We have seen many announcements from CITB over the past couple of weeks and what they are doing to support levy payers during these uncertain times. Last week they announced something we have been waiting for, long before we had all heard of COVID-19!

NEW Skills and Training Fund

We are delighted to see CITB launching a new fund that can provided immediate benefit to medium-sized companies (between 100 and 250 staff) and move past basic training and into more specialist areas of skills development. This can include management and leadership training, helping you unlock growth through new technology or introducing new skills to improve productivity in your business.

This fund works very much in the same way as the existing skills and training fund for small and micro-businesses, but allows companies that employ between 100 – 250 staff to receive further funding.

• 100 – 149 up to £15,000
• 150 – 199 up to £20,000
• 200 – 249 up to £25,000

This fund also has temporary allowances to support companies through the COVID-19 crisis.

Small and micro-sized construction businesses

Over the last 18-months, the PCA has been urging members to take full advantage of the Skills and Training Fund that CITB are offering to any levy payer with 99 PAYE staff or less. The aim of this fund is to provide direct investment to small and micro-sized construction businesses to deliver high quality learning and development experiences to employees.

This grant can provide your company with £5,000 – £10,000 and depending on how many employees the company has, they could claim for:

• 1 – 49 up to £5,000
• 50 – 74 up to £7,500
• 75 – 99 up to £10,000

From 2020, this fund supports a wider range of activities, with a greater emphasis on innovation, management and leadership training.

Many PCA members have already taken full advantage of this fund and have received the funds directly in their bank account within days/weeks – what’s not to love?! Read what PCA member South East Timber & Damp had to say here.

Responding to COVID-19

As the world faces uncertainty and disruption, CITB is working to support levy payers with major upgrades to the Skills and Training fund package. They have also made temporary changes to allow this fund to be used to improve the sustainability of your business through appropriate training, which could focus on:

• Sustaining the business
• Retaining staff
• Maintaining training, either to address immediate gaps or preserve skill levels for the longer-term
• Equipping staff with new skills to lead or manage in a different context

What can you get funding for?

So what can you get funding for?

• PCA training courses – majority of the courses that PCA offer
• PCA apprenticeship programmes – along with the funding already in place for the apprenticeship, you can also claim for the remaining amount. This means you would receive the full cost of the apprenticeship back, in funding, for every apprentice that completes the NVQ
• In-House courses – PCA can deliver courses onsite at your premises
• On-line training – CITB is offering on-line training to be included – one of the COVID-19 extensions on this grant
• CITB standardised training – see CITB’s website for further courses already registered for funding
• And so much more

PCA can help you!

If you are looking for help with putting an application together for this fund, then we can help you! Contact Jade Stocker on 01480 400000 who can assist you with your application, answer any of your questions and ensure you get the funding you’re eligible for during these difficult times – get those funds into your account in just a few weeks!

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