Why do we need the Levy?

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The industry asks CITB-ConstructionSkills to collect an annual levy from all liable employers. Grants are then given to employers who train. This is seen by our industry as the best way to support training.

As a general rule, it is the smaller firms who train most new entrants. The larger companies can then benefit by hiring these skilled workers later in their career. Without CITB-ConstructionSkills Grant, the small firms would simply not be able to afford to train any operatives and the industry as a whole would suffer.

If your wage bill is less than £76,000, you don't have to pay a CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy at all, but you still qualify for grants, advice and support. In fact, in 2006, firms who paid no CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy employed over 10,800 New Entrant Trainees and received £26.7 million in training support. In 2006, over £113 million was distributed in training grants.

If you do pay some CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy, but choose not to get directly involved in training, you are still helping to maintain the industry's training and recruitment levels, as well as other activities. This will ultimately benefit you, albeit indirectly, by there being enough trained staff in the workforce.

For more information on the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy, including details of how to register and how to benefit, use the following links. Alternatively, please download the Sharing Investment of Training booklet (182kb PDF file).


		Why do we need the Levy?

		High quality training is particularly important in construction, because the workforce moves from project to project. Therefore, ensuring each individual operative has the necessary skills to carry out their job is vital. The CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy means that all employers in the industry make the appropriate financial contributions. By sharing this investment across the industry we can maintain a solid skills base. In return for this investment, the immediate needs of individual employers are met in the form of a skilled workforce. In addition, there are long-term benefits for the whole industry, helping avoid skills shortages and inflationary pay. Quite simply, training brings about a better quality, better motivated, more efficient workforce. If you want to check if any firm is registered with CITB-ConstructionSkills, just call 01485 577562 or visit see who’s registered.