Site Safety Plus training centres delivering remote learning since our last update – 78 in total. For a full list of the centres delivering remotely use the course locator tool.

Test Centres

We are continuing to work on the re-establishment of the Health, Safety and Environment testing operations in England. The majority of Pearson VUE centres have now re-opened and we currently have 65 Internet Test Centre’s operational. We are continually reviewing the Government advice with our partners to re-establish testing in Scotland and Wales. The latest information and updates on test delivery can be found here.

Grants

CITB announced in March that it would pay grants for current second and third year apprentices in advance. Since then over £3.4m has been paid to 1,999 employers, supporting 3,749 apprentices. Having extended the Advanced Grant support to Higher Level Apprenticeships, over £218k has been paid to 75 employers to support 347 apprentices since then.

Skills and Training Fund

The new Skills and Training Fund for micro, small and medium sized businesses was launched on April 1. To date we have received 392 applications. To apply for funding, click here.

Buildathon

The Minecraft competitions provide a great opportunity during these times for the younger generation to have some fun, while learning more about construction skills. The winner of the second Buildathon round in England and Scotland has now been announced. Congratulations to Oscar Stockdale. It was evident that a huge amount of time and hard work went into his entry, and his design really impressed the judges. For more information and to register your interest, click here.

CITB’s COVID-19 urgent messages page is refreshed daily and includes updates on the full range of our work.

You can also read the range of support measures made available to UK businesses and employees by the UK Government.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a lovely weekend, stay safe.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive