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Employer Networks

Employer Networks are an initiative set up and funded by CITB aiming to simplify the way you get the support and funding you need to access the training you want. It’s all part of the service.

They have two main objectives:

Make it easier for you to access training and funding. The training can be in anything that supports construction employers. These could be the trade skills you need right now or something you’ll need in the future - such as net zero, digital skills or mentoring. And because the Employer Networks help organise it all, you don’t need to complete any paperwork to apply for funding.

To bring together employers at a local level to inform CITB on training needs, to advise how funding should be prioritised and allocated, and to effectively use training provision to address immediate and future skills needs in their region.

Employer Networks have been piloted since July 2022 and have proven to be successful in helping more employers to train and offer them support.

Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive said:

“I’m really excited about Employer Networks – this is about putting employers in the driving seat to identify and address their skills challenges and how best CITB can align our funding and resources to support their skills needs. 

I would encourage employers in the Network areas to get involved and use their voice to shape training provision.” 

The Employer Network Pilot scheme supported over 1,000 employers to train their employees

In fact 86% of employers stated the process of accessing training was simpler through Employer Networks.

Through 2024, we have been rolling out the initiative to provide GB-wide coverage. Collectively employers are shaping the way funds provided by CITB are spent, and on what.

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Local network areas

We are running Networks across Great Britain, and the areas below are live. If you are based in one of these areas and are Levy-registered, you can benefit from being part of an Employer Network.

England

  • New - Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire 
  • Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire
  • New - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 
  • Cumbria and Lancashire
  • Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
  • Devon and Cornwall
  • Dorset, Avon and Somerset
  • New - East and West Sussex 
  • New - Essex
  • Greater Manchester
  • Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire
  • New - Kent
  • New - Hampshire and Isle of Wight 
  • New - Leicestershire and Northants 
  • Lincoln 
  • New - London Central and West
  • New - London North and East
  • New - London South
  • Merseyside and Cheshire
  • Midlands - Civil engineering only
  • New - Norfolk and Suffolk
  • North and East Yorkshire and Humberside
  • Northeast and Teesside 
  • New - Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, Milton Keynes 
  • South and West Yorkshire
  • New - Surrey 
  • The Marches, Stoke and Staffordshire, Worcestershire.

Scotland

  • Aberdeen city, Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus 
  • New - Central Scotland
  • Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire 
  • Highlands, Islands and Argyll
  • Inverness - plus civil engineering employers across Scotland 
  • New - Lothian and Borders, Fife and Clacks

Wales

  • North and Mid Wales
  • New - South East Wales
  • South West Wales 
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Use the links below to find an Employer Network in your area:

England

North

Network area Contact name Contact details
Cumbria and Lancashire Monica Costelloe
Greater Manchester James Johnson
Merseyside and Cheshire David Rowlands
Northeast and Teeside Sharon Bew
North & East Yorkshire & Humberside Laura Simpson
South & West Yorkshire Ricky Sandoval

Midlands and East

Network area Contact name Contact details
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Anneli Somlo
Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire Phil Warwick
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Nicky Dady
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Andrea Russell
Leicestershire and Northants Louise Thorpe
Lincoln Lincoln Group Training Association

Midlands

(Civil engineering only)

Ceca Midlands 
Norfolk and Suffolk Allison Copeman
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, Milton Keynes Shaun Britton
The Marches, Stoke and Staffordshire, Worcestershire
Patricia Hicks

London

Network area Contact name Contact details
London Central and West

Marissa Chandriam 


London North and East 

Derek Agnew


London South 

Samantha McLaughlin

South East

Network area Contact name Contact details
East and West Sussex

Hazel Thompson


Essex

Nikki Parsons


Kent

Georgie Gaynor

Surrey

Stephen Aluko

South West

Network area Contact name Contact details
Devon and Cornwall Darren Murrish
Dorset, Avon and Somerset Florence Hale
Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire Jacqueline Rawlings
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Andrea Parker

Scotland

Network area Contact name Contact details
Aberdeen City - Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus William Skinner
Central Scotland  Lynsey Ferguson
Highlands/Islands/Argyll William Skinner

Inverness 

(plus Civil engineering across Scotland)

Scottish Civils Training Group

Lothian and Borders, Fife and Clacks

Stuart Tolmie 

Wales

Network area Contact name Contact details
North and Mid Wales Emrys Roberts
South East Wales  John Evans
South West Wales  Cyfle Building Skills

Sector specific groups

Sector specific groups have national coverage and currently include:

Testimonials

Stacey Felmingham - Office Coordinator, Aspect Group Services Ltd said:

“Having the Employer Network has enabled us to offer a wider variety of training courses to our team both on site and in the office.  With the support from the Norfolk Construction Training Group we have been able to navigate the process effectively and efficiently."

"The simplicity and broad scope of the initiative has allowed us to offer training to more employees than we initially budgeted for over the year, which is fantastic news as a business and for the individual."

Kelsey Burnett - Training Coordinator, Luddon Construction Ltd, Scottish Civils said:

"We’ve already booked in a number of upskilling courses for our existing staff. The increased funding has helped our business financially, allowing us to organise even more training, with no additional admin or claim forms to be submitted in order to receive the funding."

"The reduced administration has allowed our staff to focus on other things and knowing the employer network had everything in place on our behalf was such a weight lifted from our shoulders, knowing the funding was in hand."

Andrea Gravell - Resource Director, Lloyd & Gravell Ltd, Llanelli said:

"We heard about the Cyfle Employer Network through Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd.  By tapping into the training organised by the local employer network contractors are able to benefit from training that would otherwise be difficult to source and more expensive, as training providers require a minimum number to run a training course." 

The additional funding made available through the network has enabled us to use our training budget to increase training opportunities across the company."

More information 

What do I need to do to benefit from Employer Networks? 
As long as you are registered with CITB, up to date with your levy and have an Employer Network in your area you can access & benefit from this service.

Will it cost me anything to join? 
Employer Networks are free to join for any levy-registered employer. 

Are there any other costs? 
Each Employer Network has a budget to spend on training. The employers within the network decide how funds are used for the greatest benefit, so what training is supported and at what level of subsidy is down to EN members. 

Is this only for face to face training? 
No. The training can be face-to-face (in person or tutor-led online) or e-learning. 

Is there a limit to how many can join an Employer Network? 
There are no limits whatsoever - as long as employers meet the criteria mentioned above then as many as wish to join, can do so.

Can I belong to a local network group and a sector specific one?
Yes. So long as you are within the local group's area and work in the chosen sector you can belong to both. Sector networks are running until the end of 2024, but after this date the local ENs will cover all of GB. 

There is no Employer Network in my area yet – what does that mean for me? 
We are rolling out all Employer Networks throughout the coming months and by October 2024 we will have full GB coverage. Keep checking back to see if we are live in your area, or speak to your Adviser about when your EN is due to launch. In the meantime, you can continue accessing grant and other funding support.  

I'm a member of a TG, can I still access funded training via an EN?
Yes of course; you can continue as a TG member and still benefit from ENs. If your GTO knows your training needs they can pass this straight on to the EN Adviser. TGs and ENs will be working closely together to ensure employers received the best support and access to training to meet their skill needs.

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