CITB Funding Update for 2026: What Employers Need to Know About Employer Networks and the New Large Employer Fund

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced important changes to how training funding will be distributed from April 2026.

These updates affect both Employer Networks funding and the support available to employers, and they may influence how many organisations plan their workforce training over the next year.

For construction businesses, understanding how these changes work will help ensure training programmes remain both accessible and financially sustainable.

Why CITB Is Changing Training Funding

According to CITB, employer engagement in training programmes has grown significantly in recent years. Over the past four years, there has been a 36% increase in employers participating in initiatives such as Employer Networks.

At the same time, the UK Government has committed over £600 million to help address skills shortages and support the training of up to 60,000 additional construction workers.

While this is positive for the industry, the growing demand for support means CITB has needed to review how funding is distributed to ensure it can continue supporting the sector sustainably.

Changes to Employer Networks Funding

From April 2026, Employer Networks funding will focus primarily on micro, small and medium-sized construction businesses.

Companies employing between 1 and 249 people will still be able to access training support through Employer Networks, including:

• 50% match funding for eligible training
• Fixed contributions for health and safety courses

To ensure fair access across the industry, CITB has also introduced annual caps based on employer size.

Employer Networks Funding Caps for 2026–27

These limits are designed to help CITB support a wider number of businesses across the industry while maintaining the sustainability of the funding programme.

What Is Changing for Large Employers?

The most significant change affects large construction employers.

From April 2026, organisations employing 250 or more people will no longer be able to access Employer Networks funding.

Instead, CITB will introduce a new Large Employer Fund for the 2026–27 financial year.

The New Large Employer Fund

The fund will provide £18,000 per large employer to spend on eligible training.

Funding will be available through:

• A training plan submission, or
• Evidence of completed training

CITB has confirmed that this fund will operate as a one-year interim measure while the organisation works with larger employers to design the next phase of support.

Other CITB Training Support Still Available

Despite the changes to Employer Networks and large employer access, a range of CITB funding options remain available to support training across the sector.

These include:

• Short course grants (for plant operations, scaffolding and certain exempted standards)
• Apprenticeship grants
• Travel to Train funding
• Qualification grants
• Industry Impact Fund

CITB will also continue its wider work supporting workforce development, including competence frameworks, sector plans, careers initiatives and National Construction Colleges.

What This Means for Construction Employers

For micro, small and medium-sized companies, Employer Networks will continue to provide an important route to access subsidised training.

However, the introduction of funding caps means businesses may need to plan training budgets more carefully to maximise available support.

For large organisations, the transition to the new Large Employer Fund may mean reviewing how training programmes are structured over the next year while further funding models are developed.

Planning Training for 2026 and Beyond

As funding structures evolve, forward planning becomes increasingly important.

Employers that review their training needs early can:

• Align training with available funding streams
• Schedule courses within funding limits
• Maintain workforce competence and compliance

Working with experienced training providers such as Pragmatic Consulting can also help businesses understand how different funding routes may apply to their organisation.

Supporting Employers Through Changing Funding

At Pragmatic Consulting, we work closely with organisations across the construction and utilities sectors to deliver CITB-approved training and workforce development programmes.

As funding arrangements change, our team continues to support employers by helping them understand the options available and plan training that supports both compliance and workforce competence.

If you have questions about how these changes may affect your training plans, speaking with your CITB adviser or training provider can help ensure you make the most of the support available.

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