East of England

Contact your CITB customer engagement advisers

Cambridgeshire

Jan Rejek
Tel: 07767 325397
Email: Jan.Rejek@citb.co.uk
Twitter: @janrejek
LinkedIn: Jan Rejek

Hi, my name is Jan Rejek, your local CITB Adviser. I have a background in business (planning, management and customer service), training and development. I have 14 years of experience with CITB, supporting employers and stakeholders increase skill levels in construction. My father owned a small construction company and I used to help him on-site and run the business , so I know the issues facing employers, particularly SMEs. I am passionate about developing individuals and businesses to maximise their potential.

My contact details for any enquiries about skills, training, qualifications, grants, funding, recruitment and schools engagement: 

Contact your local CITB apprenticeship officer

Nikki Wasey
Tel: 07831 520185
Email: Nikki.Wasey@citb.co.uk

Support to grow your business

Cambridge Peterborough Combined Authority

• Business Growth Hub: Free support from advisors for new or growing builders, SMEs at any stage. Grants and loans available to support growth. Subscribe to email updates. Contact: 0800 998 1098 or enquiries@growthworks.uk. Website: cpcagrowthhub.co.uk
• Growth Works: Employers can upload local job, apprenticeship and learning opportunities. Individuals can search for these opportunities or seek advice. Contact: 0333 121 7800 or skills@growthworks.uk. Website: growthworkswithskills.com
• Digital Skills Bootcamp: To help 800+ people gain needed digital skills. Flexible courses, up to 16 weeks. Opportunities to build sector-specific skills. Resultant interview with a local employer. Contact skills@growthworks.uk. Website: growthworkswithskills.com/skillsbootcamps

Financial support and services to help you recruit and train Staff

DWP Kickstart
Provides funding to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds who are on Universal Credit who are risk of long term unemployment.  Funding is available to employers of all sizes to support this programme.

Website: www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

Form The Future
This social enterprise, active across Cambridgeshire, helps schools to prepare students for work and supports businesses with educational outreach opportunities to help build their talent pipeline.

Tel: 01223 781296
Email: info@formthefuture.org.uk
Website: www.formthefuture.org.uk

The Skills Service
This organisation, active in the East Cambs and Huntingdonshire area, helps create partnerships between schools, training providers and businesses in order to develop the knowledge, aspirations and employability skills of young people.

Tel: 01733 317441
Email: info@theskillsservice.co.uk
Website: www.theskillsservice.co.uk

Edge
Edge, active in Huntingdonshire, is an organisation which brings together local businesses, jobseekers and those looking to improve their skills, training providers and schools, directly addressing the skills and training needs of local companies.

Tel: 01480 435654
Email: info@sharperskills.co.uk
Website: www.sharperskills.co.uk

Ixion
National, Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated Training Provider of skills and education for school leavers, job seekers, learners and employers. They offer Apprenticeships, training, work experience and advice.

Tel: 07718 484785
Email: Tom.Bamforth-White@ixionholdings.com
Website: www.ixionholdings.com

Training groups in your area

Convert Training
This construction training group in the Cambridge/Peterborough area covers a broad range of construction employers and their training needs. It is free to join and offers competitively priced construction training courses and advice on workforce development.

Contact: Karen Gipson
Tel: 01480 400994
Website: www.converttraining.com

Employer Success Stories

A14 Improvement Project (2016-2020)

This important construction infrastructure project was delivered ahead of schedule. The legacy work of the A14 Integrated Delivery Team (Skanska, Costain and Balfour Beatty), working with local stakeholders, has meant that their volunteers and STEM Ambassadors have achieved an amazing amount. Engaging with over 12,600 young people in the area, at over 250 events and providing work experience and job opportunities for many young people.

Urban & Civic Training Hub (2019-2020)

Urban & Civic were successful in winning government Re-training Scheme funding (called Construction Skills Fund) to support their development at Alconbury Weald. They are delivering several courses: Insight to Construction, Explore Construction, Construction Pre-apprenticeship and Ex-forces Retraining in Construction. They have attracted new talent into construction from the local area and trained over 400 people with job placements for 30% of the trainees.

