A major industry consultation is underway over plans to reform Levy proposals for 2018.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is planning to reduce the Levy from 0.5% to 0.35%, with CIS payments for subcontracted workers remaining at 1.25%.

Up to 70,000 in scope employers will be invited to take part in the consultation. In addition, employers from across the sector, large and small, federated and non-federated, from across England, Scotland and Wales are being asked to take part.

CITB is also using the consultation to share with employers its future offer from 2018 – including improvements to the Grants Scheme.

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Sarah Beale, Chief Executive at CITB, said: "This is a vital consultation, because we want to know what the whole industry thinks of our Levy proposal and future plans.

"This proposal has been developed by an industry-led working group, with input from a whole range of employers. We believe this proposal offers good value, and supports a plan to deliver real impact for our industry over the next few years. But this Levy proposal and the way we are improving CITB must work for all, particularly the smaller employers which dominate our industry, so it’s critical that as many as possible have their say."

The consultation will run until May. All responses will be used to inform the final Levy proposal, which will be put before the industry from July.

Further independent market research will be carried out with federated in-scope employers from mid-2017 to gather views on whether they consider the final Levy proposal necessary to encourage adequate training in the industry. The final result is expected in October.

(LM/MH)