Construction companies are being urged to accelerate the number of apprenticeship starts by taking advantage of the CITB apprenticeship grant. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is investing nearly £150 million into apprenticeship grants from April 2023 to March 2025, demonstrating the scale of support available.
The CITB's latest Employer Voice survey reported that 31% of employers are planning to take on an apprentice, with another 48% stating they may do so. To help employers navigate the recruitment process, access grants, and suitable training, the CITB has set up its New Entrant Support Team (NEST).
Launched in January 2023, NEST helped over 2,318 people start an apprenticeship that year – a more than 500% increase compared to when NEST was piloted in the North of England from September to December 2022. In total, the CITB supported over 29,000 apprentices during their courses in 2023.
Additionally, since 2020, the CITB has issued over 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners and delivered 5,700 apprenticeship courses at the National Construction Colleges. During the same period, over 26,000 apprenticeship grants were awarded to construction employers.
Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of CITB, said: "A strong apprenticeship pipeline is vital for SME employers and a healthy construction industry. Over two-thirds of apprenticeship starts in the construction industry are employed by companies with fewer than 50 employees. We're seeing strong demand for our apprenticeship and qualification grants, and we want to keep up the momentum. There are over 170 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in construction, and we encourage employers and people considering joining the industry to consider what apprenticeship role could work for them."
"As well as continuing to drive up apprenticeship start numbers, we also need to improve retention and attract apprentices to pursue a career in construction. Currently, some 60% of further education learners on construction courses do not end up in the industry – we need to tackle this issue with effective recruitment and training while promoting the benefits of joining the industry."