Details of other employer success stories will be added when they become available.

Training projects funded by CITB

Pathways into Construction
The Women Into Construction organisation, together with local construction employer Hill Partnerships, was successful in securing Pathways into Construction funding. Shelley Lawrence (Cambridge Lead) is busy planning engagement with local stakeholders to encourage and deliver more women into construction roles.

For further details about their work: www.women-into-construction.org

Contact your CITB customer engagement advisers

Essex South

Nikki Parsons
Tel: 07867 141497
Email: Nikki.parsons@citb.co.uk

Essex North

Vacancy

What's happening in your area

CITB Employer Roadshows

Following increased concerns over the COVID-19 virus and for safety precautions, regrettably, we have decided to cancel the upcoming Employer Roadshows. We understand this will be disappointing news but the health and safety of our delegates is of the utmost importance.

Further details about an online alternative will be issued in due course.

Support to grow your business

Support for businesses of all sizes in regards to Investment, Funding and Business opportunities.

Essex.gov.uk - Support for businesses

Grants, Loans and Investment for businesses across the South East for small businesses.

BEST Growth Hub

Help to train, recruit and fund your staff

Business Growth – European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been notionally allocated £74.1 million to deliver projects within this programme that support research and innovation. The objectives of all projects are to support SMEs and create jobs.

South East LEP - Business Support

Training groups in your area

Essex Construction Training Association

Training projects funded by CITB

CITB-funded training Hubs in Southend, Harlow and East Sussex

Contact your CITB customer engagement advisers

Norfolk

Claire Daly
Tel: 07793 666028
Email: Claire.Daly@citb.co.uk

Suffolk

Laura McNeil
Tel: 07467 330650
Email: laura.mcneil@citb.co.uk

What's happening in your area

CITB Employer Roadshows

Following increased concerns over the COVID-19 virus and for safety precautions, regrettably, we have decided to cancel the upcoming Employer Roadshows. We understand this will be disappointing news but the health and safety of our delegates is of the utmost importance.

Further details about an online alternative will be issued in due course.

Support to grow your business

Businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk can access a wide range of grants and funding through New Anglia LEP. Finance support includes grants from £1,000 to £500,000 to support business development and growth. To discuss grants and finance for your business, contact the New Anglia Growth Hub for free and impartial advice. We can also offer loans to kick-start infrastructure projects through our Growing Places Fund.

New Anglia Growth Hub
Growing Places Fund

Help to train, recruit and fund your staff

The New Anglia Skills Deal Programme has supported employers, alongside training providers, to seek funding for projects which address a gap in - or barrier to accessing - training provision. Find out more about the projects funded through the Skills Deal:

New Anglia Skills Deal Programme

Sector Skills Plans will identify key priorities for each of the key growth and employment sectors in our area. The plans will identify the main skills needs of the sectors as well as a set of agreed actions to help ensure these needs are met. An evidence base/dataset upon which these plans are based are also available to view. View completed plans and evidence bases:

Sector Skills Plans

Training groups in your area

CITB supports local Construction Training Groups to help companies in the construction industry to access affordable training. Training groups are made up of companies of all sizes across various areas of construction. There are two construction training groups in New Anglia.

Norfolk Construction Training Group (NCTG)
Norfolk Construction Training Group (NCTG) is supported by CITB to help companies in the construction industry to access affordable training for their employees.  It offers members affordable training, and as discussed are able to offer your company support and guidance in accessing relevant training, and works with you to make training effective and affordable.

Website: Norfolk Construction Training Group
Contact: Samantha Thomas, Training Group Officer
Tel: 01953 600700
Email: s.thomas@nctg.org.uk

East of England Construction Training Group (EECTG)
The East of England Construction Training Group (EECTG) is supported by CITB to help companies in the construction industry to access affordable training for their employees.  It offers members affordable training, and may be able to offer your company support and guidance in accessing relevant training, and works with you to make training effective and affordable.

