CITB

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = {{visible anchor|Industrial Training Act 1964}}

| type = Act

| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom

| long_title = An Act to make further provision for industrial and commercial training; to raise the limit on contributions out of the National Insurance Fund towards the expenses of the Minister of Labour in providing training courses; and for purposes connected with those matters.

| year = 1964

| citation = 1964 c. 16

| introduced_commons =

| introduced_lords =

| territorial_extent =

| royal_assent = 12 March 1964

| commencement =

| expiry_date =

| repeal_date =

| amends =

| replaces =

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| related_legislation =

| status = current

| legislation_history =

| theyworkforyou =

| millbankhansard =

| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/16/contents/enacted

| revised_text =

| use_new_UK-LEG =

| UK-LEG_title = Industrial Training Act 1964

| collapsed = yes

}}

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964

| type = Statutory Instrument

| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom

| year = 1964

| citation = SI 1964/1079

| introduced_commons =

| introduced_lords =

| territorial_extent =

| si_made_date = 13 July 1964

| si_laid_date = 20 July 1964

| commencement = 21 July 1964

| expiry_date =

| repeal_date =

| amends =

| replaces =

| primary_legislation = Industrial Training Act 1964

| eu_directives =

| amendments =

| repealing_legislation =

| related_legislation =

| status =

| legislation_history =

| theyworkforyou =

| millbankhansard =

| original_text =

| revised_text =

| use_new_UK-LEG = yes

| UK-LEG_title = Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964

| collapsed = yes

}}

The CITB was established on 21 July 1964 by the {{visible anchor|Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964}} (SI 1964/1079),Explanatory Note to The Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1992 and was one of a number of training boards covering UK industries. It was a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsThe Independent; 19 March 2009; [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-rise-of-the-quangocracy-1648408.htmlThe rise of the quangocracy] until 2016 when it moved to the Department for Education.{{cite web|title=Ministerial Departments - Department of Education|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#department-for-education|website=UK Government|access-date=1 November 2016}} The activities of the CITB have been redefined by statutory instruments (including the {{visible anchor|Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1991}} (SI 1991/28) and the {{visible anchor|Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1992}} (SI 1992/3048)).

In October 2003 Charles Clarke, then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, awarded the licence for the new construction industry sector skills council (SSC) to "ConstructionSkills", a partnership between the CITB and the Construction Industry Council (CIC).Coventry Evening Telegraph, 14 October 2003, ''New Sector Skills Council; National Construction Week The CITB became known as CITB-ConstructionSkills, or simply ConstructionSkills, for most of the next 10 years.

In March 2013, it was announced that the organisation would drop brands such as CITB-ConstructionSkills, CSkills Awards and the National Construction College (the NCC operated from seven locations: Ashbourne, Erith, Inchinnan, Bircham Newton near King's Lynn, King's Norton, Leytonstone and Llangefni),CITB, http://www.citb.co.uk/national-construction-college/national-construction-college-campuses/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109030123/http://www.citb.co.uk/national-construction-college/national-construction-college-campuses/ |date=2017-11-09 }} and revert to its original CITB name as a result of industry feedback suggesting that multiple brands were causing confusion.[http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/welcome-back-citb Welcome back, CITB], The Construction Index, Monday, 18 March 2013 (accessed: 18 March 2013).

The October 2016 Farmer Review of the UK Construction Labour Model made several key recommendations to reform training in the industry. One of these was for fundamental reform of the CITB and the levy.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Robyn |title=Farmer Review: Construction industry must 'Modernise or Die' |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/analysis/farmer-review-construction-industry-must-modernise-or-die/10012807.article |access-date=3 November 2018 |work=Construction News |date=17 October 2016 |language=en}} In May 2017, the awarding body Cskills Awards was sold to another industry awarding body NOCN.{{cite news|last1=Prior|first1=Grant|title=CITB to sell awarding body|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/26/citb-to-sell-awarding-body/|access-date=26 May 2017|work=Construction Enquirer|date=26 May 2017}}

