CITB Skills and Training Fund
Advice for micro-sized and small construction businesses (closing 30 September 2025)
Changes to funding
We're simplifying how businesses access training funding by moving to a single route. From 30 September 2025, the Skills & Training fund will close. Employer Networks will become the single channel for further developing businesses.
Applications received in September 2025 will use new payment terms; funding will be paid when you complete your agreement.
The grants scheme will continue running to support core construction training.
Further information can be found here:
Employer Networks
Employer Networks offer bespoke, easy-to-access training and financial support. They give you a direct channel to communicate training needs and advise on how funding should be prioritised in your local area.
Join our Employer Networks to access tailored support and funding for the skills you need to succeed. Click here to find out more.
What this fund is for?
The Skills and Training Fund provides an extra incentive to access CITB grant eligible-training and supports a wide range of activities.
You can also use the money to tailor a training programme in construction or leadership and management that suits your business and the needs of your staff.
Who can apply for funding?
You’ll be eligible to apply if:
- You have up to 99 directly-employed staff (in addition to yourself/the business owner)
- You are a CITB-registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns
- Any previous project paid for by the Fund has been signed off as complete
Please note, the Skills and Training Fund will be closing on 30 September 2025 so applications must be received before this date. Applications received between 01 September and 30 September will be paid upon completion and evidence of training
How much can you apply for?
You can apply for funding related to how many direct employees you have:
- Employers with CIS only (no PAYE) can receive up to £2,500
- Employers with 1 to 49 directly-employed staff can receive up to £5,000
- Employers with 50 to 74 directly-employed staff can receive up to £7,500
- Employers with 75 to 99 directly-employed staff can receive up to £10,000.
Please note, if your application is successful, the funding amount awarded in your outcome email is the maximum available. We are unable to provide any additional funding beyond this amount.
How often can you apply?
The Skills and Training Fund will be closing on 30 September 2025 so applications must be received before this date. You can only have 1 live project at a time.
Before you apply
Make sure you have read and understood these documents:
You should also discuss your application with your local CITB Adviser. They will be happy to assist and to ensure your application form has been completed correctly.
How to apply
- Download and complete the Skills and Training Fund application form (Excel, 334KB) to apply. For guidance and support when completing your application form, watch our video guide.
- Complete all fields, saving the form regularly to prevent loss of data.
- Save and send the completed form to skills.training@citb.co.uk.
Make sure the training activity you specify takes place between now and October 2026, and not in the past. We are unable to fund retrospective activity.
Please also ensure your training provider is approved to offer the training you've chosen.
What happens next?
Assessing applications
The Skills and Training team will review and score all applications at the end of each submission window (typically at the end of each calendar month).
You should receive a decision from us by email by the end of the next calendar month after your application was submitted. For example, if you apply any time during the month of July we will aim to communicate a decision by the end of August (depending on application volumes). We would appreciate it if you do not chase a response within this period and we will inform you of the outcome as soon as possible.
Application decisions
We will review and score all applications against the Fund criteria. Applications that meet our criteria will be approved for funding.
Approved:
If your application meets the Skills and Training Fund criteria, it will be approved and processed for payment. Applications received between 01 September and 30 September will be paid upon completion and evidence of training.
Declined:
Your application may be declined if:
- Your application does not meet the Skills and Training Fund criteria or you are asking for courses or activities that are outside the Fund criteria
- You have not submitted your most recent Levy return
- You are behind on your Levy payments
We will advise you on why we have declined your application or will communicate this via your CITB Adviser. As the fund will be closing, applications cannot be resubmitted after 30 September.
Monitoring and completing training
After the funding payment has been approved you can start your training activity.
You will need to retain evidence of all invoices as you will need to submit these to CITB to demonstrate that the training has taken place.
As your funding agreement approaches its expected completion date you will receive a reminder e-mail requesting evidence of expenditure and asking you to populate a Completion tracker (Excel, 326kb).
Your collated evidence and completion tracker should be sent to skills.training@citb.co.uk within 28 days of receiving the e-mail. If you are experiencing challenges with finalising your training programme, please contact us.
What happens if circumstances change?
If your business needs to make a change to your approved training, contact skills.training@citb.co.uk as soon as possible. Please note, we’re unable to offer additional funding beyond what has already been awarded.