CITB Grants: Free Training Money That Most People Never Claim

‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​‍# S24. CITB grants - free money for training that most people don't claim

CITB grants are basically refunds on training you're already doing, funded by a levy many firms pay and then never claim back. If you're in a levy‑registered company, not using them is leaving money on the table.

1. THE SHORT VERSION (2026 PICTURE)

If your employer is registered with CITB, they can usually claim grants for approved training and qualifications, whether or not they pay the levy (but they must keep levy returns up to date).

From 1 January 2026, most achievement grants for short/long qualifications move to a flat £600 per eligible qualification; from 8 January 2026 some long‑qualification support (e.g. Level 7) stops for new starts.

This section is about how the grant system works now and what's changing, so you can nudge your boss to actually claim it.

2. HOW THE CITB LEVY AND GRANT SCHEME WORKS

Levy – where the money comes from

• The CITB levy is a statutory levy on construction employers, based on their wage bill (PAYE + certain CIS payments).
• Current/proposed rates around 0.35% of PAYE and 1.25% of net CIS payments, with the 2026 Levy Order confirming details in Spring 2026.

Grants – how it comes back

• All employers registered with CITB can apply for grants, regardless of whether they actually pay levy (small firms under thresholds still qualify).
• The Grants Scheme pays standard amounts when workers complete approved training or qualifications (and some attendance‑based grants where rules still apply).

You only get the grant if:

• Your levy return is in and up to date.
• The training/qualification is on CITB's eligible list and delivered by an approved/recognised provider or ATO, where required.

3. MAIN GRANT TYPES YOU'LL SEE

CITB is in the middle of simplifying everything into a flat structure. At a high level (as of early 2026):

Apprenticeship grants – still separate, paying staged amounts during and on completion of an approved apprenticeship. (Exact rates and rules are on CITB's apprenticeship pages, not covered in detail here.)

Short Qualification Grants – for regulated qualifications up to Level 6 (e.g. NVQs, some diplomas).

• Until 31 December 2025: enhanced rates for supervisory/management NVQs (often £1,250 for Level 3/4 and £1,500 for Level 6/7).
• From 1 January 2026: all non‑apprentice achievement grants drop to a flat £600 per eligible qualification; Level 7 senior management no longer supported for new starts.

Short Course Grant – for certain short training courses (many H&S, plant, and site courses) that meet CITB's grant criteria, generally paid per course per person.

Employer Network funding – from late 2025 onwards, the old Skills & Training Fund closes and Employer Networks become the main route for extra support:

• Networks now match‑fund around 50% of eligible course costs (down from 70%).
• There are annual caps by employer size (e.g. micro/small/medium), to keep the budget sustainable.
• Large employers will move to a different large‑employer fund from April 2026.

4. WHAT'S CHANGING FROM LATE 2025 / EARLY 2026 (AND WHY IT MATTERS)

Key changes that affect how much "free money" is on the table:

By 30 September 2025:

• The Skills & Training Fund closes to new applications; from then you rely on Employer Networks and standard grants.

Up to 31 December 2025:

• You can still get enhanced grants for supervisory/management NVQs under the Short Qualification Grant (£1,250 for Level 3/4, £1,500 for Level 6/7), if they are achieved and claimed by then and meet the "first of that type" rule.

From 1 January 2026:

• All non‑apprentice achievement grants move to a flat £600 per qualification.
• Level 7 Construction Senior Management becomes ineligible for new grant‑funded registrations, though legacy learners can still attract £600 if they started before 8 December 2025 and complete within the transition window.

From 8 January 2026:

• Some short‑course training routes to funding are removed or shifted wholly into the Employer Network model.

From 1 April 2026:

• Large employers (>249 staff) move fully to a new large employer funding offer and out of Employer Networks.
• Employer Network match‑funding percentages and caps for smaller employers tighten further to stay within budget.

Translation: grants aren't disappearing, but the "big cheques" for management NVQs and large blocks of training are shrinking. If you're close to finishing a Level 3/4/6 NVQ, getting it wrapped up and claimed before the end of 2025 is worth serious money.

5. HOW AN EMPLOYER ACTUALLY CLAIMS A GRANT

Most construction workers never see this, so it feels like magic. In reality, it's a few admin steps your employer or training provider has to do:

1. Register with CITB (if not already) and submit the annual levy return on time – even if the calculated levy is £0. Miss the return deadlines and grants can be withheld entirely until it's sorted.

