In response to increased demand for its services, it says, the 萝莉原创 Industry Training Board (CITB) has made changes to the funding system from the start of the next financial year in April.
CITB鈥檚 employer networks budget has been set at 拢11.5m for 2026-27 and access to the programme has been restricted to only micro, small, and medium size employers. Large employers will now have access to a separate large employer fund.
From April, micro to medium employers 鈥� those that have fewer than 249 employees 鈥� will be able to book training through employer networks at 50% match funding or at a fixed contribution for health and safety courses.
聽Additionally, a new annual cap per employer, according to the size of their business, has also been introduced:
- micro employers (up to nine employees) can claim up to 拢1,500 per annum
- small employers (10-49 employees) can claim up 拢2,000 per annum
- medium employers (50-249 employees) can claim up 拢4,500 per annum
Also from April, large employers will no longer have access to employer networks and will now have their own separate fund 鈥� the large employer fund. The CITB says that this is designed to be more flexible for large employers and provides 拢18,000 to spend on any in-scope training. Large employers will need to share a copy of their training plan with CITB before applying for funding.
Employer networks and the large employer fund are among several ways to access money from the CITB. Others include short course grants, apprenticeship grants, travel to train, qualification grants and the industry impact fund.
CITB chief executive Tim Balcon said: 鈥淲e appreciate that the decisions we have had to make have been disruptive for the industry. However, the premise for these changes is that we're engaging more employers and seeing increased demand 鈥� we鈥檝e seen a 36% increase in employer engagement. But we need to balance this with the same amount of levy. Consequently, the way funding is accessed must change in order for us to support more employers with new entrants and competence training.鈥