More than 220 firms across Great Britain have successfully bid for the Construction Industry Training Board’s new Skills and Training Fund.
The fund offers small and micro firms a cash injection of up to £5,000 for staff training. It was introduced in September last year as part of the Investment Funding Review, which is changing the way CITB funds training.
More than 90% of firms that have applied have been successful. Here’s how some firms have invested the money:
1. Creating new business opportunities
York-based civil engineering firm, Insitu Technical Services, received £5,000 to qualify its team with Personal Track Safety certificates to overcome the access restrictions they currently face when investigating and repairing drains. This will open up greater opportunities for work and drive its business into new market areas.
2. Upskilling the workforce
Torquay firm Skippy Construction, which specialises in site preparation, received £4,200 to upskill and qualify its workers with NVQs and accredited street works qualifications.
3. Providing specialist training
Welsh roofer, Rowlands Roofing, put the £5,000 from CITB towards sending its apprentices on a specialist training course in lead welding and pitched roofing.
4. Improving customer services
North Yorkshire-based Robinson Construction, a concrete pump hire firm that had never bid for CITB funding before, received more than £4,000 to upskill its team using CPCS and NVQs. This will help it improve its customer service.
5. Training for the future
W L Straughan & Son, an outdoor maintenance and landscaping firm based in Northumberland, received £4,633 from CITB. The company’s director is nearing retirement so the money will support a succession planning training programme for staff to learn how to successfully take over the business.
6. Innovation training
Education furniture specialist Sangwin, from Hull, received £5,000 to provide an introductory Building Information Modelling (BIM) course for 35 staff. The course will provide everyone with an understanding of what BIM is, the drivers for its implementation and the benefits it can offer to construction workers.
The next round of applications for the Skills and Training Fund opens on 18 October. To find out more visit: http://www.citb.co.uk/funding/flexible-and-structured/
