The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has finished rolling out its Employer Networks across Great Britain, providing a bespoke, easy-to-access training and financial support for local employers.
This CITB-funded initiative, which has been running as a pilot since 2022, aimed to ensure that funding decisions are led by employers and supported by CITB, thereby better meeting the needs of the construction industry.
It also gives employers a direct channel to communicate their training needs and advise on how funding should be prioritised and allocated in their local area. Additionally, they enable CITB to be more responsive to industry needs on both local and national levels.
Thirty-three groups of Employer Networks have now been rolled out across Great Britain due to the success of the initiative, with CITB noting that in the pilot alone, over 1,000 businesses have benefited, with 86% of employers reporting that accessing training was simpler through the Networks.
Deb Madden, executive director for Nations Engagement at CITB, said: “It’s vital we have a firm grasp of what skills are required and where they’re needed across the country. Employer Networks have proved hugely successful both for employers and CITB and we’ve now rolled out 33 across Great Britain.
“There is an increasing demand for construction work in the UK, and construction employers are clearly aware of the opportunity and the need for training, with 80% of employers indicating they plan to increase their training efforts in the future. We’re always striving to improve our services and embed a culture of quality into what we do – Employer Networks are a prime example of this and form part of a broader programme of development.”
