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CITB has recently announced major updates to its Grants and Funding offer, including the Training Group Grant. Many of these changes come into effect on 8th January 2026, and some from April 2026, and all will affect how employers book and claim funding for short courses and qualifications.
To support you through the changes, we’ve summarised the key points below — including timelines, what’s changing, and what you need to do next.*
*We will update this blog as more details are revealed by CITB – stay tuned!
The Grants Scheme will no longer fund short courses. Short courses will be delivered exclusively via Employer Networks (ENs) rather than the Grants Scheme.
Courses booked before 8th December 2025 and delivered before 31st March 2026 will be honoured at the current grant rate.
CITB will match-fund 50% of eligible short-duration courses, as opposed to the 70% previously funded
Health & Safety courses will be supported at 30% of the average market rate
EN budgets are finite and fixed annually
First Aid training will no longer be supported
Attendance grants removed for long qualifications
£600 achievement grant remains
Level 7 qualifications will no longer be supported
Does not affect Level 7 apprenticeships or Scottish SCQF Level 7 Advanced Craft
EN funding available only until 31st March 2026
A new large employer fund launches 1st April 2026
Already booked by 8th December 2025 or completed before 7th January 2026?→ No action needed; current funding rates remain.
Booked by 8th December 2025 but taking place 8th Jan–31st March 2026?→ Ensure you have evidence of booking to secure existing rates.
Planning new short-duration training?→ Speak to your CITB Adviser to organise EN-supported training.
Large employer?→ Complete any EN-funded training before 31 March 2026.
For all queries or transition support, contact your local CITB Adviser.
CITB has confirmed that changes are required to keep funding sustainable and focused where it is needed most.Key reasons include:
36% increase in the number of employers supported since 2021
No increase in Levy rates during this period
Demand for financial support is now projected to exceed Levy income
New structure designed to protect long-term sustainability
Ensures funding is targeted at areas with the greatest industry impact
CITB has confirmed ongoing investment in construction skills, including:
Support for high-impact, skills gap-aligned training
Card-linked training will continue to receive grants
Focus on ensuring funding reaches areas with the greatest industry need
8th December 2025 – CITB announcement & guidance published
8th January 2026 – New rules take effect
31st March 2026 – Large employers stop accessing EN funding
1st April 2026 – New Large Employer Fund goes live
Supporting more employers with the same Levy amount is no longer sustainable. Without changes, CITB funding demand would exceed income, risking all support programmes.
If booked on or before 8th December 2025, or completed before 7th January 2026, your rate is protected.
If booked by 8th December but delivered 8th Jan – 31st March 2026, you must provide booking evidence to receive the current rate.
Not as far as we understand it right now. The grant scheme will continue to be in place for apprenticeships and a set list of courses.
Yes, the tiers will remain the same.
No.
There’s limited information at the moment, but our understanding is that this will be a separate fund and will not be linked to the Employer Network.
We understand that CITB will soon be providing a list of these prices to training providers, but we don’t currently have this information. It’s currently unclear if this will be per course, per delegate or both.
Yes, the cap will remain the same until 31st March. We believe it is being reviewed and may change in future.
Yes.
The funding changes from CITB are rolling out now, and we expect lots of clarification to come for common questions and concerns.
If you need any support with understanding what you need to do next, our team will do our best to help you, as we keep on top of all the latest information.
As an accredited CITB training provider, 3B Training has extensive experience supporting construction employers across UK. Accredited by over 15 awarding bodies, we help businesses and individuals access nationally recognised health and safety training. This week, CITB announced a major change that will significantly affect how employers access funding for training: the Training Group Grant will be discontinued from 1st April 2026.
Understanding this change is critical for employers planning their training strategy and workforce development. In this article, we break down the announcement, explain why it is happening, examine its impact on employers, and provide actionable guidance to navigate the transition effectively.
At 3B Training, we have worked with hundreds of construction businesses—from small, family-run contractors to large national housebuilders—helping them make the most of CITB funding. Over the years, we have seen first-hand how Training Groups have provided:
While Training Groups have historically provided significant value, the evolving demands of the construction sector and the pressure on CITB to optimise funding have prompted this shift.
