CITB Bircham Newton to keep training in-house

CITB have confirmed training is to remain in-house after Bircham Newton's construction college was forced to suspend face-to-face training due to the pandemic.

The news comes as apprentices started to return to the site this week following lockdown restrictions and the search for an alternative training provider.

The decision comes after three years of Vision 2020 reforms of CITB to better meet industry needs.

Peter Lauener, chair of CITB’s Board, said: "The Vision 2020 reforms, and other changes made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have successfully realigned our business to make us better able to support employers investing in skills.

"CITB operates colleges which provide vital and valued training where we have not been able to find suitable buyers that could continue to deliver the scope of high quality training the industry needs.

"The continuing uncertainty is damaging for employers who need to be sure they can get their staff trained, as well as for CITB colleagues who have supported their customers and learners throughout."

The search for a new education provider for the Bircham Newton site proved unsuccessful, with potential buyers reluctant to proceed during the pandemic.

Following a commitment that these services would not be lost, the CITB Board made the decision to retain the site, along with another in Glasgow, and to continue to provide remote training services.

Mr Lauener added: “The right course of action to support industry now is to provide stability and assurance. This decision gives employers and CITB colleagues confidence and clarity and enables us to plan for the future, having realised the core ambitions of reform.

"We will of course keep these businesses under close review as we do for every aspect of our operation and this might lead in due course to alterations in our approach to NCC but we have no plans at present to return to market.”