CITB Grants: Training Funding for Construction Firms

CITB, the Construction Industry Training Board, is the employer-led and funded skills and standards body for the construction industry in Great Britain. It collects a levy from construction employers and pays much of it back as grants and funding for training. "CITB grants" and "CITB short courses" are searched for every week, often by small firms who are not sure whether they qualify. This guide sets out what is available, who can claim and how, using CITB's own pages, checked on the date shown on this page.

Who can claim CITB grants

CITB grants are for CITB-registered employers. CITB says grants are available to employers of all sizes, whether or not you pay a levy, but you must be up to date with your Levy Returns before you apply. That rule applies to every grant.

Do you need to register?

Under the Industrial Training Act 1982, CITB must raise a levy on every employer "wholly or mainly engaged" in construction industry activities, which means construction activities take up more than half of your employees' time, including subcontractors. For levy purposes, an employer is anyone with one or more employees, and "employee" includes subcontractors engaged under a contract for services. CITB's definition of construction is wider than many people expect, so check its list of construction activities if you are unsure.

What the levy costs

For the 2025 and 2026 Levy (assessed in spring 2026 and spring 2027), CITB charges 0.35% on payroll staff and 1.25% on net paid CIS subcontractors. There is no levy on gross paid CIS subcontractors. Small businesses get help:

• Total wage bill under £150,000: no levy to pay (Small Business Exemption).
• Between £150,000 and £499,999: a 50% discount (Small Business Reduction).

You must still send in a Levy Return every year, even if you expect to pay nothing. CITB uses it to calculate any exemption, and if you do not return one you will get an estimated assessment.

The Grants Scheme

The Grants Scheme pays towards day-to-day training in three categories: apprenticeships, qualifications and short courses. Money is usually paid by bank transfer within four to six weeks of a grant being approved. Most claims are made through CITB Online Services.

Apprenticeship grants

CITB pays apprenticeship grants for approved apprenticeships at Level 2 and above that focus on core construction skills, in England, Scotland and Wales. The core rates are the same in all three nations:

In Scotland, attendance grant runs for a maximum of three years, and an extra £3,500 achievement grant is paid when an apprentice on an SCQF Level 6 apprenticeship, with attendance grant, achieves the SQA Professional Development Award or the City & Guilds Diploma. Apply for attendance grants within 52 weeks of the course start date to have them backdated to the start, and for achievement grants within 52 weeks of achievement. CITB will also fund 80% of accommodation costs for eligible apprentices who have to stay overnight to train, and travel costs above £20 a week.

Qualification grants

Qualification grants pay on achievement. Short qualifications (under a year) include NVQs at Levels 2 to 6, SCQF Levels 5 to 10, the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety and plant-related vocational qualifications. The standard rate is £600 for achievements from January 2026, with £1,000 for specific rainscreen cladding qualifications, £300 for additional Level 2 Plant Operations units and £240 for Award-level qualifications. Long qualifications such as HNCs, HNDs and degrees (but not Level 7, such as an MSc) earn a £600 achievement grant.

Short course grants

Short course grants now focus on plant operations, scaffolding and a few specialist areas. Courses must last at least 3 hours and no more than 29 days, and align to an approved construction standard. Scaffolding grants range from £60 for the Operative Training Scheme (COTS) to £500 for the main scaffolding courses. For plant, CITB pays for novice or experienced training that meets the new plant standards, and for passing CPCS technical tests in categories without a new standard.

If you used a CITB Approved Training Organisation or a member of its Training Provider Network, the provider reports the achievement and the grant is claimed automatically. Otherwise, claim through CITB Online Services within 52 weeks. Newly registered employers are capped at 35 short course achievement grants in their first financial year.

Employer Networks: most other short courses

If the course you want is not in the Grants Scheme, look at Employer Networks. These are local networks set up and funded by CITB, and CITB says most construction-specific short duration courses, including health and safety, can now be funded this way. From April 2026:

• Micro to medium employers (1 to 249 employees) book training at 50% match funding, or at a fixed contribution for health and safety courses.
• Annual caps for 2026 to 2027 are £1,500 for micro employers (1 to 9 employees), £2,000 for small (10 to 49) and £4,500 for medium (50 to 249).
• Your training provider invoices you for your share and CITB pays the rest.
• First aid training is no longer funded, and scaffolding and plant training stay in the grants route.

CITB says Employer Networks funding is budget-led, not demand-led, and funding values can change, so book early in the financial year if you can.

Funding for larger employers and bigger ideas

• Large Employer Fund. An interim offer for the 2026 to 2027 financial year only, for employers with 250 or more PAYE employees. You can claim up to £18,000 for in-scope training of your choice, including leadership and management training, taking place between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. It does not cover first aid, Level 7 qualifications, in-house training, VAT or anything funded through the Grants Scheme.
• Industry Impact Fund. For levy-registered employers across the UK with a new training solution to an industry-wide challenge, such as productivity, net zero, digital skills, retention, or trainers and assessors. CITB can provide up to £500,000 per proposal. Start by talking to your CITB Customer Engagement Representative. CITB says it has awarded £4.5 million through the fund since it launched in April 2023, and its external funding team can be reached at ExternalFundingManagers@citb.co.uk.

Tips before you claim

• Get your Levy Return in. It is the gateway to every grant, and it can also confirm you owe nothing.
• Give your provider your CITB number. For automatic grants, providers need the learner's National Insurance number and your 7-digit CITB registration number.
• Watch the 52-week limits. Late claims lose money, especially attendance grants for apprentices.
• Keep your records together. Certificates, dates and learner details make claims within the 52-week window much quicker.
• Ask your CITB Adviser. CITB's levy and grant team is on levy.grant@citb.co.uk and 0344 994 4455.

CITB funding is for training. For other support, see our small business grants, browse construction funding, read our sole trader grants post, or check grant eligibility by organisation type. We list each CITB scheme on the CITB funder page.