In October 2016, the government's skills minister Robert Halfon appointed Paul Morrell to lead a review of industrial training boards, in particular the future role of the CITB.{{cite web|title=Paul Morrell to advise major review of industrial training boards|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/paul-morrell-to-advise-major-review-of-industrial-training-boards|website=Gov.uk|access-date=9 January 2017}} Industry support for the CITB varied widely, with some sectors (notably housebuilding){{cite news|title=House-builders vote against CITB levy renewal|url=http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/house-builders-vote-against-citb-levy-renewal|access-date=17 November 2017|work=The Construction Index|date=2 October 2017}} voting against renewal of the CITB's levy, while others (Build UK, for example) favoured its continuation so long as there were reforms.{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Jack|title=Build UK votes to back CITB|url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/contractors/build-uk-votes-to-back-citb/10023838.article|access-date=17 November 2017|work=Construction News|date=28 September 2017}} The report, Building Support: the review of the Industry Training Boards, was published in November 2017.{{cite web |title=Building Support: the review of the Industry Training Boards |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657350/Building_Support-the_review_of_the_Industry_Training-Boards.pdf |website=DfE |publisher=Department for Education |access-date=24 February 2020}}

In November 2017, the CITB unveiled a new strategy to become simpler and more streamlined, ending direct training via the National Construction College, and abandoning its facility at Bircham Newton in Norfolk moving to Peterborough,{{cite news|last1=Prior|first1=Grant|title=CITB to cut costs by stopping training|url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/11/15/citb-to-cut-costs-by-stopping-training/|access-date=17 November 2017|work=Construction Enquirer|date=15 November 2017}} where it is now based.[https://www.citb.co.uk/ CITB] The changes were likely to include substantial job losses among the CITB's 1,400 staff, particularly in Norfolk, as it commissioned outside providers rather than providing training itself.{{cite news|title=Construction Industry Training Board 'to shed jobs'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-42000155|access-date=17 November 2017|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=15 November 2017}} In total, 750 staff, more than half the workforce, were said to be under threat of redundancy.{{cite news|last1=Withers|first1=Paul|title=CITB set for massive shake-up with 750 staff under threat|url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/citb-set-for-massive-shake-up-with-750-staff-under-threat/5090669.article|access-date=17 November 2017|work=Building|date=17 November 2017}}

In April 2018, the CITB unveiled a three-year plan in which more than 800 staff would be axed in reforms designed to modernise its business. The CITB proposed to reduce from 1,370 UK staff in March 2018 to 358 by 2021.{{cite news|last1=Tute|first1=Ryan|title=CITB reveals business plan which will see 800 jobs axed|url=http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/apr-2018/citb-reveals-business-plan-which-will-see-800-jobs-axed|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Infrastructure Intelligence|date=17 April 2018}} In November 2018, various back-office functions were outsourced, affecting 337 staff, with most transferring to the new provider, Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL).{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB outsources 337 staff and sells plant card scheme |url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/11/28/citb-outsources-337-admin-staff-and-sells-plant-card-scheme/ |access-date=29 November 2018 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=29 November 2018}} In December 2018, it was revealed that, to retain employment with SSCL, over 200 staff based in Norfolk, plus over 100 staff in London, Leicestershire, Scotland and Wales, would be forced to relocate and work from SSCL's offices in York and other locations - a move condemned by Unite the Union as effectively making the 300 staff redundant.{{cite news |title=CITB board accused of shafting 300 employees |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/citb-board-accused-of-shafting-300-employees |access-date=14 December 2018 |work=The Construction Index |date=14 December 2018}} In March 2019, the CITB's new head office was established in Peterborough.{{cite news |title=New tenants at Peterborough City Council’s Fletton Quays offices |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/new-tenants-peterborough-city-councils-fletton-quays-offices-991814 |access-date=2 March 2020 |work=Peterborough Telegraph |date=27 March 2020}}

In February 2020, the CITB announced it had sold the NCC's Bircham Newton site to West Suffolk College, based in Bury St Edmunds, aiming to continue construction industry training provision at the site.{{cite news |last1=Lorenzato-Lloyd |first1=Alice |title=CITB strikes deal to sell Bircham Newton home |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/citb-strikes-deal-to-sell-bircham-newton-home/5104497.article |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=Building |date=24 February 2020}} However, the sale later fell through and in March 2021 CITB said it had decided to retain its Bircham Newtwon site, plus its Scottish facility at Inchinnan.{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB fails to find buyers for national training centres |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2021/03/22/citb-fails-to-find-buyers-for-national-training-centres/ |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=23 March 2021}} Industry publication The Construction Index said that retaining Bircham Newton and Inchinnan was "not just a temporary suspension of the sale process but an absolute volte face of policy and a return to its core purpose of providing training".{{cite news |title=CITB in shock colleges U-turn |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/citb-in-shock-colleges-u-turn |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=The Construction Index |date=23 March 2021}}

In November 2020, the CITB's training facility in King's Norton was sold to Walsall College.{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB starts sell-off of training centres |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/11/24/citb-continues-sell-off-of-training-centres/ |access-date=25 November 2020 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=24 November 2020}} Sale discussions with a training provider for CITB's Erith facility were continuing in March 2021.

In August 2020, it was reported that CITB staff were facing salary cuts and possible redundancies as the organisation managed a £160m decline in its income.{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=David |title=CITB staff face redundancies after levy cut |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/news/citb-staff-face-redundancies-after-levy-cut-07-08-2020/ |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=Construction News |date=7 August 2020}} CITB opened consultations with staff to make up to 110 redundancies, saving £4.5m annually, with levy income predicted to fall due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Morby |first1=Aaron |title=CITB to slash 110 staff as levy income drops |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/08/25/citb-to-slash-110-staff-as-levy-income-drop/ |access-date=26 August 2020 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=25 August 2020}}

In November 2022, the CITB made a £5.9m provision in its accounts after over-claiming for government apprenticeship funding.{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB sets aside £5.9m for apprentice admin blunder |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2022/11/10/citb-sets-aside-5-9m-for-apprentice-admin-blunder/ |access-date=10 November 2022 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=10 November 2022}}

In July 2023, the Department for Education launched a review of CITB and ECITB,{{cite web |title=Industry Training Board Review 2023 - call for evidence |url=https://consult.education.gov.uk/corporate-sponsorship/industry-training-board-review-call-for-evidence/ |website=Department for Education |publisher=DfE |access-date=24 July 2023}} to be led by Mark Farmer.{{cite news |last1=Pitcher |first1=Greg |title=Fresh probe looms for under-fire CITB |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/skills/fresh-probe-looms-for-under-fire-citb-14-06-2023/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Construction News |date=14 June 2023}} The review was set to be published by the end of summer 2024,{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Chris |title=DfE commits to publishing Farmer’s CITB review |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/government/dfe-commits-to-publishing-farmers-citb-review-31-07-2024/ |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=Construction News |date=31 July 2024}} but was later delayed until early 2025, with a knock-on impact on the CITB's training levy review procedure{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB delays levy approval consultation |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2024/12/19/citb-delays-levy-approval-consultation/ |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=19 December 2024}}{{cite news |title=CITB consultation deferred |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/citb-consensus-deferred |access-date=20 December 2024 |work=The Construction Index |date=20 December 2024}} (a process known as Consensus).{{cite web |title=What is Consensus |url=https://www.citb.co.uk/media/5rglonxx/consensus-faqs-2025.pdf |website=CITB |access-date=30 January 2025}}

In July 2024, the new Labour Government announced proposals to overhaul skills provision in England by the formation of Skills England, but it was unclear how the CITB would fit into the new regime.{{cite news |title=New skills quango raises CITB questions |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/new-skills-quango-raises-citb-questions |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Construction Index |date=23 July 2024}} A survey for Hudson Contract revealed 74% of construction business leaders wanted.to scrap the CITB and its levy; Hudson MD Ian Anfield called for it be merged into the new Skills England{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=“Scrap CITB” say three quarters of construction firms |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2024/07/25/scrap-citb-say-three-quarters-of-construction-firms/ |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=25 July 2024}} (Hudson, also known as Knot Builders, was engaged in what an appeal judge later described as an "opportunistic" and "cynical" legal challenge regarding CITB grant payments).{{cite news |last1=Marrs |first1=Colin |title=Appeal judge comprehensively backs CITB in grant dispute |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/supply-chain/appeal-judge-comprehensively-backs-citb-in-grant-dispute-20-01-2025/ |access-date=20 January 2025 |work=Construction News |date=20 January 2025}}

