Weekly News Update – Levy Proposals and Strategic Plan & more

Good afternoon,

I hope you’re having a good week. Today’s email contains details about CITB’s Levy Proposals and Strategic Plan, as well as an update on the Leadership and Management Fund.

Levy proposals and Strategic Plan 2021-25

CITB has approached the Department for Education (DfE) with its latest Levy Proposals, which will include cutting 2021-22 Levy rates by 50% for all employers. In addition, by raising the Small Business Levy Exemption threshold for employers with wage bills under  £120,000, the proposals also see an extra 5,000 small employers paying no CITB Levy at all.

The proposals were formulated following conversations with industry leaders, stakeholders and a cross section of employers during the summer on what the priorities for construction are and how to fund them.

The Skills Stability Plan 2020-21, launched just over two months ago, reshaped our immediate support for employers. The Strategic Plan, to be published later in September, looks at how CITB can best support industry through to 2025 and how we will fund this. The effect COVID-19 will have in future is very uncertain, so we have built in flexibility to adapt and respond quickly if needs change.

Leadership & Management Fund Applications

 Applications for the Leadership & Management Fund, set up to support large levy registered businesses to invest in developing the leadership, management or supervisory skills of their staff, closed on 31 July 2020. We can now confirm that 38 bids valued at just over £2.2 million were provisionally approved for funding to support a full range of projects. Once we have spoken to all bidders, we will publish the full list of successful bids.

We believe this substantial investment will provide a major boost to companies as the sector emerges from the pandemic. Some of the investment will see innovative ways to extend leadership training across the business, including some assisting their supply chains develop, to support a consistent approach for companies.

All applicants are being contacted with their outcomes and information about alternative external funding provided where possible. The results of this initial one-year fund will be used to guide subsequent investment, so that more businesses of all sizes can benefit.

A reminder…

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.

Kind wishes,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive