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The UK government has launched a consultation on proposals to merge the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) into a single organisation.
The consultation opened today (23 March) and will run until 14 June 2026, covering England, Scotland and Wales. If approved, the move would create one Industry Training Board responsible for skills, training and workforce planning across both construction and engineering construction.
Ministers say the current system is not keeping pace with demand. Both sectors are facing long-term skills shortages, an ageing workforce and growing pressure from major housing, infrastructure and energy programmes.
Construction alone employs around 2.6 million people across Great Britain, but demand for labour is expected to rise significantly over the coming years. At the same time, many employers continue to report difficulties recruiting workers with the right skills.
The proposal would bring the two existing training boards together under a single structure. The new body would manage levy funding, oversee training provision and work more closely with employers on workforce planning. It would also take on a broader role in analysing labour market data and forecasting future skills needs.
The government says combining the two organisations would reduce duplication and allow resources to be used more efficiently. It also believes a unified board could improve access to training, support the transfer of skills between sectors and give the industry a stronger voice in discussions with government.
Under the plans, CITB and ECITB would continue to operate as normal during any transition. Existing levy arrangements and training support would remain in place until a new structure is agreed.
If the proposal goes ahead, the new body is expected to be established in early 2028.
The consultation also acknowledges potential risks. These include the cost of merging the organisations, the possibility that some sectors may have less influence than they do under the current system, and the challenge of balancing different priorities within a single strategy.
Industry stakeholders are now being asked whether they support the creation of a single training board and what the potential benefits and risks could be. The consultation also seeks views on whether the scope of levy-paying employers should be expanded and whether the current three-year levy cycle should be extended.
The proposal follows a wider review of Industry Training Boards, which concluded that while both CITB and ECITB deliver value, the current model is not achieving the level of impact needed to meet future workforce demands.
To take part in the consultation click here
