How to get your training funded through CITB

If you run a small building company, training can help you build your team’s skills and strengthen your business, but the cost can add up. If you’re registered with CITB, funding may be available to help pay for short courses, from essential health and safety training to skills that help you run and grow your business. We explain what CITB funding is available, what it can cover and how to access it through your local CITB Employer Network.

If you are new to CITB, or you are not sure whether your business is registered, start with CITB's guidance on the levy first, because being registered is what makes this funding available to you.

What training can I get funded?

Most short courses qualify. That covers the usual health and safety and skills-card courses, but also training on the business side, like pricing and quoting, managing people, and using new tools and technology. If a course makes your business more capable, there is a good chance it qualifies.

Every Employer Network area has a local CITB Engagement Adviser, and they are your point of contact for all of this. They will tell you whether a particular course is covered before you book, help you find the right training, and arrange it for you.

Note: CITB funding changed on 8 January 2026. Read our simple guide for SME builders on what’s changed and what to do next.

How much will CITB pay?

CITB pays a share of the course cost and you pay the rest. At the moment, that share is up to 50%, though it can change, so your adviser will confirm the current figure when you book. You do not handle the funded part yourself: the training provider invoices you for your share, and CITB pays them the rest directly, so there is no claim form afterwards and no waiting to be paid back.

There is a yearly limit on how much funding any one business can draw, set by the size of your business. For the current year the caps are:

Micro, 1 to 9 employees: £1,500
Small, 10 to 49 employees: £2,000
Medium, 50 to 249 employees: £4,500

CITB sets these at the start of each financial year and reviews them annually, so your adviser will confirm the figure that applies when you book. The money set aside for your area can also run out during the year, so the earlier you ask, the better.

As an example, take a course costing £600 + VAT. With CITB covering half, your share comes down to £300 + VAT.

How do I claim it?

Make sure your business is registered with CITB and your Levy Return is up to date (even if it is a return that shows nothing to pay).
Find and connect with your local network using CITB’s Employer Network register-interest form. And an Engagement Adviser for your area will be in touch.
Book the training through your adviser. They sign off the funding and place the booking, so there is no separate application to make.
Pay your share. The provider invoices you for your part, and CITB pays them the rest.

Where do I go if I’m still stuck?

CITB is the right first call as their advisers deal with these questions every day, so start by finding your local Engagement Adviser on their website. If you have been through their pages and still cannot work out where you stand, get in touch with us and we will point you in the right direction.

If you're a member of the FMB, you can also access practical support to help you run and grow your building business from us, including expert legal, HR, health and safety and tax advice to business resources, online training and member discounts. We’re here to help you save time and money, develop your team and build a stronger business.