Grants Scheme terms and conditions

The objective of CITB’s Grants Scheme is to meet skills demand and address and prevent skills gaps.  The Grants Scheme is funded by Industry through the CITB Levy and we aim to ensure that these funds are invested well to meet Industry needs.

There is a high demand for grant and in order to meet the objective of the Grants Scheme, all applications will be assessed against our policies set out in both:

• these Grants Scheme terms and conditions; and
• the requirements specific to each grant type – Short course grants, Qualification grants, Travel to Train - Apprenticeship travel and accommodation grant and Apprenticeship grants

CITB’s Grants Scheme year runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 (“Grants Scheme Year”).

• All applications for grant must be for training that has been attended and/or achieved during the Grants Scheme Year and must be submitted in accordance with these Grants Scheme terms and conditions and the requirements specific to each grant type, which are available on CITB’s website.
• For the Grants Scheme to operate effectively CITB must anticipate and accurately forecast the likely call of the Grants Scheme on Levy in the Grants Scheme Year. There is a direct correlation between the amount of Levy paid by the Industry and the amount of grant made available in any Grants Scheme Year. As this amount is determined annually, applications for grant will be considered only in relation to the overall amount of Levy received from the Industry.
• To deliver and maintain the reliability of CITB’s annual forecast, CITB will not accommodate grant applications for earlier Grants Scheme Years. Applications for training undertaken outside of the Grants Scheme Year (retrospective grant applications) or after the relevant deadline specific to each grant type will not be considered, save for in exceptional circumstances at CITB’s sole discretion.
• The grant rates which CITB propose to pay are those rates shown within the requirements specific to each grant type. CITB may, at its sole discretion, at any time and for whatever reason reduce or increase these rates without notice.
• All CITB grants are discretionary in nature and any indication that grant is available or an agreement to pay may be withdrawn at any time. These Grants Scheme terms and conditions and the requirements specific to each grant type set out the principles and criteria on which grant may be available, they are not intended to be and nor will they form a contractual offer or a contract between CITB and the Employer.
• CITB may at any time withdraw the Grants Scheme in its entirety or revise one or both of the Grants Scheme terms and conditions and/or the specific requirements of each grant type in whole or in part, without notice.
• CITB’s decision is final on all matters concerning the interpretation of the Grants Scheme.

Subject to the following, employers in the construction industry registered with CITB (“Employers”) are entitled to apply for grant within the Grants Scheme Year in which they are first registered. This eligibility to access the Grants Scheme extends to Employers who are not required to pay the Levy by virtue of the applicable Small Business Levy exemption in the Grants Scheme Year in which the application is submitted.

4.1 Newly registered employers

• Employers newly registered with CITB during the Grants Scheme Year may apply for apprenticeship grants for the 12-month period prior to the Employer’s registration date and all other grants from the date of registration.

4.2 Submission of Levy Returns and Payment of Levy

• CITB operates on the basis of No Levy, No Grant meaning that without exception Employers must complete and submit all Levy Return(s) in accordance with the dates set out below AND where applicable pay, or have Direct Debit arrangements in place to pay, any and all bona fide Levy Assessment before grant payments are released. Non-compliance with this requirement will result in grants being blocked within the relevant Grants Scheme Year until Levy payment is made or withdrawn if Levy payment is not received at the end of the Grants Scheme Year.
• Employers whose grant application has been approved, who have paid any Levy Assessment due and who have completed and submitted their 2021 Levy Return (together with any other outstanding Levy Returns) prior to the start of the Grants Scheme Year on 1 April 2022, are eligible to receive grant.
• In May, the 2022 Levy Return is issued and this must be completed by the Employer and received by CITB before 30 June 2022 in order for the Employer to be eligible to receive / continue to receive grant. Failure to comply with this date will again result in all grant payments being blocked until the Levy Return has been received by CITB. Should an Employer’s 2022 Levy Return remain outstanding on 30 November 2022 all grant payments for the Grants Scheme Year are withdrawn.

An Employer is able to apply for grants in respect of construction industry related training undertaken by:

• directly employed staff (including apprentices) on the payroll;
• sub-contractors (both net and gross-paid); and
• sole traders and partnerships.

provided they are working at the time of the training for the Employer making the application and that CITB grant support has not already been received for the particular training/qualification.

An Employer may authorise third party training providers and/or colleges providing services to the Employer to complete a grant application on their behalf. Where the Employer so authorises, the responsibility to ensure that applications are made in accordance with these Grants Scheme terms and conditions and to repay any grants received as a result of an error by the third party remains with the Employer.

