CITB Short Qualification Grant Scheme (NVQ Funding)

What is the CITB Short Qualification grant scheme?

The CITB Short Qualification Grant Scheme is a funding program offered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to support employers in the construction industry by providing grants for employees who complete short-duration training courses and gain recognised qualifications.

Purpose: Helps construction employers upskill their workforce by covering costs associated with short training courses and certifications.
Eligibility: Available to CITB-registered employers who pay the CITB Levy or meet the exemption criteria.
Funding Amount: The grant amount varies based on the qualification level, typically ranging from £30 to £1,500 per course.
Eligible Courses: Includes short training courses such as health and safety, plant operations, first aid, asbestos awareness, and more.
Payment Structure: Grants are paid per achievement once the learner has successfully completes their CITB-approved course.

Who can apply for the grant?

You can apply if you’re a CITB Registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns, as well as fulfilling CITB’s general grants scheme policy.

The grant also applies to small employers (i.e. those with a wage bill of less than £80k) who don’t actually pay the levy.

To check if your company is eligible to claim please call CITB on 0344 994 4455.

Which NVQs are eligible?

All of our construction-specific qualifications from NVQ Levels 2-7 are eligible for the CITB grant (provided that the qualification is funded from a CITB registered company).

This includes Plant Operations, Controlling Lifting Operations, Construction Supervision and Construction Management NVQs.

If you’re unsure, just ask us or alternatively follow the link below to view the entire suite of qualifications that are eligible:

https://www.citb.co.uk/short-qualifications-grant-eligible/

How much does the Grant cover?

CITB announced a major increase in the GITB grant effective from 1st April 2023.

The new structure is as follows:

£600 for a Level 2 NVQ (claimable on completion)
£1250 for a Level 3 – 4 NVQ (claimable on completion)
£1500 for a Level 6 – 7 NVQ (claimable on completion)

Previously the grant scheme was £600 across the board, from Level 2-7, so the new structure really is a significant increase.

Please note: In order to qualify for the increased amount, the NVQ certificate of completion must be dated April 2023 onwards. Certificates dated before April 2023 will still be eligible for the previous grant amount of £600.

Are CADUK's Health and Safety NVQs eligible?

Unfortunately our Health and Safety qualifications at Levels 6 and 7 are not eligible for the CITB Grant because they’re not construction-specific and are accessible to candidates from a range of other industries such as retail, oil and gas, corporate business etc.

How do I make a claim?

You must submit your application within 52 weeks of your NVQ achievement date.

On completion of your NVQ, you will need to fill out a CITB Grant application form which you can download by clicking the appropriate link below:

The form only takes a few minutes to complete and requires basic information such as your company’s CITB registration number & contact information as well as the name, registration number, DOB, and completion dates of the learners.

Please note: These NVQs are classed as “Short-period qualifications” on the claim form.

You can then email the completed form along with a scanned copy of the learner’s certificates of achievement to grant.claimforms@citb.co.uk and you’re done.

The claim will usually be processed within around 4 weeks.

How can I find out more information

For support on applying for the grant or to confirm eligibility, please contact your CITB Advisor or call the Customer Services team on 0344 994 4455.

Additional information on the Short Qualification Grant can also be found here.