THE Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced key dates for the organisation’s Consensus consultation on the 2026-29 Levy.
The consultation with the construction industry on Levy Proposal options will run from 26 September until 24 October. During this four-week engagement period, CITB will host a series of webinars for employers across Britain, providing information on the draft Levy proposals and seeking their opinions.
The sessions will provide a chance to share feedback on the options, which will help inform the development of the final Levy proposals.
The Levy is designed to ensure the development of a skilled workforce to meet current and future demands. Earlier this year, CITB’s annual CSN report revealed the UK will require over 250,000 extra construction workers by 2028 to meet current demand.
Usually undertaken every three years, Consensus is the process through which CITB seeks Levy paying employers’ views and agreement on plans for generating the Levy and the skills and training this will deliver. The core focus for the 2026-29 draft proposals being shared in September is to ensure the Levy exemption and reduction thresholds remain ‘current and appropriate’.
Feedback gathered during the consultation will be collated for the Levy Strategy Committee – an independent group of industry representatives and external specialists – which will provide guidance and recommendations to the CITB board before it submits final Levy proposals to education secretary.
Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said, “Consultation is an integral part of CITB’s Consensus process for reaching industry agreement on the next three-year Levy Order. We need the views of employers to help inform our proposals, ensuring that the skills and training we provide meet their requirements and helps deliver the workforce desperately needed to get Britain building again.”
All CITB active and in scope registered employers can have a say on options during the consultation phase. Views can be provided at the webinars or through an online consultation channel, Citizen Space. Once the final option has been selected, CITB will measure Consensus in early 2025.
To find out more about Consensus, visit: https://www.citb.co.uk/consensus-2025
To register for a CITB Consensus webinar, visit: https://consensus.citbevents.co.uk/home
