The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has unveiled a new six-point plan for change following calls from the industry and government to reform.

The 'Agenda for Change' will be delivered throughout 2018 and addresses recommendations as set out in an independent Industrial Training Board (ITB) Review. The six key outcomes are;

• A streamlined organisation

• Renewed governance, increased transparency on outcomes and greater accountability regarding their achievement

• An effective, sustainable business model

• Better value for levy payers and a reformed grants scheme

• Modernisation to boost productivity and careers in the industry

• A sustainable, high quality training and development marke.

The ITB Review, led by Paul Morrell working with three industry departments, stated the effectiveness of ITBs must be judged by whether firms can recruit, retain and develop people with the skills and knowledge they need.

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It states: "They will need to work with others to achieve this. We want them to have the confidence of their sectors, and to be outcome-focused, accountable, strategic, creative, inclusive and evidence-based.

"This review alone cannot achieve this vision. It needs employers to take a lead and the ITBs to respond. For the construction industry, that will happen particularly through the CITB's reform programme and the work of the Construction Leadership Council's Construction 2025 strategy as it develops.

"Therefore, many of the proposals in this review are recommendations to the ITBs themselves, and we expect them to respond positively."

In response specifically to the ITB Review's call to report to Ministers and the CLC by next spring on the actions needed to ensure apprenticeship meet the future needs of the industry, CITB has announced it will create a new executive industry group led by a senior industry figure.

It also emphasised that it will work closely with employers, FE and government to overcome the barriers to delivering the high quality work placements that will ensure students for the new T-levels progress into construction.

James Wates, Chairman of CITB and Wates Group, said: "Without doubt, 2017 has been a challenging year for CITB. But with the support of Government and industry, we now have stability and clarity on the way ahead.

"A massive programme of change is in store at CITB, to reform the organisation into the efficient, accountable, transparent body the industry needs to help build a better Britain."

(LM/MH)