Levy Strategy Committee

The Levy Strategy Committee forms part of the representation of industry employers across the three GB Nations and works collaboratively to ensure the effective development of the 2022-25 Levy proposals.

It assists in assessing and informing industry’s view of any proposed changes to Levy legislation in advance of making final submissions to the Board and DfE concerning such changes. It supports CITB in testing options for wider industry consultation, and assessing the implications of different Levy rate models against CITB’s strategic objectives.

The Levy Strategy Committee considers the impact and potential impact on the CITB Levy of factors within the external environment and makes appropriate recommendations to address or mitigate those factors.

Current Members (as at March 2026) are:

Rachael Cunningham – Chair and CITB Trustee

Herman Kok - CITB Trustee

Vikki Skene - HR Director, Galliford Try

Vikki Skene is an experienced senior HR leader in the construction industry with a passion for the cultural change agenda and driving inclusivity to support the delivery of strategic business imperatives. As the Group HR Director for Galliford Try – one of the UK's leading construction groups – and Executive Member of its board since 2020, she is committed to the development of Galliford Try’s people, so they can play their role in improving the UK’s built environment and delivering lasting change for the communities around them.

Vikki has more than 20 years’ experience in both construction and HR and was previously UK Employee Relations Director at Balfour Beatty, where she held a number of senior HR roles.

Gareth Davies - Construction Director, Knox and Wells Ltd

Gareth is the Construction Director for Knox and Wells Limited. His role combines all aspects of Client servicing, from bid management to project delivery, together with responsibility for strategic liaison with key Industry stakeholders such as Welsh Government, CITB and CIOB.

Prior to joining Knox and Wells, Gareth was in post with Britannia Construction Ltd from 2010 as Regional Director (Wales), Wales Regional Director for Carillion Building (Mowlem Building prior to 2006 takeover) and from 2001-5 was Wales Construction Director for Mowlem Building.

During a thirty five year career in the construction industry Gareth has been responsible for delivering many prestigious projects in south Wales, south west England and Jersey, across a variety of sectors.

Gareth is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB) and was a member of the CITB National Council from 2015 to its reorganisation in 2018. He chaired the south-east Wales Regional Construction Forum from its inception in 2010 to its re-constitution in 2018. Gareth is also an active member of Constructing Excellence in Wales and a Professional Assessor for the CIOB and has been a judge and Panel Chairman on the CIOB's Construction Manager of the Year Competition since 2004. Gareth was also a member of the former CITB Levy Working Party and is now a member of the Levy Strategy Group

Neil Rogers – CEO, Scottish Decorators’ Federation

Neil is currently the CEO of the Scottish Decorators’ Federation which is one of the oldest Trade Federations in the UK. The Federation represent all sizes of painting and decorating companies from sole traders all the way up to some of the biggest painting and decorating companies in the UK.

Neil is also the CEO of Scottish Painting And Decorating Apprenticeship Council (SPADA) and Scottish Construction Operative Registration Executive (SCORE). SPADA deals with young people coming into the trade to ensure that they are paid a fair rate for the job that they are doing, offering contractual advice to employers and apprentices. While SCORE is competency card scheme that is able to offer a wide range of cards to operatives based on their industrial experience and qualifications.

Rob Tansey

Rob retired from Barratt Group in December 2020. He joined the Barratt Group as Group HR Director in 2012 from Dairy Crest Plc where he was Group HR Director for six years. Before joining Dairy Crest Rob was HR Director at Travis Perkins Plc and previously held senior HR roles at Celesio AG and Wickes. Rob was a member of the Executive Committee at Barratt Developments, with full responsibility for the creation and delivery of HR Strategy. His responsibilities included Training and Development for Trades, Apprentices and Graduates, through to Senior Management development, Remuneration and Benefits Strategy, Resourcing and Performance Management.

Rob was a member of the CITB England Nation Council until December 2020.

Monique Jones – Operations & Business Development Manager, J Randall Roofing Contractors Ltd

Monique is the Operational and Strategic Manager at J Randall Roofing Contractors Limited which is a family run business. Her role combines all aspects of Client servicing, from bid management, procurement to project delivery, together with the responsibility for strategic liaison and with key Industry stakeholders such as the Government, CITB and CIOB.

Prior to joining J Randall Roofing Contractors, Monique has worked with Schools, Colleges and Supportive Associations in leadership, Mentoring and teaching, with in depth knowledge in the areas of Autism and Asperger’s. Supporting and building good working relations is her field, supporting individuals to upskill to their desirable goals. Monique has advocated for the Construction Industry for the past 25 years, always looking to support and engage to improve the development of the construction industry.