To apply for grant, applicants should visit CITB’s website. The requirements specific to each grant type should be checked prior to submitting an application as some grants operate restrictions.

Grants are available for:

• apprenticeships (attendance and achievement)
• travel and accommodation for eligible apprentices (Travel to Train – Apprenticeship travel and accommodation grant)
• training courses (achievement)
• qualifications (attendance and achievement)

Only training directly related to the construction industry and listed on CITB’s website qualifies for grant. These training programmes, which include health and safety courses and non-construction related training such as management and supervisory courses specifically tailored for the construction industry, have been approved because they meet industry agreed standards; are priority areas for grant funding; and align with the Industrial Training legislation. If a course or qualification is not listed on our website use the relevant form to submit it for evaluation.

Eligibility for apprenticeships grant is subject to compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, regulations and codes relating to apprenticeships in addition to the current Apprenticeship Rules, Standards, Specifications and Guidance applicable in England, Scotland or Wales.

7.1 England

The design of English apprenticeship frameworks (including Higher apprenticeships) are governed by the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) and must be delivered in accordance with the current Apprenticeship Funding Rules.

The design and delivery of English Apprenticeship Standards (Trailblazers) can be found at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Guidance documentation is available at Institute for Apprenticeships website.

7.2 Wales

Welsh apprenticeship frameworks (including Higher apprenticeships) are governed by The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for Wales (SASW).

7.3 Scotland

Scottish Modern and Higher Apprenticeship frameworks are governed by the Guidance and Proposal Template and Scottish Graduate Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship, Higher and Graduate Apprenticeship Grants in all three nations are restricted to PAYE staff only due to the long-term nature of the training to ensure a stable pattern of employment throughout the programme.

If an apprentice changes Employer during their apprenticeship, attendance and achievement grants will be paid pro-rata according to the proportion of the total training package completed with each Employer.

For the avoidance of doubt, CITB reserves the right to only grant fund apprenticeship training models that it considers, at its sole discretion, provide the appropriate level of quality to individuals and Industry, in terms of content, duration of training and where the intention is for the apprentice to acquire substantive/significant new skills.

Any apprenticeship delivery models that aim to qualify for CITB grants, but deviate from the standard Government Apprenticeship Models in the three nations (whereby all training is delivered within an apprenticeship whilst the apprentice is in continuous employment), should be submitted in advance to CITB for consideration as to whether they qualify for grant. Failure to do so may result in grant applications being rejected.

CITB reserves the right to exclude any applications for reimbursement of transport and accommodation costs that CITB considers, at its sole discretion, to be excessive.

• CITB will only reimburse travel costs for standard class travel.
• Any applications for reimbursement of travel costs which exceed £750 per apprentice over a three month period will be referred to a CITB Senior Manager for exceptional authorisation.
• Applications must not be submitted where other external funding is available to support travel and accommodation costs for apprentices. Any application submitted where other external funding is available to support travel and accommodation costs will be rejected by CITB.
• The Employer accepts full responsibility for their apprentice and such responsibility includes, but is not limited to, conducting the necessary due diligence to ensure private vehicles for work and training purposes have in place valid insurance and MOT certification. For the avoidance of doubt, CITB shall bear no cost in respect of these responsibilities.
• The Employer must bear the full cost associated with any cancellations / no-shows at accommodation or any costs arising from additional charges made by the accommodation provider (e.g. room service, breakages etc).
• The application for the apprentice’s reimbursement of travel costs must be submitted by the Employer.
• The Employer will be required to adhere to (and to ensure that the eligible apprentice adheres to) the CITB Code of Conduct for Apprentices in Accommodation.
• CITB will only pay for accommodation where the apprentice abides by CITB’s Code of Conduct (PDF, 214KB). Where this is not met, we do not reimburse any accommodation costs and will refuse any future applications for that apprentice.

CITB shall pay grants in accordance with the requirements specific to each grant type set out on CITB’s website. Time for payment is not of the essence and CITB reserves it right to make payment as and when Grants Scheme funds are available.

CITB may at its sole discretion, at any time, and for whatever reason, including in exceptional circumstances such as a decrease in statutory Levy income, reduce grant payments and/or rates proportionally or withdraw them completely. In this instance, CITB shall use reasonable endeavours to inform Employers of these changes.

