Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is the industry training board for construction in Great Britain. It was established on 21 July 1964 under the Industrial Training Act 1964 and is funded largely by a statutory levy paid by construction employers. Its head office has been in Peterborough, England, since 2019. Its website is citb.co.uk.

Role

CITB describes itself as the employer-led skills and standards body for construction. Its work includes:

• Levy and grants. Construction employers above certain thresholds pay a levy based on their payroll. In 2024 the levy raised about £228 million. CITB uses this money to fund training grants and skills programmes for employers who are registered with it.
• Apprenticeships. It supports employers in finding and hiring apprentices and funds parts of apprenticeship training. Roofing apprenticeships in England, Scotland and Wales are among the many trades it supports.
• Standards and qualifications. It works on training standards and occupational standards for construction trades.
• Commissioning training. Since 2017 CITB has mainly commissioned outside training providers rather than delivering training itself. Specialist providers are approved as CITB Approved Training Organisations.

Roofing connections

Roofing is a recognised construction occupation in Great Britain, with apprenticeships covering roof slating and tiling, built-up felt and flat roofing, and sheet metal work. For example, the Lead Sheet Training Academy is a CITB Approved Training Organisation and delivers specialist leadwork qualifications. Roofing trade associations such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors work with CITB on skills funding and workforce planning.

Scope

CITB covers Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own construction industry training board. Other countries organise construction training differently: Germany relies on a dual apprenticeship system run with craft chambers and trade guilds, while in North America apprenticeship is overseen by provinces, states and trade unions.

Note

CITB funding and the training it supports are separate from any requirement to hold a licence; the UK does not license roofers in general.