Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email includes news on the latest number of Test Centres to re-open in England, a new Buildathon competition winner and a refresh on CITB’s support measures for industry.

Test Centres

In my update last week it was announced that CITB will begin to re-establish the Health, Safety and Environment testing operations in England. To date 115 out of a possible 130 Pearson Professional Centres in England have re-opened. Our Internet Test Centre network is also being phased back on a one-by-one basis, once centres have confirmed the implementation of all relevant measures. We currently have 54 that are operational. Information and updates on test delivery can be found here.

Update on recent Support Measures

Site Safety Plus

We have had a 50% increase in the amount of Site Safety Plus training centres now delivering remote learning since our last update – 65 in total. One of those centres being our own National Construction College which is now delivering the Health and Safety Awareness course. For a full list of Site Safety Plus training centres delivering remotely use the course locator tool.

Grants

CITB announced last month that it would pay grants for second and third year apprentices in advance. Since then over £3.3m has been paid to 1,981 employers, supporting 3,691 apprentices. Having extended the Advanced Grant support to Higher Level Apprenticeships, over £217k has been paid to 74 employers to support 344 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 352 applications. To apply for funding, click here.

Buildathon

Using resources previously produced, we’re pleased to see future generations developing their interest in the industry through the Minecraft Buildathon competitions. The winner of the second Buildathon round in Wales has been announced. The construction competition for children aged 5-12 continues to draw talent, receiving a number of high quality entries. Congratulations to Zac Allsopp, whose entry was full of imagination. The exceptional detail and level of accuracy throughout also captured the judge’s attention. For more information and to register your interest, click here.

Apprentices

Over 10,800 apprentices have been contacted by our Apprenticeship Team to date to make them aware of the support available. We have found that numbers on site are starting to pick back up as apprentices return to work from furlough. We will continue to support apprentices through this time and provide guidance where needed. If you require any assistance please email us at Apprenticeships.COVID19@citb.co.uk.

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, your colleagues and family a lovely bank holiday weekend.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

Good evening,
I hope you’re having a productive week. Today’s COVID-19 industry update focuses on safely returning to work and includes news of a comprehensive range of COVID-19 site safety checklists and forms produced in collaboration with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) with additional input from the CITB Wales Nation Council.

I’d like to begin by thanking everyone who has provided feedback on these twice-weekly industry updates. There’s still time for you to let me know what works for you and the content you’d like to see in these emails. Please click here to complete a brief survey.

COVID-19 Site Safety Checklists and Forms
During the pandemic it is essential that the workforce is protected to minimise the risk of infection on construction sites.

We have worked hard with the CLC and others to produce a comprehensive range of checklists and forms that will be available to download on Thursday. We are trying to help employers by providing this information. It will ensure that those who are permitted and able to return to work have a clear understanding of how they can apply the CLC’s COVID-19 Site operating procedures guidance (Version 3) in practice. Guidance on issues such as close working, cleaning and what employees should do if they become unwell will be included.

The checklist and forms will have four parts:

• CC01: COVID-19 – Site operating procedures compliance checklist: An interactive checklist to ensure compliance with current guidance on protecting your workforce on site during the COVID-19 pandemic
• CC02: COVID-19 – Health, safety and environmental risk assessment template: A guide offering example control measures for those required to undertake risk assessment of the workplace and specific activities on site. An interactive risk assessment template is also included in order to facilitate this process
• CC03: COVID-19 – A toolbox talk for construction workers: Designed to be delivered to construction workers by their manager or supervisor. Good communication is essential for health and safety management on construction sites. It is vitally important that contractors, managers and supervisors engage and consult with workers, as it is an effective way of identifying hazards and controlling risks
• CC04: COVID-19 – Weekly site operating procedures checklist: An interactive checklist, designed to ensure ongoing compliance with both established and additional procedures.

On Monday, the UK Government published Working safely during COVID-19 in construction and other outdoor work, a document to help employers, employees and the self-employed in the UK understand how to work safely during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The guidance emphasises the importance of keeping as many people as possible two metres apart from those they do not live with. You can download it here.

Safely Returning to Work
Health and safety is CITB’s top priority, for both customers and staff. When lockdown first began, CITB set up an email to advise and support apprentices and their employers – this is still available. If you have queries about safely returning to work in light of recent announcements by the Scottish, Welsh and UK Government please email: Apprenticeships.COVID19@citb.co.uk.

CITB’s COVID-19 updates 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.

Until my next update best wishes to you, your colleagues and families.

Stay safe and well,

Sarah Beale
Chief Executive

Good afternoon,
I hope you’ve had a good week. Today’s email includes an opportunity to take part in a feedback survey on this update, a refresh on CITB’s support measures for industry during COVID-19 and Billy’s 10 Marathons in May, a unique fundraiser for the nation’s NHS heroes, by a CITB colleague.

Feedback Survey
I want these updates to be as useful as possible for you. To help with this aim I’d be grateful if you could complete this brief survey. Please let me know your feedback on what works and what you’d like to see in these emails going forward. Thank you.

