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CITB’s New Entrant Support Team has helped over 4,000 apprentices join the industry over the past year. Could it help your business grow too?
Are you a construction employer finding it challenging to recruit an apprentice? Or perhaps you’re just unsure about the process? With more than three-quarters of employers considering the apprenticeship route, you’re not alone.
To support the industry, the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) New Entrant Support Team is available to help employers find, recruit and retain apprentices – providing guidance every step of the way. This hands-on free support can cover recruitment, paperwork, accessing grants and funding, and ongoing mentoring throughout the apprenticeship.
Recruitment: The New Entrant Support Team (NEST) will signpost you to useful employment resources and help advertise your apprenticeship vacancy to attract potential candidates and let them find you – all for free.
Funding: The team will ensure you are set up to receive CITB apprenticeship grants:
• Attendance grant: £2,500 (per year, per apprentice)
• Achievement grant: £3,500 (on successful completion of the apprenticeship)
Admin: NEST can help you sort the paperwork, liaise with the training provider and more, so you can focus on the job.
Retention: The team also keep in touch to make sure you have the support you need to help your apprentice achieve and become a fully-fledged employee on completion.
This level of support is already benefiting thousands of construction businesses – particularly SMEs – with 4,128 apprenticeship starts in the financial year 2024-25, an increase from 2,340 the previous year.
Deb Madden, Executive Director for Nations Engagement at CITB, says: “A strong pipeline of apprentices and construction workers is required to build the millions of homes and hundreds of infrastructure projects needed.
“The significant support employers receive through NEST is essential. It is all about giving employers access to hands-on, free support to help them with their apprentice recruitment and retention needs.”
What employers say:
Shingler Construction: “Amanda from NEST helped us to update all our existing apprentices with the CITB Grants department and offer advice and support on our apprentices starting their course in September 2024. Positive impact on our recruitment and training budget and our ability to further increase our apprenticeship programme.”
Joe Ainsely Bricklaying: “I wasn’t aware that there were so many grants available and the amount of support there is out there until I talked with Kev from NEST. Thank you for your time and advice.”
Steve’s Floors: “I met Allison from NEST at an Employer event at the College, I knew nothing about CITB or the benefits it could be to my business. I am not good with computers, but she said she would help me with all of that and she has. Now I am getting grant for having my apprentice which is a big help towards his wage.”
Entire Scaffolding: “Since initially enquiring a few things with CITB in February 2024, Theo from NEST has supported with my CITB registration, helped submit the apprentice attendance grant, created my CITB online portal and kept me up-to-date with all processes concerning me.”
LC Lucas Construction: “This has allowed us to take on our new apprentice without having the impact of having to pay for the apprenticeship. It has meant we are now considering employing another one. Allison from NEST was a great support to us in among a minefield of information, I didn’t know where to start but she walked me through everything and ‘kept me right’ every step of the way. That simplified the process for me for which I am very grateful.”
Find out more at New Entrant Support Team – CITB.
