Construction employers have backed CITB’s levy proposals to support skills and training across England, Scotland and Wales, through a consensus process
The provisional result will now be taken to the education secretary to make the final decision on the issue of a new, three-year Levy Order which, if approved, would be issued for 2022-2025.
This will see the levy continue at the following rates at 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for net paid (Taxable) CIS sub-contractors.
CITB will now get on with delivering this year’s business plan and working with industry to agree its forward plan.
In doing so, it will listen to the feedback it received on how it can communicate its plans and impact more clearly and ensure its support is relevant, accessible and easily understood.
Overall, 66% or two-thirds of the total number of levy-paying employers agreed to the proposals, with 63% agreeing when measured by the total amount of levy paid. This result was based on submissions from the 14 Prescribed Organisations (trade bodies representing employers across the industry) and an independent survey of 4,000 employers who were not members of POs. Eleven of the 14 Prescribed Organisations supported the levy proposals.
Industry engagement with the CITB is ‘even more valuable’
Apprenticeships and skills minister, Gillian Keegan, said: “My thanks go out to both the staff at the CITB for facilitating a complex process and to the employers, other members and reps for your active participation.
“This last 18 months have been unusually challenging for the construction sector and that is why the CITB decided to delay the consensus process from 2020 to 2021.
“I recognise that Covid-19, one of the key factors for the postponement, has not gone away. Therefore, the sector’s willingness to engage with the CITB is even more valuable.
“The next step in the process to progress the levy proposals towards a Levy Order now rests with me, before doing so I will be considering the Proposals in detail.
“I know that the CITB will relish returning its entire focus to delivering skills provision for the construction sector at a time when it is more crucial than ever.
“I also want to welcome Tim Balcon in his new role as CITB CEO from 1 October and thank Sarah Beale for the great work she has done for many years in leading the CITB.”
Sarah Beale, CITB chief executive, added: “At an extremely tough time, construction employers have demonstrated that they still believe that the levy and grant system is critical in addressing the industry’s skill needs and their support for the levy proposals.
“In developing our future plans, we will listen hard to what employers told us in how we can ensure that the levy works for them and provides support that is relevant, easy to understand and accessible.”