The Farmer-led review,{{cite book |last1=Farmer |first1=Mark |title=2023 Industry Training Board (ITB) review: Transforming the construction workforce |date=January 2025 |publisher=Department for Education |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679a1275a39e422368d10dd3/2023_Industry_Training_Board__ITB__review_Jan_2025.pdf |access-date=30 January 2025}} published on 30 January 2025, said the CITB needed a "fundamental reset" and should merge with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Joshua |title='Fundamental reset' required as CITB touted for merger |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/skills/fundamental-reset-required-as-citb-touted-for-merger-30-01-2025/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Construction News |date=30 January 2025 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last1=Marrs |first1=Colin |title=Mark Farmer on why Construction Industry Training Board reform is needed |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/skills/mark-farmer-on-why-construction-industry-training-board-reform-is-needed-30-01-2025/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Construction News |date=30 January 2025 |url-access=subscription}} While there could be significant benefits from greater alignment and collaboration between the two ITBs, the Government was not planning to legislate to create a single body.{{cite news |title=Government publishes Industrial Training Board review report |url=https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/government-publishes-industrial-training-board-review-report/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=CITB |date=30 January 2025}}{{cite news |title=Government publishes Industrial Training Board review report |url=https://www.ecitb.org.uk/news/government-publishes-industrial-training-board-review-report/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=ECITB |date=30 January 2025}}

With construction employers paying a statutory levy to the CITB, it has been subject to industry criticism over its funding of training. In June 2016, for example, the CITB was criticised for not supporting an industry charity, Building Lives, while providing grants to organisations to train sales and marketing staff.{{cite news|last1=Prior|first1=Grant|date=9 June 2016|title=CITB funds used to train house sales teams|work=Construction Enquirer|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/06/09/citb-funds-used-to-train-house-sales-teams/|access-date=9 June 2016}}

Despite the CITB's review and restructuring, criticisms of the body continued. In October 2021, the National Federation of Builders called for a fundamental CITB restructure to ensure greater efficiency, accountability, and a more focused and successful delivery of skills and training outcomes.{{cite news |title=NFB blueprint calls for the ‘reconstruction’ of CITB |url=https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/nfb-blueprint-citb-restructure/100982/ |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=PBC Today |date=26 October 2021}} In January 2022, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee published a report, Meeting housing demand, which was critical of the CITB's training provision to small house-builders amid an ongoing skills shortage. It said:

:"The Construction Industry Training Board has not addressed construction skills shortages in an effective manner over many years. Reform is needed to address this issue. The government should consider how the Construction Industry Training Board can upgrade its training offer for construction professionals. Failure to recruit and train the skills required to build new homes should cause the government to consider potential alternative models for a national construction careers body."{{cite news |title=Lords call for SME house-builders support |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/lords-call-for-sme-house-builders-support |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=The Construction Index |date=10 January 2022}}

In May 2023, CITB was given a "requires improvement" rating following an Ofsted inspection, which criticised CITB's quality of education, leadership and management, and apprenticeships.{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=CITB told to improve by Ofsted inspectors |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/05/31/citb-told-to-improve-by-ofsted-inspectors/ |access-date=1 June 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=1 June 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.citb.co.uk/ CITB website]
• [https://mrc.epexio.com/records/CIT/1 Catalogue of the CITB archives in Richard Wood's papers], held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick

{{Construction industry of the United Kingdom}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Sector Skills Councils

Category:Further education colleges in the United Kingdom

Category:Government agencies established in 1964

Category:Department for Education

Category:Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government

Category:Organisations based in Peterborough