The CITB Grant Scheme Objective

The objective of CITB’s Grants Scheme is to meet skills demand and address and prevent skills gaps. The Grants Scheme is funded by Industry through the CITB Levy and we aim to ensure that these funds are invested well to meet Industry needs.

Further details can be found here.

Determination of Grant Applications

There is a high demand for grants and in order to meet the objective of the Grants Scheme, all applications will be assessed against CITB policies set out in both:

these Grants Scheme terms and conditions; and
the requirements specific to each grant type – Short course grants, Qualification grants, Travel to Train - Apprenticeship travel and accommodation grant and Apprenticeship grants

How the Grant Scheme works

CITB’s Grants Scheme year runs from 1 April to 31 March (“Grants Scheme Year”).

All applications for grant must be for training that has been attended and/or achieved during the Grants Scheme Year and must be submitted in accordance with these Grants Scheme terms and conditions and the requirements specific to each grant type, which are available on CITB’s website.
For the Grants Scheme to operate effectively CITB must anticipate and accurately forecast the likely call of the Grants Scheme on Levy in the Grants Scheme Year. There is a direct correlation between the amount of Levy paid by the Industry and the amount of grant made available in any Grants Scheme Year. As this amount is determined annually, applications for grant will be considered only in relation to the overall amount of Levy received from the Industry.
To deliver and maintain the reliability of CITB’s annual forecast, CITB will not accommodate grant applications for earlier Grants Scheme Years. Applications for training undertaken outside of the Grants Scheme Year (retrospective grant applications) or after the relevant deadline specific to each grant type will not be considered, save for in exceptional circumstances at CITB’s sole discretion.
The grant rates which CITB propose to pay are those rates shown within the requirements specific to each grant type. CITB may, at its sole discretion, at any time and for whatever reason reduce or increase these rates without notice.
All CITB grants are discretionary in nature and any indication that grant is available or an agreement to pay may be withdrawn at any time. These Grants Scheme terms and conditions and the requirements specific to each grant type set out the principles and criteria on which grant may be available, they are not intended to be and nor will they form a contractual offer or a contract between CITB and the Employer.
CITB may at any time withdraw the Grants Scheme in its entirety or revise one or both of the Grants Scheme terms and conditions and/or the specific requirements of each grant type in whole or in part, without notice.

CITB’s decision is final on all matters concerning the interpretation of the Grants Scheme.

Access to Grants

Subject to the following, employers in the construction industry registered with CITB (“Employers”) are entitled to apply for grant within the Grants Scheme Year in which they are first registered. This eligibility to access the Grants Scheme extends to Employers who are not required to pay the Levy by virtue of the applicable Small Business Levy exemption in the Grants Scheme Year in which the application is submitted.

4.1 Newly registered employers

Employers newly registered with CITB during the Grants Scheme Year may apply for apprenticeship grants for the 12-month period prior to the Employer’s registration date and all other grants from the date of registration.

4.2 Submission of Levy Returns and Payment of Levy

CITB operates on the basis of No Levy, No Grant meaning that without exception Employers must complete and submit all Levy Return(s) in accordance with the dates set out below AND where applicable pay, or have Direct Debit arrangements in place to pay, any and all bona fide Levy Assessment before grant payments are released. Non-compliance with this requirement will result in grants being blocked within the relevant Grants Scheme Year until Levy payment is made or withdrawn if Levy payment is not received at the end of the Grants Scheme Year.
Employers whose grant application has been approved, who have paid any Levy Assessment due and who have completed and submitted their 2021 Levy Return (together with any other outstanding Levy Returns) prior to the start of the Grants Scheme Year on 1 April 2022, are eligible to receive grant.
In May, the 2022 Levy Return is issued and this must be completed by the Employer and received by CITB before 30 June 2022 in order for the Employer to be eligible to receive / continue to receive grant. Failure to comply with this date will again result in all grant payments being blocked until the Levy Return has been received by CITB. Should an Employer’s 2022 Levy Return remain outstanding on 30 November 2022 all grant payments for the Grants Scheme Year are withdrawn.

Applying for Grants

An Employer is able to apply for grants in respect of construction industry related training undertaken by:

directly employed staff (including apprentices) on the payroll;
sub-contractors (both net and gross-paid); and
sole traders and partnerships.

Provided they are working at the time of the training for the Employer making the application and that CITB grant support has not already been received for the particular training/qualification.

An Employer may authorise third party training providers and/or colleges providing services to the Employer to complete a grant application on their behalf. Where the Employer so authorises, the responsibility to ensure that applications are made in accordance with these Grants Scheme terms and conditions and to repay any grants received as a result of an error by the third party remains with the Employer.

To apply for grant, applicants should visit CITB’s website. The requirements specific to each grant type should be checked prior to submitting an application as some grants operate restrictions.

What training is supported by CITB grants?

Only training directly related to the construction industry and listed on CITB’s website qualifies for grant.

These training programmes, which include health and safety courses and non-construction related training such as management and supervisory courses specifically tailored for the construction industry, have been approved because they meet industry agreed standards; are priority areas for grant funding; and align with the Industrial Training legislation.

If a course or qualification is not listed on our website use the relevant form to submit it for evaluation.