Final Reminder: Call to Action for Welsh Construction Employers
To provide feedback on new construction qualifications, due in September 2021 for 16–19 year olds in Wales, please complete the form on this page (Welsh form here).

Grants
CITB announced last month that it would pay grants for second and third year apprentices in advance. Since then approximately £3.2m has been paid to over 1,900 employers, supporting 3,551 apprentices.

Following industry feedback, we extended the Advanced Grant support to Higher Level Apprenticeships. Over £207k has been paid to 67 employers to support 328 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 263 applications. To apply for funding, please click here.

Site Safety Plus Course Uptake
It’s been another positive week for Site Safety Plus (SSP) remote delivery. Delivery has almost doubled in the past week with nearly 300 delegates completing courses. Over 10% of SSP centres have now signed up to deliver courses remotely. To find the nearest course to you please use our SSP Course Locator here.

Health, Safety and Environment Test App
Our Health, Safety and Environment Test LITE App has had just over 2,500 downloads since its launch on 24 March (details here), with uptake increasing week on week; 45% growth in the last week alone.

Buildathon
The winner has been announced of the first England & Scotland Buildathon – a competition designed to show children aged 5-12 construction’s appeal. Well done to Alice Francis. Alice’s winning entry was highly personalised with a tremendous level of imaginative design and fun. Congratulations also to Gabriel Walsh, the first winner of the Buildathon in Wales. For more information and to register your interest please click here.

Billy’s 10 Marathons in May
CITB apprenticeships manager and part-time football referee Billy Baxter is putting his furlough leave to good use – by running 10 marathons in May! Billy, 51, will run 262 miles in aid of NHS Charities Together. Everyone at CITB wishes Billy all the very best during his inspiring fundraising work. Donations can be made here.

CITB’s COVID-19 updates 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, your family and your colleagues an enjoyable VE Day 2020 and a lovely weekend.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale
Chief Executive

Good afternoon,

I hope your week is going well. Today’s COVID-19 industry update focuses on our Site Safety Plus distance learning, its impact on providers and how quality training is being maintained despite lockdown restrictions.

I also have news of the imminent launch of a site safety Toolbox Talk produced in collaboration with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

Site Safety Plus (SSP) Distance Learning
Training providers are continuing to support construction employers with essential training during this difficult time. Early signs show that the five CITB Site Safety Plus learning courses providing distance learning are having a positive impact for training providers, learners and employers.

Reassuringly, the pass rate of SSP courses since lockdown and the start of remote learning has remained consistent with courses delivered in the classroom. In April, the pass rate on SSP courses varied by just 1.48% compared to January 2020’s figure, with May being similar to date. All courses and tests are monitored remotely by CITB’s Quality Assurance Team to ensure high standards are maintained.

I was pleased to learn of one centre which is providing additional support by running a pre-awareness course on ‘how to use the computer for remote training’, to support delegates who struggle with technology. It is free-of-charge and takes place the day before training.

And it was good to receive feedback on the impact of SSP courses from Jo Niblett, Managing Director at Pragmatic Consulting, a Warwickshire-based training and assessment centre that has provided CITB training since July 2017. Jo told us that the courses have had a dramatically positive impact on their business.

Jo said: “We brought in more income in 48 hours, following the Friday email (from CITB), than the previous five weeks, and filled a number of courses. This has had a huge impact on my team in terms of morale and enabling our trainers to work.” Jo said the courses have allowed Pragmatic Consulting to reach a much wider audience; they have gained over 30 new customers including from more remote parts of the UK.

There are numerous benefits to distance learning both during lockdown and looking to the future. It’s important to stress that courses are tutor-led; they are effective and interactive, an online classroom environment that allows tutors to engage with delegates and discuss key topics to confirm understanding. Other benefits, as Jo Niblett points out, include: no driving for delegates or trainers, a relaxed atmosphere, focused learning and a great opportunity to learn new skills.

Approximately 10% of our Site Safety Plus centres have signed up to deliver remote training, a swift take-up given the huge upheavals to industry we’ve seen in recent weeks.

I hope you can make the most of the SSP Courses and all the remote learning standards we’ve made available. You can find an SSP course on the SSP Course Locator here.

Toolbox Talks
CITB will shortly launch a Toolbox Talk, aligned with CLC Site Operating Procedures (Version 3), following feedback from industry. The aim of the Toolbox Talk is to support industry to ensure safety guidance is followed during COVID-19. It also includes a range of other useful documents including interactive site compliance checklist, risk assessment templates and weekly compliance checklist.

The Toolbox Talk – delivered to construction workers by their manager or supervisor – will ensure their workforce has a clear understanding of what the CLC’s COVID-19 safe operating practices are. It will reinforce core basic principles of site safety in a brief, accessible way.

CITB’s COVID-19 updates 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.

My next update will be on Thursday. Until then stay safe and well.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale
Chief Executive