CITB defers levy consultation  

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has deferred its Consensus, with the process now starting on 17 March 2025 and continuing until 9 May.

The five-week move allows for publication of the ITB review, which will assess the effectiveness of CITB and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

Although the ITB review – now anticipated in early 2025 – does not have a direct impact on the Levy Proposals or Consensus, CITB said it wants to ensure alignment with the review’s outcomes within its upcoming 2025-29 Strategic Plan. 

Consequently, publication of the Strategic Plan will follow publication of the ITB review.

Usually undertaken every three years, CITB’s Consensus process allows levy-paying employers to share their views on plans for generating the levy, and the skills and training this will deliver to the industry. 

During the process, CITB consults at least 11,000 levy-paying employers. In March 2019, nearly 30,000 employers were liable to pay a levy. 

Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “We believe it’s important that, as a body that is led and accountable to industry, we give employers a full picture of how we intend to support the industry over the life of the Strategic Plan and accompanying Levy Order. 

“The publication date of the ITB review is not yet confirmed by the Department for Education, meaning we cannot yet confirm the publication date of CITB’s Strategic Plan. 

“Consequently, we have revised the start date of Consensus to ensure employers are well informed going into the Consensus process.”