In this update I’m pleased to share information from our new performance report. You’ll also find news of our work on training, skills and investment across the nations during the first quarter of the financial year.
Big rise in apprenticeship starts
Our latest performance report tracks progress on our 2022-23 Business Plan targets. It shows:
• 28,980 learners starting an apprenticeship
• 32% year-on-year increase in use of the Go Construct site
• 3% increase in the number of employers accessing our
training support. Over 480 SMEs and 42 medium-sized
companies have upskilled their workforce via the
Skills and Training Fund.
We have a lot of work to do in the coming year, but this is a promising start
Saving money for new ATO providers
CITB is encouraging new providers to become Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) by waiving the £750 joining fee. The waiver follows the launch of our Leadership and Management Grant, which offers a £70 grant for each short standard achieved through an ATO.
Net zero action plan
In Spring I spoke about skills and productivity at conferences hosted by EU Skills, the British Association of Construction Heads and at the Construction Productivity Conference. The first meeting of the Skills for Sustainability Skyline Taskforce I’m part of, took place in May.
In September, to meet Government ambitions, we will publish a net zero action plan and, over time, ensure standards reflect changing skill needs.
Across the nations
• In June we announced a £3m investment into Scottish construction to help new entrants and increase job retention. We also awarded The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce £280,000 to inspire young people through Construction Work Tasters.
• In May CITB Wales held a “Meet the Employer” event at HMP Berwyn. Over 50 men from the prison learnt about interviews and potential job offers from local employers.
Finally, since my last update my blogs have looked at Making training work
and our new Construction Skills Network forecast in Construction’s biggest challenge.