URGENT UPDATE – CITB Grants & Funding Changes

Overview

This update highlights changes made live by CITB yesterday which have a significant impact on access to funding and grants for CITB levy-registered companies. Please read carefully if your business utilises CITB funding and grants.

You may have received correspondence from CITB titled “Simplifying access to our employer support” — here’s what that means in layman’s terms!

Please note: If you’re currently working with us on an NVQ funded by EN, these changes do not affect you.

Enhanced Qualification Grant Important Update – What has changed?

Enhanced Qualification Grant – Reduction in value

Published by CITB this week, the revised deadline for enhanced NVQ grants has now been brought forward to 31st December 2025.

The enhanced grant for Management and Supervision NVQs is only available for achievements completed on or before 31st December. After this date, the grant will reduce to the standard £600 rate.

In addition, CITB have now introduced new stipulations that were not previously part of the scheme:

• The enhanced grant is only payable for the first qualification of each type achieved by an individual.
• Any subsequent qualifications in these categories will be funded at the £600 standard rate.

Previously, the published date for the higher grant rate was 31st March 2026. It is, therefore, disappointing that the deadline has been moved with no prior warning or clear consideration for those already engaged in these qualifications.

If you or your workforce are currently active on an NVQ, we will provide an action plan to help you complete by the December deadline where possible, so you can take advantage of the higher funding before it reduces.

Speak to an advisor or call 01623 287830

See CITB Short Qualification Grant

Qualifications Affected By This Change

Here is a list of NVQs affected by this change:

• Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management
• Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Senior Site Inspection
• Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management
• Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations Management
• Level 9 SVQ in Built Environment Design Management
• Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Site Inspection

What Happens Moving Forward?

From 1st January 2026 onwards, the only funding support available from CITB for NVQs will be the £600 achievement grant, payable on completion.

We will continue to monitor CITB’s grant scheme and will provide updates if any changes are confirmed for the next grant year (post-April 2026).

Please note: If you’re currently working with us on an NVQ funded by EN, these changes do not affect you.

Skills and Training Fund – Ends 30th September 2025

The cost neutral training option for employers is closing as of September 2025.

• Applications submitted in August will be processed as normal, and in most cases the funding will be released up front.
• From 01 September, the payment terms are changing to payment upon completion of the training activity.
• Thereafter no new applications can be submitted after 30th September 2025.
• Existing applications will then need to complete by project end dates.

This is your last chance to cover training at net cost.
If you have been in discussion with our team about making an application, they will be in touch to make you aware of the new pending deadline.

Get your application in before the End of August for likely approval upfront – which means you will get the money in advance to help cover costs

Why is the Skills & Training Fund closing?

You can read the CITB FAQ’s here:
https://www.citb.co.uk/media/f3yme0ja/skills-and-training-fund-faqs.pdf

CITB states it’s streamlining its approach to more effectively help levy-registered employers access financial support for training. To do this, they have reviewed the existing offer and made these changes highlighted above.

Currently:

• Both Employer Networks (ENs) and the Skills & Training (S&T) fund offer funding for similar types of training.
• This duplication can be confusing for employers navigating the options.

Listening to employer feedback, they have simplified the process by:

• Creating a more efficient service
• Moving towards a single route

From 30 September 2025, the Skills & Training fund will close, and Employer Networks will become the single channel for further developing businesses.

Unfortunately, in its current state:

• Employer Network is 70% funded
• NVQs are excluded from Employer Networks Funding

We will continue to monitor CITB’s funding schemes and will provide updates if any changes are confirmed for this or the next grant year (post-April 2026).

See CITB Skills & Training Fund

Please note: If you’re currently working with us on an NVQ funded by EN, these changes do not affect you.

Workforce Skills Statement in relation to these changes

If you are a CITB levy-registered company and wish to raise feedback on these changes, we recommend contacting your regional CITB advisor directly.

Please note: as a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO), we have received no official correspondence regarding this change. We are sharing the update based solely on the changes made live on the CITB website on the 19th of August 2025.

Have questions?

Contact our advisors today or call us on 01623 287830