Balfour Beatty has reversed its stance on the future of CITB weeks after group chief executive Leo Quinn slammed the organisation for not providing the industry "with the skilled workers we need".

Last month, Quinn attacked the skills body for failing to train enough workers for the UK's construction sector, as well as not being "regularly accountable to the industry it exists to serve".

However, following a series of meetings between the company and CITB, Balfour Beatty has now reversed its position and stated it will vote in favour of the renewal of the CITB's levy mandate.

The company said: "Last month Balfour Beatty set out its concerns over the lack of clarity ahead of the triennial CITB consensus vote. The construction industry needs a training board which delivers a skilled workforce, effectively and efficiently.

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"Radical reform of the CITB is necessary to achieve this. Since then, Balfour Beatty has held a number of further meetings with the CITB. The CITB has now provided Balfour Beatty with appropriate assurances and preliminary details about the reforms. It has demonstrated that it understands the urgency and magnitude of change necessary to create a CITB which will better meet the needs of the UK construction industry and help create the skilled workforce necessary to deliver the enormous pipeline of planned works.

"Balfour Beatty believes that further work on the governance of the CITB is necessary. We are willing to work constructively, with the CITB and our industry partners, to ensure that the CITB has governance which is fit for purpose as soon as is practical.

"It is unsatisfactory that the vote on the consensus is taking place before full publication of the reform plans. This has meant that industry has had to vote without having the detail it needs to make an informed decision.

"Nonetheless, in light of the assurances received from the CITB and its management Balfour Beatty has decided to vote in favour of the consensus to enable the CITB to rapidly deliver on these commitments."

(LM)