CITB training levy passes vote

Industry federations and employers have voted to back CITB-ConstructionSkills’ training levy, enabling the organisation to raise levy income from construction firms for another three years.

All thirteen of the CITB’s member industry federations backed the levy, as well as 69% of non-federated employers, which are also given a vote.

The support will come as a welcome boost to the CITB ahead of parliament’s review of the legislation enabling the levy in early 2012.

The government spared the CITB the axe in March during its “bonfire of the quangos”.

Mark Farrar, chief executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: “We are delighted to have received the support of the industry for its levy/grant system.

“We’ve put employers at the heart of our work, listened to their views and shaped our strategies to make sure we support industry at this difficult time, but we recognise that there is still much to be done.

“Economic uncertainty is still a cause for concern, and we know that next year will be tough – that’s why it’s important for us to work closely with employers and trade bodies to provide quality information, advice and guidance to increase productivity, develop the right products and services to meet current challenges and work to recruit the best and brightest talent into industry – so that we have a sustainable skills base once we emerge from the recession.

“We will continue to provide training grants for federation members to assist skills development in different parts of the industry. By investing in training now, the industry will be ready to meet future skills needs for the upturn.”