The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has outlined plans to refocus construction skills funding towards long-term workforce retention and industry competence as labour shortages continue to affect project delivery across the UK.
In its newly published 2026–27 Business Plan, CITB said more than £136 million will be provided directly to employers through grants, funding schemes and employer-led training programmes, alongside continued investment in apprenticeships and workforce development.
The Business Plan forms part of CITB’s wider Strategic Plan 2025–29 and comes as the industry faces growing pressure to recruit and retain skilled workers across key trades and construction disciplines.
According to CITB, employers identified three main priorities during industry consultation:
- Increasing the number of trained workers entering construction
- Improving access to relevant training provision
- Upskilling the existing workforce
The organisation said the latest funding strategy would place greater emphasis on helping trainees progress into long-term industry careers rather than focusing solely on entry-level recruitment.
Industry levy spending placed under greater scrutiny
A major focus of the updated Business Plan is increased transparency around how levy funding is allocated across the construction sector.
CITB said recent funding decisions had resulted in investment being more tightly targeted towards programmes intended to deliver measurable long-term value for the industry.
The Plan also provides additional detail on how levy income is divided between direct employer support and wider industry initiatives, including competence frameworks, standards development and workforce planning.
Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of CITB, said the organisation had made “difficult decisions” over how funding is prioritised.
He said: “This Business Plan reflects a conscious shift towards greater transparency and accountability.
“We want industry to be able to clearly see where their money is invested, how it supports both immediate training needs and longer term skills challenges, and how we measure whether it is making a real difference.”
Balcon said the organisation had reviewed funding priorities to focus investment on areas with the greatest long-term impact.
He added: “Over the last year, we have had to make some difficult decisions about how we allocate funding.
“We know these decisions have not been easy for everyone, and it is important that we are open and honest about why we have taken them and how levy payers’ money is being used.”
Construction workforce strategy consultation planned
CITB also confirmed it will launch a consultation later this year to review its Strategic Plan and gather further feedback from employers, training providers and industry stakeholders across England, Scotland and Wales.
Balcon commented: “Through collaboration and open dialogue, we can make sure our investment delivers the greatest impact for construction.”
The Business Plan also sets out new performance measures linked to increasing workforce entry, supporting employer training activity and improving long-term skills development across the construction industry.
