Plant standards and grants

On this page:

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

Overview

From 31^st July we are launching new plant training standards and grants. The new standards will introduce standardised plant training and testing requirements across the construction industry.

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 changing?

The changes will start being introduced from 31^st July. The new standards will ensure safe, consistent and high-quality plant operations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. 

The first phase of the changes will see new standards introduced for the following:

• Excavator 360, above 10 tonnes (tracked)
• Forward tipping dumper (wheeled)
• Rear tipping dumper/dump truck: articulated chassis (all sizes)
• Ride on roller
• Telescopic handler: all sizes excluding 360 slew
• Industrial forklift
• Plant and Vehicle Marshaller
• Slinger, Signaller: all types, all duties.

Alongside the new standards, the grant rates for plant training and tests will also be changed and improved. Currently, three smaller grants are available for practical test, theory test and short course training, which employers can apply in different ways. Under the new changes a single grant will be available for all CITB registered employers.

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 will have to:

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

From 31 July you will need to use an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) and provide your CITB registration number, so that the ATO can apply for the grant on your behalf. The option to apply for the grants manually will not be available for these standards.

Any other plant training that is separate from the new standards will remain eligible for grant and you will apply for the grant in the same way you currently apply.

What this means for training providers

To continue to deliver plant standards that are changing, you will need to complete a self-assessment to show how your course meets the new standard by 31^st July.

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

If you are delivering both NPORS and CPCS courses you will need to upload the evidence for both card schemes against the standard at the same time.

Self-assessments can be found on the Recognised Product tabs on the ATO menu and will be available on the portal within the next 30 days.

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.

New grant rates

For those who require some training before taking a test, CITB are introducing an “experienced” plant grant rate. 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.

A separate, higher “novice” grant rate will be available 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.

Current grant rates and the new grant rates for the eight new standards are detailed below:

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.