Grant payments may be reduced, withheld or reclaimed, for example if CITB is not satisfied that adequate training has been given or that individuals for whom grant is applied for are not employed by the Employer to whom the grant application relates. CITB will reclaim (and take appropriate action) for any grant issued as a result of deliberate manipulation, falsification of records or fraud.

The Employer agrees to promptly repay to CITB any money incorrectly paid to them either as a result of an administrative error or otherwise. This includes (without limitation) situations where either an incorrect sum of money has been paid or where funds have been paid in error where terms and conditions have not been met.

Any overpayment of grant or grant found to be paid in error for any reason by CITB, shall be repayable immediately on demand.

9.1 Payments excluding Travel to Train – Apprenticeship travel and accommodation

Confirmation of an approved grant application will be through an Employer’s Online Account Portal and/or remittance advice only. For the avoidance of doubt, any other confirmation will not be valid or recognised by CITB.

As already mentioned, CITB’s Grants Scheme is discretionary in nature and funded by Industry through the CITB Levy. CITB’s current financial operating system automatically sets off grant against any outstanding Levy liability. When the current system is replaced, grant payments will no longer be set off against Levy liability, except in exceptional circumstances at CITB’s sole discretion.

Shared Services Connected Limited on behalf of CITB is authorised to continue to set off grant against outstanding Levy debt while it continues to use CITB’s current financial operating system but shall cease to set off grant against outstanding Levy debt when this system is replaced.

Employers must complete and submit all Levy Returns in accordance with the deadlines and pay or have Direct Debit arrangements in place to pay, all outstanding Levy before any grant shall be released for payment.

Grant payments for training lasting more than 12 months will follow the rates for each Grants Scheme Year with the exception of apprenticeships which use rates fixed from the year in which the apprenticeship began.

Grant payments shall be paid to the Employer’s nominated bank account via Bacs Direct Credit, regardless of whether an application is submitted by an Employer or third party. It is the Employer’s responsibility to update CITB of any changes to their bank account details.

9.2 Payments for Travel to Train – Apprenticeship travel and accommodation

CITB requires a copy of all the relevant evidence of travel, accommodation and attendance covering the period of the application. Such evidence includes, but is not limited to, train tickets, screenshots of bookings made via an App, booking confirmations emails or documents and college timetables.

Submission of travel and/or accommodation applications does not guarantee approval and any rejections will be notified to the Employer.

The Employer will reimburse any charges, costs and expenses arising as a consequence of a breach of the CITB Code of Conduct for Apprentices in Accommodation.

Payments for travel and accommodation shall be paid to the Employer’s nominated bank account via Bacs Direct Credit. It is the Employer’s responsibility to update CITB of any changes to their bank account details.

Employers shall keep and maintain for 3 years from the end of the tax year to which they relate, full and accurate records of grant applications including:

• proof the Employer identified the need for training, organised the training and accepted the cost of the training and proof of payment for the training (where applicable);
• payroll records for all employees including relevant Full Payment Submissions (FPS), P60s, P11s;
• payment records for all subcontractors including relevant CIS300 documentation, online contractor monthly returns and invoices;
• evidence of training which has taken or is taking place (e.g. attendance records and certificates of achievement).

Further evidence may be required to support an application for some types of grant and Employers should check the requirements specific to each grant type prior to submitting an application.

Employers shall afford CITB, its representatives and auditors such access to those records as may be required in connection with these terms and conditions and section 6 of the Industrial Training Act 1982. Employers who fail to comply shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine.

The information provided to CITB (“the Information”) will be collected and processed for the purpose of administering the Grants which also enables CITB to fulfil its statutory functions (and purposes incidental to those functions) as set out in the Industrial Training Act 1982. The Information will be held securely and will not be disclosed to third parties other than as described above and in accordance with the CITB Privacy Notice.

For further information explaining the data subject’s rights and how the Information may be used by CITB, please refer to the CITB Privacy Notice.

CITB reserves the right to reject any application for grant that in its opinion does not meet these Grants Scheme terms and conditions or the requirements specific to each grant type or does not meet or further the statutory or charitable functions of CITB.

You can appeal if your application for grant is rejected. Our Grants Scheme Team will consider your appeal and notify you of the outcome within the time period set out in the Grants Scheme Appeal Policy. 

Appeal by email or letter only with supporting evidence to:

grantsscheme.appeals@citb.co.uk

or

Grants Scheme Team
CITB Box 30
C/O SSCL
Phoenix House
Newport
NP10 8FZ

Read more about CITB's appeal policy