CITB calls for innovators to capitalise on £500k funding 

Employers’ ideas must be new and innovative, not previously supported by CITB, as well as scalable.  

CITB is seeking ideas that enable shared knowledge and resources across the industry and are sustainable past the period of funding. 

A key requirement for applications is that the idea should propose and develop solutions on how to enhance at least one of the following areas: 

• Productivity – to improve the efficiency and effectiveness across the supply chain. This could be implementing new training methods, improving communication and collaboration among teams, or streamlining workflows to increase outputs. 
• Equality – to ensure that all workers are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. 
• Diversity – to secure the presence of different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds among the construction workforces. 
• Inclusion – to create a work environment that is supportive and welcoming of all workers by promoting open communication between colleagues, fostering a sense of belonging and creating policies and good practices that ensure workers feel valued and respected. 

Empowering employers

Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said: “This new fund is a fantastic opportunity to empower employers, enabling them to have a greater say in how they train and build on their skills. It has the potential to have a huge impact and I’m really looking forward to seeing the range of ideas come through. 

“We know an additional 225,000 workers are expected to be required by 2027, which is why the fund has carefully selected areas, based on research, that will support construction’s people pipeline.  

“If you have an idea that you think might meet the criteria, please do get in touch with your local adviser to discuss this further.” 

Applicants that meet the criteria may be invited to attend a CITB panel meeting to discuss their ideas in more detail.  

For applications seeking funding exceeding £250,000, there will be an opportunity to present ideas in a Dragon’s Den style pitch.