The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has outlined proposals to restructure the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), as it recommends sweeping changes
The NFB has launched a blueprint voicing the views of its members to spark government-wide debate on the future of CITB in the industry.
The paper outlines a fundamental organisation restructure – proposing sweeping changes to ensure greater efficiency, accountability, and a more focused and successful delivery of skills and training outcomes.
The key recommendations include:
- The creation of a new construction careers body
- Fundamental reform of Levy including stripping CITB of Levy raising powers
- Removal of the grants system and corresponding reduction in Levy
- Delivering apprenticeship and qualification financial incentives through Government
- Retaining a residual CITB to focus on work as the Sector Skills Council
- Redeploying local advisors through Employment and Skills Boards
- Ending CITB projects and programmes
- Changing CITB’s status and submitting the organisation to competitive tender.
The reconstruction of CITB follows a two-year consultation of NFB’s CITB process and aims to provide a blueprint for reform ahead of a formal ITB review by the Government, expected sometime next year.
The report outlines the industry’s verdict on CITB, as reported in its own annual reports.
The consensus of the report is that many construction employers do not see CITB as adding value to the industry and do not believe that the labour market meets the industry’s needs.
Furthermore, many employers feel as though they can access the training they need – a situation that has worsened for the past three years.
The NFB has stated that whilst its members overwhelmingly support the aims and objectives of the CITB, its members do not have confidence in the current organisation’s ability to deliver.
‘CITB needs a fundamental reorganisation’
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “As a member-led organisation we have lobbied for years for the CITB to reform from within.
“Our members have finally come to the conclusion that is no longer a viable option and that CITB needs a fundamental reorganisation. Only the government will be able to deliver that, so we are launching this paper to spark a serious and wide-ranging debate about how we mobilise to get this done.
“I’m calling on all those who pay CITB Levy to join us in this fight. It’s time to reconstruct CITB.”
‘Time to think outside the box’
Herman Kok, company secretary of the Lindum Group, and chair of the NFB skills and training subgroup, added: “Many employers will feel, like I do, that the CITB Consensus process is disingenuous and doesn’t give us the opportunity to issue our verdict on the failing CITB – we support the principle of a cross-industry approach, just not the organisation tasked with delivering it.
“As an employee-owned organisation and a chair of an independent training group, I know as well as most the incredible value of training.
“What I cannot support is continuing to look the other way on an organisation that simply cannot deliver on its core mission – it is time we think outside the box, do the construction industry the justice of being truly creative and transformative, and open a proper debate about the tools we need to attract, retain, champion and upskill our people.”
Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “Having a strong working relationship with all construction employers and their member organisations is very important to CITB.
“We were pleased that NFB members supported the Levy in the recent Consensus process and look forward to building on that positive result.
“As with all of our stakeholders, I look forward to discussing with NFB the current and future skills needs of construction employers of Great Britain.”
The full report, ‘Reconstructing CITB, The NFB View of CITB: A New Way Forward for Skills and Training Deliver’, is available here.