Website: East of England Construction Training Group
Contact: Ann Marrison  , Training Group Officer
Tel: 01953 607707 or 07919 927918
Email: ann@eectg.com

Training projects funded by CITB

The comments below are from two New Anglia employers who accessed support for training and skills developments via CITB's Skills and Training Fund.

Company based in Norwich
"The ability to examine internally has increased our operating standards, whilst ensuring a higher level of skills and knowledge...This will save the company approximately £40,000 per annum, since we are no longer relying on external companies for internal examination."

Company based in Suffolk
"CITB funding provided us with the opportunity to train and qualify our staff, in line with our sector’s regulatory demands...More staff now hold qualifications which our clients are demanding increasingly...Funding has enabled our business to pass qualification requirements to renew and win contracts, thus allowing our business to grow in key areas...The training has bridged knowledge gaps amongst staff, as training has focused on previously under skilled areas."

CITB Skills and Training fund

Contact your CITB customer engagement advisers

Nicky Dady
Tel: 07770 860081
Email: Nicky.Dady@citb.co.uk

I have worked for CITB for 18 years supporting employers and apprentices on apprenticeship programmes. Prior to this I was an NVQ Assessor and Verifier. I pride myself on great customer service so please get in touch with any enquiries regarding skills, training, grants, funding or any other query and I will be more than happy to help.

Contact your CITB apprenticeship officers

Nikki Wasey
Tel: 07831 520185
Email: Nikki.Wasey@citb.co.uk

Lee Driver
Tel: 07788 995504
Email: Lee.Driver@citb.co.uk

Support to grow your business

Cambridge Peterborough Combined Authority

• Business Growth Hub: Free support from advisors for new or growing builders, SMEs at any stage. Grants and loans available to support growth. Subscribe to email updates. Contact: 0800 9981098 or enquiries@growthworks.uk. Website: cpcagrowthhub.couk
• Growth Works: Employers can upload local job, apprenticeship and learning opportunities. Individuals can search for these opportunities or seek advice. Contact: 0333 1217800 or skills@growthworks.uk. Website: growthworkswithskills.com
• Digital Skills Bootcamp: To help 800+ people gain needed digital skills. Flexible courses, up to 16 weeks. Opportunities to build sector-specific skills. Resultant interview with a local employer. Contact: skills@growthworks.uk. Website: growthworkswithskills.com/skillsbootcamps

Financial support and services to help you recruit and train Staff

Skills Service
Driving economic growth by facilitating effective partnership working between schools, training providers and business to develop the knowledge, aspirations and employability skills of young people.

Website: www.theskillsservice.co.uk

DWP Kickstart
Provides funding to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Funding is available to employers of all sizes to support this programme.

Website: www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

Training groups in area

Convert Training
This construction training group in the Cambridge/Peterborough area covers a broad range of construction employers and their training needs. It is free to join and offers competitively priced construction training courses and advice on workforce development.

Contact: Karen Collins
Tel: 01480 400994
Website: www.converttraining.com

Dates of forthcoming events and employer surgeries

External Events Schedule:

Events for Employers | Cambridgeshire & Peterborough | Growth Works With Skills

Employer Success Stories

Urban & Civic Training Hub (2019-2020)

Urban & Civic were successful in winning government Re-training Scheme funding (called Construction Skills Fund) to support their development at Alconbury Weald. They are developed several courses: Insight to Construction, Explore Construction, Construction Pre-apprenticeship and Ex-forces Retraining in Construction. This attracted new talent into construction from the local area and trained over 400 people with job placements for 30% of the trainees.

Anglia Ruskin University Peterborough

ARU Peterborough is a new £30 million university for Peterborough. It's set to open its doors to 2,000 students in 2022, with an ambition to offer university courses for up to 12,500 by 2030 including Construction related Degrees and courses.

Peterborough University | ARU Peterborough - ARU

Training projects funded by CITB

None at present.