Monique believes upskilling in the Construction Industry is paramount, embracing in the next generation, guiding Apprentices to reach their full potential and this can only be achieved by the employers working together. She is a member of the CITB Wales Nation Council.

Steve Anderson - Senior Development Manager at Construction Skills People (Skills People Group).

Steve is a senior development manager at Construction Skills People (Skills People Group). Assisting clients & businesses to access multiple funding streams available to them, providing qualification and compliance solutions alongside account management and business development within the wider construction sector.

Prior to joining Construction Skills People, Steve worked for several construction contractors in a number of roles in the M&E sector, working on-site as an operative. Steve has been in the construction industry since leaving school and has always been interested in the construction sector from a young age.

Steve also sits on the finishes and interiors sector skills board.

Matt Bridge – Managing Director at Colonial Construction

Matt is the managing director of Colonial Construction in Northampton.

His role combines all aspects of running an SME business, including team building, management, client relationships, strategic work planning, project delivery, quality control, and estimating. As the founder of the brand and current MD, he takes the lead in maintaining the high standards the company has set for itself in the industry, with a particular company KPI of continuous development of young people in the construction industry.

Matt established Colonial Construction in 1989. Prior to this, he was a Site Manager for Kyle Stewart (now part of BAM Nuttall) and then Thistle Project Construction. He served his apprenticeship in New Zealand as a carpenter and completed his management training in New Zealand alongside his apprenticeship. A 46-year career in the construction industry has seen many changes in both the size of his own organisation and the development of health and safety and working practices generally within the construction industry. He has seen his company diversify into all strands within the industry, from retail and leisure to heritage restorations, commercial dilapidations, and civils, and has been involved with training many new trades. His business has delivered many projects of all disciplines to a high standard over a long period of time.

Matt had a long career coaching rugby at an elite level, including in the Premiership with Northampton Saints, as well as at international level in the US and Europe. His belief in a whole-team environment and culture is the basis of his business methodology.

Matt is on the Central Area Board of the Federation of Master Builders and an active member of the Northamptonshire Construction Training Group. He is also a CITB STEM ambassador and a member of the CITB England Nation Council.

James M. Butcher – Deputy CEO of NFB

James M. Butcher is the Deputy Chief Executive at the National Federation of Builders (NFB), and a member of the UK’s Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

As Deputy CEO, James oversees the NFB’s day-to-day operations as well as its strategy to support builders, contractors and house builders across the United Kingdom. James and his team work to deliver the NFB’s vision, which is an industry that is fit for the future: productive, purpose-driven and made up of professional people and companies. They do this by leading and supporting members through change, providing trusted professional services, offering relentless advocacy and upholding standards of excellence.

James has experience working with a number of the industry’s key bodies, such as the Construction Clients Leadership Group, the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC), the HSE’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) and the Contractors Legal Group (CLG). As well as serving on CITB’s Levy Strategy Committee, James is also the Industry Chair of the CITB Sector Skills Plan for Heritage.

Prior to working for the NFB, James was the head of public affairs for a public relations consultancy, a Parliamentary aide to a Member of Parliament, and a trained campaign manager for a major political party. He also served for ten years as a local councillor.

Craig Bruce - Managing Director, Pert-Bruce Ltd

Craig is the seventh generation of his family to run the business dating back to 1871 and he has 30 years' experience in the industry. He started in the family firm as a joinery apprentice at 16, serving his time in the workshop, onsite and carrying out maintenance, before progressing to the office and eventually to MD in 2007. He merged the business in 2007 with another local family company to increase capability and service delivery, increasing his original 25 employees to as it stands, directly employing 100 staff, 16 of which are trade apprentices.

As MD of Pert Bruce Construction, Craig has experience in carrying out a varied roster of work ranging from £25,000 domestic projects all the way up to £4m historic/listed house conversions, with clients ranging from private individuals through to blue-chip industrial clients, architects and leading developers. Craig also owns a property development company building new homes, converting listed buildings and building affordable homes for RSL Partners.

Craig currently sits as a Director of the Scottish Building Federation, President of the Dundee and Angus Association, Council member of SBATC (Scottish Building Apprenticeship &Training Council), CITB Scottish Council, Founder & Director of Angus Shared Apprentice Scheme and a Director of a north east based safety group (SAFE) and has previously been on CITB GSWP and as a founder of the Angus Training Group also sat as Chair of the local Group and Training Group National Rep. Craig is a member of the Scotland Nation Council.

2026 Meetings

• 22 January
• 7 May
• 6 August
• 29 October