Plant standards and grants

On this page:

• Overview
• What's changed?
• New grant rates
• What this means for employers
• What this means for training providers
• More information

Overview

Following a review of plant grants, from 31 July 2023 we launched new plant training standards and grants. The new standards have introduced standardised plant training and testing requirements across the construction industry and will ensure safe, consistent and high-quality plant operations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. 

The first set of new standards have been developed in collaboration with industry working groups, made up of employers, providers and federations. These new standards represent a real change in the way that plant training and testing is delivered, streamlining the system and making grants more accessible.

What’s changed?

Eight new standards were introduced from 31 July 2023 relating to the following most popular categories of plant machinery. The eight standards are listed below alongside their new plant grant tier:

These new standards are supported by the grants detailed below.

New grant rates

We have introduced an “experienced” plant grant rate to support those who require training before taking a test. In order to be eligible for the grant, experienced training will have to cover all elements covered in the new training standard and is expected to be 1-2 days in length for many types of plant.

We have introduced a separate, higher “novice” grant rate for employers who are putting staff through plant training, who have never had experience in the type of machinery they are being trained in. This is to help respond to the industry’s need for more people to become highly skilled and competent plant operators.

The new grant rates are as follows:

What this means for employers

The new standards affect eight of the most commonly used plant categories. In order to be grant eligible, the training and testing for these eight categories must:

• Meet our new standards
• Lead to a card carrying the CSCS logo, and
• Be delivered by an Approved Training Organisations (ATO).

To receive grant, you must use an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) and provide your CITB registration number, so that the ATO can apply for the grant on your behalf.

Any other plant training for categories not covered by the new standards remains eligible for grant and you can find more information on how to apply on the short course grant page.

What this means for training providers

If you wish to deliver plant standards, you will need to complete a self-assessment to gain approval.

If you do not complete a self-assessment, you will be unable to submit courses or schedules to the Construction Training Directory (CTD) or achievements to the Construction Training Register (CTR).

Upon submission of your self-assessment, you will need to demonstrate and upload evidence of your approval with a Recognised Organisation (CPCS and/or NPORS) for the specific plant category that you wish to offer, along with a copy of your latest audit report from your Recognised Organisation.

Self-assessments can be found on the Recognised Product tab within your CITB Portal (ATO) and please refer to page 27 of the Approved Training organisations (ATOs): Everything you need to know - ATO Information Pack (PDF, 7.6MB)

If you are a training provider that already provides plant training on behalf of a CSCS partner card scheme, but you are not an Approved Training Provider, you can sign up to become an ATO by visiting our How to become an ATO webpage.

More information

If you need assistance to complete the self-assessment, please email quality.assurance@citb.co.uk

If you have ATO Training courses that will need moving over to the new full standards, please contact the Quality & Verification Team at quality.assurance@citb.co.uk

If you have any other queries, please contact us.