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Short qualification grant

The Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) is moving all Industry Accreditation (IA) cardholders to a recognised qualification. You can find more information on the withdrawal of Industry Accreditation by visiting the CSCS website.

To support construction workers transitioning from an IA card to a qualification, we have increased the grant for specific supervision NVQ Diplomas/SVQs to £1,250 and specific management NVQ Diplomas/SVQs to £1,500 for achievements from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026 as listed here.

We pay grants for the successful completion of approved short qualifications which take less than one year and that focus on the core construction skills needed across the industry.

On this page:

Overview

We pay grants for the achievement of approved short qualifications in core construction skills. These include:

  • NVQ at Levels 2 and above and SCQF at Levels 5 and above
  • National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
  • Plant-related vocational qualification (VQ) achievements
  • Additional units related to the Level 2 Plant Operations VQ

Qualifications can be delivered in a number of ways including:

  • off-the-job training
  • through on-site assessment (OSAT)
  • through experienced worker practical assessment (EWPA)
  • by distance and e-learning
  • outside conventional working hours (evenings or weekends)

Short qualification grants are not available to support individual achievements that form part of other longer qualifications. Please see the Long qualification grant page or Apprenticeship grants page for details.

Who can apply for this grant?

You can apply if you’re a CITB Registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns. As well as fulfilling our general Grants Scheme policy and specific requirements for this grant.

You can apply for this grant for all directly employed staff on the payroll, business owners and partners, and all subcontractors.

Which qualifications are covered for grant? 

See a full list of qualifications we pay grant for.

We use a specific criteria to judge which qualifications can be supported by grants. To see how we decide which qualifications are covered, click here.

How much is it? 

The standard rate for full short qualifications is £600. There are a number of specific qualifications which attract different rates, as listed in the table below.

Qualification Achieved on or after 01 April 2023

Standard rate short qualifications

£600

Specific Management qualifications - achieved up to and including 31 March 2026

£1500

Specific Supervision qualifications - achieved up to and including 31 March 2026

£1250

Specific Rainscreen Cladding qualifications

£1000

Level 2 Plant Operations VQ – Additional unit

£300

Visit the list of qualifications we pay grant for to see which grant rate is available for your specific achievement.

Short qualification grant is payable up to a maximum of four grants at each level per individual. You can only apply once for an individual for the same achievement.

Level 2 Plant VQ units are payable up to a maximum of three per individual. The plant VQ unit achievements are also included in the cap of four Level 2 achievements per individual.

Where there is a previous grant for a full plant operations VQ, future plant operations achievements will only be considered for the plant related VQ unit grant.

How to apply

You must submit your application for achievement grant within 52 weeks of the achievement date, download and complete the application form (PDF, 228KB) and send it to us at the email address below.

If you wish to apply for multiple learners at once, download and complete the bulk grant application (Excel, 178KB).

  • Save and email your completed application form to grant.claimforms@citb.co.uk 
  • Attach a copy of the achievement certificate or achievement notification email from the awarding body. Your application cannot be processed without this evidence

For support on applying for this grant you can contact your local CITB Adviser or our Customer Services team on 0344 994 4455.

Have you sent us your bank details? 

Grants are paid by bank transfer. If we do not hold your current bank details, please complete and submit the secure online Bacs Direct Credit Authorisation Form to receive grant payments

Have you signed up for CITB Grants Online?

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