CITB regularly evaluates its funding programmes to ensure Levy reinvestment delivers maximum impact. The decision to withdraw Training Group funding reflects a combination of financial and strategic considerations:
CITB has seen a 36% rise in employer demand for its services over recent years, while Levy rates have remained static. This means CITB must do more with the same resources.
Newer support models, such as Employer Networks and the New Entrant Support Team, have proven more cost-effective and capable of engaging a broader cross-section of the industry. These models reduce overheads while still ensuring training reaches those who need it most.
By reallocating resources to these newer initiatives, CITB can maximise the impact of Levy funding while ensuring more employers receive valuable support. This decision aligns with long-term industry goals, including improving skills retention, fostering new entrants, and addressing skills shortages.
CITB’s Industry Funding Committee and Board emphasised that while the decision to end Training Group funding was difficult, it is necessary to deliver the greatest impact for all employers across Great Britain.
The Training Group Grant will end on 31 March 2026. CITB has committed to supporting Training Groups during the transition period, but funding beyond this date will not be available.
CITB is developing a new funding model designed to support specialist sectors, particularly those requiring high-level or niche skills. This new model is intended to:
Further details on this model will be published via the CITB website and the Government Central Digital Platform, with pre-tender webinars scheduled for January 2026. Employers planning to access these new opportunities should actively monitor CITB updates to ensure they are ready when applications open.
With this major funding shift, construction employers need a clear strategy to maintain workforce training and compliance. Practical steps include:
Accredited providers such as 3B Training can deliver a wide range of CITB-funded and non-funded training courses. By choosing 3B Training, employers can secure continuity in upskilling programmes, ensure compliance with statutory and industry standards, and avoid last-minute disruptions.
This approach also guarantees that training is delivered by an experienced provider recognised by CITB, maintaining both quality and credibility.
Identify which programmes currently rely on Training Group Grant support. Understanding your dependencies now will allow for a smoother transition and minimise disruption in 2026.
Example: A medium-sized construction company in Manchester had relied on a local Training Group for asbestos awareness courses. By auditing their training calendar now, they can explore alternative CITB-approved providers, including 3B Training, or Employer Network opportunities to ensure continued compliance.
Employer Networks have become central to CITB’s new approach. These networks provide:
Real-World Insight: 3B Training has seen clients benefit from Employer Networks in the North West. These networks helped smaller contractors access site safety and management training that would have been challenging to organise independently.
CITB’s forthcoming specialist sector model may provide new funding opportunities for high-skill or niche areas. Employers should register interest and participate in pre-tender webinars to ensure they are ready to apply.
Scenario: A regional civil engineering company relies on a Training Group to deliver scaffold training across multiple sites. In anticipation of the end of the Training Group Grant, the company could:
By proactively planning and working with an accredited provider like 3B Training, employers can minimise disruption, maintain compliance, and efficiently upskill their workforce.
At 3B Training, we leverage our extensive experience and industry expertise to guide businesses through changes like these. Our approach includes:
By combining experience with a deep understanding of CITB processes, we help employers maintain productivity, safety, and compliance during periods of funding transition.
Q: Will Training Groups disappear completely in 2026? A: While groups may continue to operate independently, CITB funding through the Training Group Grant will end on 31st March 2026.
Q: Are Employer Networks the replacement for Training Groups? A: Not exactly. Employer Networks complement the new funding strategy by providing regional and sector-specific training opportunities, but employers will need to actively engage to access support.
Q: How can SMEs minimise disruption? A: SMEs should audit existing training dependencies, engage with Employer Networks, and partner with accredited providers like 3B Training to maintain continuity.
3B Training is an accredited CITB training provider with over a decade of experience delivering accredited construction training. We help employers maximise Levy funding, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure their workforce is upskilled to meet current and future demands. Our experience, expertise, and industry authority make us a trusted partner for employers navigating CITB funding changes.
While the withdrawal of the Training Group Grant represents a significant change for construction employers, proactive planning, engagement with Employer Networks, and collaboration with an accredited training provider like 3B Training ensures continuity, compliance, and workforce development remain on track.
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