The extra cash, which comes from an increase in the annual levy from construction firms announced last month, will be spent on recruiting school leavers and older trainees, funding on-the-job experience and on-site training.
CITB chief executive Peter Lobban said the move was a response to industry requests for help with training needs. He said: "These measures will help employers to recruit and retain workers more easily and so reduce skills shortages." The sum includes an extra £2.5m for the youth new entrant training grant. Grants for first-year trainees will be increased by 50%, as have grants for those reaching construction-related NVQ level 3.
The adult new entrant training grant, aimed at workers in their 20s and 30s, has also doubled. Each recruit will now receive £50 per day instead of £25, or up to £5500 per person over two years, for every day they have off-site training.
