Funding

There are a number of places access funding to support construction training. Below are some of the key sources, and members of the Concrete Frame Training Forum (CFTF)Training Concrete Frame Training Forum (CFTF) can receive support from us, both for us to help apply for funding, as well as funds we provide directly. 

In this section you will find information on:

Apprenticeship Funding

Funding for apprenticeships can come from government and CITB. Government funding is set in each of the UK home nations, and qualifications/apprenticeship standards vary between them too. 

England

In England, government and employers make a contribution to the cost of the training with a provider, such as at a Further Education College. Small employers will need to pay 5% of the cost of training the apprentice, and the government will pay the remaining 95%. 

Larger employers will be paying a government apprenticeship levy, for which they get ‘vouchers’ that they can put towards the cost of the apprenticeship, and therefore have to make no further contribution. If you use up all our vouchers, then the same funding rules that apply for smaller employers will apply to the larger companies. 

Each Apprenticeship Standard is ‘banded’ by the government for funding purposes. This amount is the maximum that is can be funded by the government. Training providers can set their own costs for delivering apprenticeships, but normally they try to align it with the funding band. However, if a provider is charging more, the employer must make up the shortfall. You can see the Apprenticeship Standards most relevant to our industry on our Apprenticeships Page. 

You can see more information on England’s funding for apprenticeships, including the Levy here.

The government also provide incentive grants to employers to take on apprentices during COVID-19. Employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 will receive a payment of:

  • £2,000 for apprentices aged 16 to 24
  • £1,500 for apprentices aged 25 and over

You’ll get the payment in 2 equal instalments. You’ll receive 50% after the apprentice completes 90 days of their apprenticeship and the remaining 50% after the apprentice completes 365 days. To receive the full payment, the apprenticeship must last for at least one year. See more here.

Scotland

The full cost of apprenticeships is paid for by the Scottish government, however, the Apprenticeship Levy is a UK government policy, and large employers will still be required to pay it. They do not get vouchers like their counterparts in England, the funding is distributed directly to the Scottish Government.  

You can see more information on Scotland’s funding of apprenticeships here.

Wales

The full cost of apprenticeships is paid for by the Welsh government, however, the Apprenticeship Levy is a UK government policy, and large employers will still be required to pay it. They do not get vouchers like their counterparts in England, the funding is distributed directly to the Welsh Government.  

You can see more information on Wales’ funding for apprenticeships here. 

CITB Funding (UK-Wide)

CITB provides funding to support employers with costs outside of the fees for the training itself. These grants are claimed directly by employers for attendance and achievement. A two-year apprentice can expect in the region of £8,000 and 3 year over £10,000. His can help support wage costs, or internal mentoring and training for the apprentice. These grants are available for any employer in the UK registered and in-scope of CITB. TO see the latest grant rates, visit the CITB Website.

CITB have also introduced an additional grant when employers take on an apprentice through COVID-19. The grant is £500 for each new apprentice taken on from 1 August 2019 to 31 August 2020.

Short Duration Training Grants

CITB Grant Scheme

CITB provides grant for short duration training, such as courses that last a day or more, and do not lead to a qualification achievement. 

These are predominately linked to Training Standards, which are developed by industry and approved, with a grant amount attached to them. 

The Concrete Frame Training Forum (CFTF) plays a central role in the development of new training standards for the concrete structures industry, and also runs courses that attract these grants. 

Standard Grant Rates are usually £30, £70 or £120, depending on the assessed length or cost of delivery of the course. 

If the provide you use is also an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) they will normally process these grants on your behalf, which are paid directly into your bank account. It is important to make sure you give the ATO your CITB Registration Number when booking, and also giving to your delegates when they attend a course. ATOs should process the grant within 10 days of the course date, and employers should check their CITB account to ensure it is processed. 

If an ATO does not process the grant as they should, you can still claim through your online CITB account manually. Usually, you must do this within 20 weeks of the course taking place. 

If the training you have undertaken has a Training Standard, but is being delivered by a provider that is not an ATO, you must claim for this grant manually. In time, CITB’s ambition is to only allow grants to be paid when the training is delivered by an ATO to ensure the quality of the training. However, with insufficient providers accredited as ATOs to date, this is not current policy. 

If you are unsure if your training is eligible for grant, you can contact training@construct.org.uk   

CFTF Grants

The Concrete Frame Training Forum (CFTF) applied for funding from external bodies such as CITB that provide additional support for our members. 

In 2019/20 CITB grant year, we claimed an additional £63,000 for members to support their short-duration training. We also have a pot of £25,000 for members to access in the current 2020/21 grant year. 

Our current funds can top-up the cost of the training over and above the CITB standard grant scheme. For example, if a training course costs £100, and CITB provide £30 grant for the course as it has a training standard, then the remaining £70 could be funded by CFTF. 

Currently, each concrete contractor member can claim up to £1,000 additional funding from CFTF and if you have more than 100 PAYE employees, we can provide 50% grant for any training costs over and above the CITB grant, up to the £1,000 ceiling. 

Skills & Training Fund

CITB’s Skills and Training Fund allows employers to access additional grant to support the specific training they need. Funding can range from £5,000 up to £25,000 per year, depending on the number of employees you have.

Small companies, with less than 100 PAYE staff, can secure funding to support any training that is on the training directory, or for training that is outside of the normal CITB grant scheme, if they can make the business case for it. 

Larger companies will need to fund ‘new’ training, (i.e. the company has never delivered it before). 

You can download our guide to the fund and find more information on the CITB Website. 

Other Funding Sources 

Other sources of funding can be found locally, which may include the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, regional bodies such as the Greater London Assembly or the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, or local council authorities. 

Companies should check with the relevant authorities in the area in which you operate (this could be where your head office is located or where your sites are based) to see if suitable funding is available. 

If you would like help finding funding for a specific training project, CFTF may be able to help you funding appropriate funding sources. Please contact training@construct.org.uk