Has CITB stopped funding all training courses?

No. CITB has not stopped all training funding. Only the Employer Networks budget is fully committed for the current financial year (ending 31 March 2026). The standard CITB Grants Scheme remains active and continues to fund courses including SMSTS, SSSTS, NVQs, apprenticeships, plant training, and scaffolding qualifications.

Can I still book CITB-funded training?

Yes. You can still book training that takes place after 1 April 2026 through Employer Networks, and any training already booked before 20 February will continue as planned. Separately, CITB grants for courses like SMSTS, SSSTS, and NVQs remain available throughout the year.

What is the difference between CITB Employer Networks and CITB Grants?

CITB Employer Networks is a budget-led initiative that provides funded training places to employers. The CITB Grants Scheme is a separate programme where levy-registered employers can claim grants after completing eligible training courses such as SMSTS, SSSTS, NVQs, and health and safety qualifications. The two programmes operate independently.

When can I book Employer Networks training again?

You can book Employer Networks training for courses taking place from 1 April 2026 onwards. The budget freeze only affects new bookings for training between 20 February and 31 March 2026.

How much are CITB grants for SMSTS and SSSTS in 2026?

As of January 2026, CITB short-duration training grants for SMSTS courses are £115 per delegate (reduced from £240 under the previous scheme). SSSTS grants are also available. Employers must be registered with CITB and paying the levy to claim.

CITB Employer Networks Budget Update 2026

When You Book Multiple Courses.

On 25 February 2026, CITB published a statement addressing widespread confusion about its training funding. Headlines had been circulating suggesting that CITB had stopped all training bookings and run out of money — but that is not what has happened.

Here is what has actually changed, what it means for employers booking construction training, and what you need to do next.

What Has CITB Actually Announced?

CITB has confirmed that the Employer Networks budget for the 2025/26 financial year is now fully committed. This is a specific, budget-led initiative — and because uptake was significantly higher than expected this year, the allocated funding has been used up earlier than planned.

As a result, CITB cannot accept new Employer Networks bookings for training taking place between 20 February and 31 March 2026.

However, there are three important points that the headlines have missed:

Training already booked before 20 February will go ahead as planned — nothing is being cancelled.
Training from 1 April onwards can still be booked through Employer Networks right now.
The CITB Grants Scheme is completely separate and remains fully operational. Employers can still claim grants for eligible courses including SMSTS, SSSTS, NVQ qualifications, apprenticeships, plant training, and scaffolding courses.

In short: CITB has not stopped funding training. One specific budget line is fully allocated five weeks early — which CITB itself describes as a positive sign that more employers than ever are investing in workforce development.

Employer Networks vs CITB Grants — What Is the Difference?

This is where much of the confusion comes from, so it is worth setting out clearly.

CITB Employer Networks is a funded programme that provides training places directly to employers. It operates on a fixed annual budget, and once that budget is committed, no new bookings can be accepted until the next financial year begins on 1 April.

The CITB Grants Scheme is an entirely separate programme. It works on a claim-back model: levy-registered employers book and pay for eligible training, then claim a grant from CITB afterwards. This scheme continues to operate normally and is not affected by the Employer Networks budget situation.

If your company is registered with CITB and paying the construction industry levy, you can still claim grants for a wide range of courses. These include CITB-approved courses such as:

SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) — grant of £115 per delegate
SSSTS (Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme)
SMSTS Refresher and SSSTS Refresher courses
NVQ Level 6 and NVQ Level 7 qualifications — grant of £600 per candidate
CITB SEATS and Health & Safety Awareness
Directors’ Role for Health and Safety
Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) and Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) courses

If you are unsure whether your company is eligible to claim grants, or need help understanding the new grant rates that came into effect on 8 January 2026, our team can walk you through it. Call us on 01245 379 496.

What Changed on 8 January 2026?

It is worth noting that this Employer Networks announcement follows a broader restructuring of CITB’s funding model that took effect on 8 January 2026. Under the new grant structure:

SMSTS grants dropped from £240 to £115 per delegate
NVQ grants are now a flat £600 regardless of qualification level (previously, higher-level NVQs attracted larger grants)
A new simplified claiming process has been introduced

These changes apply to all training completed from 8 January onwards. If you have delegates booked onto SMSTS courses or SSSTS courses in the coming weeks, the new grant rates will apply when you submit your claim.

The January changes and the Employer Networks budget freeze are separate developments, but together they represent the biggest shift in construction training funding in recent years. Employers who stay informed and plan ahead will be best placed to maximise the support available to them.

What About CITB’s Financial Reserves?

CITB’s statement also addressed reports about its financial reserves. According to their Annual Report published in December 2025, CITB held reserves of £78.9 million as of March 2025.

CITB has clarified that as a registered charity and Arm’s-Length Body, it is required to maintain minimum reserves of £50 million, and it expects to be close to that floor by 31 March 2026. This means the majority of its reserves have been actively deployed to fund training and support programmes over the course of the year — not sitting unused.

What Should Employers Do Now?

If you have training needs between now and the end of March, here is what we recommend:

1. Check your existing bookings. Any Employer Networks training already confirmed before 20 February will proceed as normal. If you have bookings in the system, you do not need to do anything.

2. Book training for April onwards now. If you were planning to use Employer Networks funding, you can still book for courses taking place from 1 April 2026. Get your bookings in early to secure your preferred dates — demand is clearly high this year.

3. Use the CITB Grants Scheme. If you need training to happen before April and Employer Networks is not available, you can still book courses and claim grants through the standard scheme. This includes all SMSTS, SSSTS, NEBOSH, IOSH Managing Safely, and NVQ qualifications.

4. Talk to us. If you are unsure which funding route applies to your situation, or you need help planning your team’s training for Q2 and beyond, our team is here to help. We work with hundreds of construction employers every month and can advise on the most cost-effective approach.

Book Your Spring Training Now

With demand for funded training clearly outstripping supply this year, early booking for April onwards is strongly advisable. We run SMSTS, SSSTS, NEBOSH, IOSH, TWC, and NVQ courses every week — both online and at venues across the UK.

Call 01245 379 496 or browse our full course list to find your next available date.