The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have a very important role to play in the industry. We may have already given away the meaning of CITB, but in today’s post we’ll look at how they support the skills and needs of the British construction sector.
There are training boards in just about every industry imaginable. A set of standards needs to be defined and adhered to, and construction is no different. So, let’s take a closer look at the mission, plans, and work of CITB.
What is CITB?
CITB is the Construction Industry Training Board for the United Kingdom. Their job is to ‘work with industry to encourage training which helps build a safe, professional and fully qualified workforce.’
As well as encouraging safe training, they help young construction workers find employment and clarify their skillset. A list of apprenticeships local to the area is a useful section of their site. Their online tools also feature a ‘qualification check’ which helps workers confirm their training certificates so far.
They also help workers find approved training providers (ATPs) local to them for any training courses they’re yet to complete.
In short, CITB aim to help the construction industry thrive and grow.
What Does CITB Do?
The primary aim of CITB is to ensure that construction workers have the appropriate skills today. Looking forward, they also plan to equip the workforce for the future with three strategic priorities: careers; standards and qualifications; and training and development.
CITB is the only industry training board in the United Kingdom. They partner with the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has a separate, but related branch.
CITB Mission and Plans
CITB work with a mission to ‘attract and support the development of people to construct a better Britain.’ Their vision is a ‘British construction industry with a recognised, world-class, innovative approach to developing its workforce to deliver quality in the built environment.’
Whilst they continue to train, plan and equip the current industry, they also have an agenda for change in the future.
Firstly, they aim to be responsive. They’ve reformed their Grants Scheme to ‘make payments easier and more accessible’. They also use their own resources to ‘support a sustainable, responsive and high-quality training and development market’.
Next, they aim to be innovative. CITB aim to listen to industry and work with them to ‘develop new and better ways’ to meet the needs of the industry.
After that, they intend to be influential. That involves creating ‘engaging, dynamic partnerships’ that builds an environment within the industry that’s beneficial to everybody. This will help organisations attract, train and retain a talented workforce.
Accountability is important too. That means that national campaigns and visible plans for future strategies will be transparent. This includes being representative.
Finally, it’s a good idea to be relevant. CITB aims to make the industry modern, changing the way that business is done. This means that the industry will also get the support that it needs.
So they’ve got enough on their plate! But how does this affect us? And where does the training come in?
How does that affect TSMC?
CITB offer a range of training courses. Not only that, they’ve developed the standards that training courses must meet.
And at The Safety Maintenance Company (TSMC), we train workers on several different CITB courses. These include any of the following:
- Health & Safety Awareness
- Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme
- Site Environmental Awareness Training Scheme
- Directors Roles for Health and Safety
- SEATS – Site environmental Awareness Training Scheme
- Temporary Works Coordinator training
- Temporary Works Supervisor training
And so many more too.
Although they offer a huge range of training courses, they can be broadly categorised into the following: Health and Safety Awareness and Site Safety Training.
Their courses will equip workers with all of the health and safety awareness they could need on site and in the office. Potential site hazards, practical safety advice and risk assessment are all key focal points on every course.
Once the course is completed, trainees will then have a new certificate and tools they need to progress within the industry. And that’s exactly what CITB are here for.
Contact our team to find out about any relevant CITB training courses happening near you soon.