2. Use CITB‑approved courses/qualifications For grants, training usually must be on CITB's grant‑eligible list and, for some things, delivered by an Approved Training Organisation (ATO).

3. Keep records of who did what and when CITB can ask for evidence – certificates, attendance records, achievement dates.

4. Submit the grant claim Often done online by the employer or automatically by some ATOs/NVQ centres, where they send completion data straight to CITB.

5. Grant paid to the employer It lands in the company's bank account, not the individual's. What difference that makes to your own training budget/salary is down to your company.

6. WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU AS A WORKER OR SMALL FIRM

Most small and medium contractors either:

• Don't know what they can claim; or
• Haven't got time/headspace to deal with the admin.

That's why a lot of levy money never finds its way back into actual training.

If you're on the tools or running a small outfit, this matters because:

• Grants can part‑fund your NVQ, SMSTS, SSSTS, H&S, plant tickets, etc.
• A £600 grant off a qualification, or Employer Network match‑funding off a course, is often the difference between "maybe later" and "let's book it now".
• You don't claim grants personally, but you can push the conversation and make it easier for your boss to say yes.

7. QUICK CHECKLIST – HOW TO UNLOCK "FREE MONEY" FOR TRAINING

If you're an employee:

• Ask "Are we registered with CITB, and do we claim grants?" – many small firms are registered but don't use the scheme.
• When you talk about doing an NVQ or site course, ask "Is this CITB‑grant eligible?" and show your employer CITB's grant pages.
• If you're already doing a Level 3/4/6 NVQ, ask whether it can be completed and claimed before the end of 2025 to catch the higher grant.

If you're an employer (or thinking like one):

• Make sure your levy return is in by 30 June each year; late returns can block grant payments.
• Check the CITB Grants Scheme pages for what you can claim this year (short courses, short qualifications, apprenticeships).
• Look at your training plan:
  • Which NVQs/quals can you pull forward to finish by 31 Dec 2025?
  • Which courses can you run through an Employer Network for match‑funding?

TEMPLATE EMAIL: ASKING YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT CITB GRANTS

Guide only - adapt before sending.

Subject: Using CITB grants to help fund my training

Hi [NAME],

I've been looking at how CITB's levy and grant scheme works and it looks like we might be able to get grant money back for training I'm keen to do, instead of the business carrying the full cost.

From what CITB say:

• Any employer that's registered with CITB (even if they don't pay much/any levy) can claim standard grants for eligible training and qualifications, as long as the annual levy return is up to date.
• From 1 January 2026, most non‑apprenticeship qualifications attract a flat £600 grant each, and there's still grant support for short courses and apprenticeships.
• Up to 31 December 2025, some supervisory/management NVQs still have higher grants, so if we can finish/claim before then it's worth more.

I'd like to work towards:

• Course/qualification: [e.g. NVQ Level 3 Occupational Work Supervision / NVQ Level 6 Construction Site Management / SSSTS / SMSTS / specific plant ticket]
• Provider (if known): [Name / link]

Would you be open to:

1. Checking whether we're CITB‑registered and up to date on levy returns, and
2. Asking the training provider or looking on the CITB site to confirm this course/qualification is grant‑eligible, and roughly how much we could claim back?

If it is eligible, the grant + any Employer Network funding could cover a decent chunk of the cost, which helps both the business and me – you get a better‑qualified member of the team, partly funded by money we're already entitled to.

I'm happy to do some of the legwork (finding a CITB Approved Training Organisation, checking dates, etc.) if that helps.

Thanks, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ROLE]

WHAT TO DO NEXT

• Ask your employer whether they are registered with CITB and whether they claim training grants.
• Check the CITB Grants Scheme pages for which courses and qualifications are currently eligible.
• If you are doing or planning an NVQ, find out whether the grant can be claimed before rates drop further.
• Use the template email in this guide to start the conversation with your employer.
• If you run your own business, make sure your levy return is submitted on time so grants are not blocked.

SOURCES

• Industrial Training Act 1982 (CITB levy powers). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/10
• CITB - Grants Scheme rules and rates. https://www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-funding/

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