The next phase of plant training standards is set to be rolled out next month by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The standards have been developed in collaboration with industry working groups, consisting of employers, training providers, and federations, and change the way plant training and testing is delivered.
The changes will ensure employers see a return on their investment by producing competent, work-ready plant operators, who have received training from experts, including learning about new technologies and the eco operation of plant.
To support employers to pursue training, CITB offers several ways to help registered employers cover the cost of this standardised plant training. First, there are CITB Short Duration Grants, which vary based on the plant category and experience level, ranging from £250 to £880.
Additionally, companies can book training through the CITB Employer Network, where CITB will pay 70% of the course cost, leaving employers to pay the remaining 30%. Employer Networks helped over 4,000 employers gain access to construction training in 2024-25, over a quarter of which had not claimed any CITB grants in the previous 12 months.
Following updates to the phase one standards in December 2024, the next tranche of 19 standards will be released in June. This change will see all CITB-funded training for excavators, dump trucks and telescopic handlers standardised.
Christopher Simpson, Head of Quality and Standards at CITB, said: “These changes will help standardise and improve the quality and consistency of plant training; increase the amount of plant training that takes place before testing; and increase the number of people trained in plant operations, particularly new entrants to construction.”
Alasdair Reisner, Chair of the Plant Sector Representative Organisation (PSRO) and CEO of Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), said: “The PSRO – consisting of seven major construction plant-user federations – was set up by employers and their representative bodies to drive consistency for operational standards and certification through card schemes. The PSRO has worked with CITB throughout the process of developing these new training standards and supports their use within the construction sector.”
For more information on accessing CITB funding for plant or other construction-related training, contact your local CITB advisor. If you’re unsure who your advisor is, email customerengagement@citb.co.uk for assistance.
