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The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced a revised schedule for its Consensus process, now set to commence on 17 March 2025 and run until 9 May 2025.
This adjustment, extending the timeline by five weeks, is designed to allow for closer alignment between CITB’s 2025-29 Strategic Plan and the outcomes of the ongoing Independent Training Board (ITB) Review.
Consensus, a pivotal process for CITB, occurs every three years and invites feedback from Levy-paying employers on the organisation’s proposals for generating the Levy.
The aim is to fund skills development and training tailored to the construction industry’s evolving needs. For the upcoming 2026-29 Levy Proposals, CITB is focusing on maintaining up-to-date thresholds for Levy exemptions and reductions.
Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of CITB, emphasised the importance of transparency in the decision-making process.
“We believe it’s important that, as a body that is led and accountable to industry, we give employers a full picture of how we intend to support the industry over the life of the Strategic Plan and accompanying Levy Order,” said Balcon.
He added that the delay was necessary because the Department for Education (DfE) had not yet confirmed the publication date of the ITB Review. This uncertainty has also delayed the release of CITB’s Strategic Plan.
During Consensus, CITB will consult with a minimum of 11,000 Levy-paying employers. In 2019, nearly 30,000 employers were liable to pay the Levy, highlighting the process’s critical role in shaping the future of skills and training in the British construction sector.
The Levy remains essential to the UK construction industry’s efforts to address skill shortages and prepare the workforce for future challenges. By pushing the Consensus timeline, CITB aims to provide employers with a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of its plans and the benefits the Levy will deliver.
