CITB Levy urged to give everyone vote

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The CITB is being urged to give the whole industry a say in its latest consensus process to gauge whether it has construction’s support to continue collecting a levy for training with an open online vote.

The CITB levy has been in place for a number of years to collect monies for funding but the way it consults has been put under the microscope with many complaining the consesus process only targets large tier 1 companies and block voting by trade federations and phone calls to levy payers to support the levy.

Some think that the large levy payers are then influencing policies with the CITB and to produce a yes vote.

Ordinarily every three years, CITB must consult with construction industry employers on its proposals to deliver skills and training to the construction industry with Levy funding. ‘Consensus’ is the final stage of this consultation process, where employers are asked the Consensus Question:

“Do you agree that the Levy Proposals are necessary to encourage adequate training in the construction industry?”

A CITB spokesperson said: “We consult at least 33% of Levy paying employers – over 11,000 employers – during the consensus process. In March 2019, nearly 30,000 employers were liable to pay a Levy.

“We expect 7,000 employers will be consulted via their Prescribed Organisations, and a further 4,000 non-federated employers via telephone survey conducted by an independent, registered research company.

“All registered companies, regardless of whether they pay the Levy, can give views on the Levy options in October by visiting our website or registering for a webinar.

“The process has been actively reviewed and revised over the years to ensure it complies with the legislation. We also engage extensively with the Department for Education ahead of and at the end of a consensus cycle, including reviewing the process as required.”

Source CITB